R.J. 'Arjay' Mecredy, a cyclist and journalist, was born in 1861 at Ballinasloe, County Galway, and was an important figure in the early days of Irish cycling and motoring. He was influential in forming the Irish Amateur Athletics Association (IAAA) and became a writer, editor and finally joint owner of the Irish Cyclist and Athlete. He was an early proponent of John Boyd Dunlop and his pneumatic-covered ‘air tyre’ for bicycles. His greatest success as a competitor came at the National Cyclists' Union meeting in London in 1890, where, as part of 'The Irish Brigade', he won all four English cycling championships. He had won seven Irish cycling titles upon retirement in 1892. He was such a pivotal figure in the early days of automobiles in Ireland that he is described as the 'father of Irish motoring'. He founded the periodical Motor News, authored several books, and helped establish the Irish Cyclist and Motor Cyclist. He was the first secretary of the Irish Automobile Club, a founder member of the Irish Roads Improvement Association and an advocate of motor touring in Ireland. Later in life, he developed a keen interest in archaeology. Mecredy was to die at the age of 63 in 1924.
HOYFM.ACL2025.19
