Irish Times Obituary:
Christy McDaid: Founder of Willow Wheelers Cycling Club who taught the value of charity
Under the retired teacher’s leadership, the club’s members have raised millions of euro to help the poorest people in the developing world
Died: February 26th, 2025.
Christy McDaid – teacher, fundraiser and raconteur – was best known as founder of the Willow Wheelers Cycling Club, which was to become remarkably successful as an outlet for young people and a supporter of projects benefiting the poorest people living in the developing world.
Born in 1947 in Portobello, Dublin, Christy grew up in his beloved Bundoran, Co Donegal, with his parents and older brother, the late Bishop Emeritus Liam McDaid. They retained a special bond of friendship that endured until Liam died in 2023.
A retired teacher, McDaid taught in Bundoran, Manorhamilton, Presentation Brothers Glasthule and – for the final 25 years of his career – at Willow Park School, Blackrock, Co Dublin, where his brilliance in teaching mathematics was the strong foundation for a great many pupils going into secondary school.
In the words of Willow Wheelers member Fintan Drury, he “was one of the true titans of the teaching fraternity who delivered an education in the fullest meaning of the word, not just academically, but in terms of character, humour and humanity”.
In 1989 he founded the Willow Wheelers, which is now made up largely of current and past students from Willow Park School and Blackrock College. It has grown to become one of Ireland’s largest cycling clubs, initially focusing on the development of junior cyclists and more recently including a growing adult section, fostering a love for cycling among members of all ages.
McDaid’s spirit of adventure led him to bring his community of cyclists on magical two-wheeled trips exploring Ireland and to various parts of Europe, creating friendships among club members that endured well beyond cycling endeavours.
His commitment extended beyond Ireland. Under his leadership, the Willow Wheelers organised annual 100-mile charity cycles to raise funds for water, health and education projects in Africa, South America and the Far East.
Each May bank holiday for the past 35 years, hundreds of adults and junior members of the club completed their 100 miles and raised millions of euro for charitable causes. These efforts supported projects which improved countless lives in the most disadvantaged parts of the developing world. The money raised went to Irish missionaries working in deprived areas in need of funding for local projects, all of which were meticulously followed by McDaid to ensure all funds went directly to making a positive impact.
His commitment to those in need led him to organise annual trips for club members to visit these projects, which nurtured the seeds of generosity of spirit in the young minds who would accompany him from Willow Park School and Blackrock College. That collective effort instilled a sense of moral obligation among young fundraisers to support less well-off people, a trait that stayed with many of them throughout their lives. The trips included visits to Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, The Gambia, Vietnam and Brazil.
In recognition of his many contributions to teaching, the club and wider society, he received the 2017 President’s Award from the Blackrock College Past Pupils Union. At the award function, his former students reminisced about great times on their Willow Wheelers cycling trips and spoke about how McDaid taught them far more than academics: about the power of compassion, the importance of community and joy of giving back.
For him, solidarity and team spirit could be fostered in cycling just as much as on the rugby field, and this activity was as good as any in making intergenerational connections. For many, wrestling with the inevitable challenges of teenage years, cycling with Willow Wheelers was a constant and always welcoming break associated with fun rather than peer pressure.
McDaid particularly enjoyed following the progress of his students as they made their own adventures in life after school. He took great joy out of friends coming together and sharing conversation. He delivered his stories and messages to a captive audience at his own relaxed tempo, which came to be known as “Donegal time”.
He died on February 26th, 2025, after a short illness. His commemorative Mass at the Church of the Assumption, Booterstown, Co Dublin, was attended by a large number of his former students; teaching colleagues, cycling comrades and close friends. It was followed by a drive through the grounds of Willow Park School and Blackrock College before burial in Bundoran.
He is survived by his soulmate Mirette, cousins and extended family.
Original Notice:
Our friend and founder of the Willow Wheelers Cycling Club, Christy McDaid, passed away peacefully on 26 February 2025 after a short illness. He was surrounded by his soulmate and best friend Mirette, loved ones and friends.
He will be hugely missed and forever remembered by his cycling and missionary communities in Dublin, Africa, Vietnam and Brazil and by his cousins and extended family and by his wide circle of friends and former colleagues.
Details of Christy’s funeral arrangements are available here: https://rip.ie/death-notice/christopher-christy-mcdaid-dublin-586763
In lieu of flowers, those of you who wish to may make a donation to the Willow Wheelers Charity Cycle Fund by using the following link:
Please find a short memorial video for Christy (compiled by Peter Murnaghan): HERE
Christy McDaid RIP, Founder of Willow Wheelers CC
You may also wish to view the short video prepared when Christy received the 2017 Blackrock College PPU Presidents Award, click HERE.
Some memories of Christy RIP
30/04/2017 NEWS. Willow Wheelers, Blackrock starting out on their 28th annual 160km cycle through Dublin, Meath and Kildare , the club with over 300 cyclists aimed to raise funds for water, health and education for projects in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia Photograph: Cyril Byrne / THE IRISH TIMES
Cormac McAleer, Principal of Willow Park School: Article in memory of Christy McDaid from the Willow Weekly:
Growing up I always had the pleasure of spending my summer holidays in Rossnowlagh, County Donegal. Long summer days rolled into each other and you learned about that very valuable thing known as ‘Donegal time’. Nobody ever seemed rushed and time seemed to stand still as the locals spoke and moved about their day. Everyone in Donegal always seemed to have time for you and a story to tell. But underestimate the people of Donegal at your peril. What lay beneath that languid style was a steeliness and a drive.
Donegal and Willow lost one of their favourite sons this week. Christy McDaid was a good man and epitomised all the virtues of the quintessential Donegal man. Christy worked in Willow for 25 years and glided around our corridors with ease. Always a smile, always a joke or a story, sometimes a tip for the horses but he always had time. The school bells could wait. A friend to everybody.
But with the Willow Wheelers Christy leaves behind the most wonderful legacy. To achieve what he did with his Charity took drive, vision and dedication. Through the Willow Wheelers Christy taught generations of Willow boys how to cycle. Generations of Willow families have cycled together across Ireland and Europe because of Christy. Creating memories that will live forever. But most importantly children and families in deprived communities in South America and Africa are better off because of Christy. His absolute commitment to these communities was inspiring.
As a school we will remember Christy and continue to promote in our boys that dedication to help others. There will be prayers shared across the globe for Christy tonight.
CHRISTY – by John Piggott
Christy was an unlikely modern-day missionary
Delivering the gospel of cycling
(and perhaps that other good news slipped into the same envelope)
THE CHRISTY McDAID BICYCLE TOURS COMPANY
Has run since 1989 and before.
Ten thousand happy pilgrims
Have covered ten million happy miles with him
Most of his business has been repeat
Christy has doubled as a family counsellor
His methods showing countless Mums and Dads
How the unspoken word
Can pass powerfully between two saddles
Christy has been a master politician
Deftly honing the Art of the Possible
To allow all his parishioners have things their own way. His way.
That (and a certain physical resemblance) is why they called him ‘El Duce’
He has been a fundraiser extraordinaire –
a not-for-profit, do-it-for-the-good-of-it
Make the world a better place,
My-God-You-Raised-HOW much!? –
Brownie-points-in heaven – billionaire
In so many different ways
Christy made a difference
And changed lives all over this world which he bestrode
Like some two-wheeled super-hero
Thankfully, he was also a miraculous survivor
Witness two doctors in one car
At a precise moment in time
In a particular place
Making him evidence
Of God’s great grace
And space for us, his two-wheeled flock to say
“Christy, thank you for the lessons and the memories”
