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With the fourth annual Kirby Way Cycle event only days away, we catch up with Mikey Ryan, who established the challenge in 2022 and now acts as the Board-level sponsor. We explore his career to date, leading by example, and ensuring our people, and the next generation, reach their potential under Kirby’s stewardship.
Going the extra mile: Making connection through good causes
“The cycle challenge came from a need to maintain the Kirby team spirit as we grew significantly across Europe and beyond. Kirby has always had a one-jersey approach to delivery and culture, and it was, and still is, incredibly important to us that we foster that spirt in person and through our values,” says Mikey, who has been with Kirby since 1997.
The event will see close to 300 people, including employees, clients and suppliers, come from across the globe to complete either a 50km cycle, a 100km cycle, or a 10km run, with all courses starting and finishing at Kirby’s off-site manufacturing facility in Portlaoise. This year, almost 20 national and international charity partners have been selected to benefit from the sponsorship element of the event, which has raised more than €500,000 for good causes to date.
Reach your potential: Setting the example of success
Team culture and a shared vision have defined Kirby’s success – success mirrored by Mikey’s own career with the business.
After completing his Leaving Certificate at 17, his father – who was in the construction trade – encouraged him to apply for an electrical apprenticeship with Kirby. Within a week, he had interviewed with then Managing Director Tom Kirby and started at Kirby.
“My employee number is 156,” smiles Mikey.
Earlier this year Mikey joined the Board as Group Director of Operations – one of four of our Board who come from an apprenticeship background. That ethos of training, development, and career progression is a key part of Kirby’s people-first culture, with a number of programmes developed to ensure that talent is fostered, supported and inspired.
Mikey is also keen to highlight the people who have played a role in his own progression from Apprentice to Board-level Director, including the stewardship and guidance given by Executive Director, Mark Flanagan.
Mikey says, “He was the first person who took me under his wing when I had just come out of my time (as an Apprentice). He mentored me and that helped me progress to where I am today.
It is without doubt that I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for him, and I will be eternally grateful to him and to Kirby for everything they have done for me over the years, and I know that they will continue to do so.”
“I have also developed teams around me and surrounded myself with fantastic people, such as Operations Managers and Project Managers, who have been key to my career success. This, of course, has been allied with the support of my wife and family, who have enabled me by maintaining a supportive and understanding home environment.”
Looking ahead: Inspiring the next generation of talent
Mikey recently joined Executive Director Mark Flanagan to onboard our newest employees. Sharing his own journey from Electrician to Project Manager and now a Board-level Director, the event embodied Kirby’s passion for fostering, growing and developing its people.
“We showed them that the sky is the limit if they put in the work. Not just through words, but also through physical, real-life examples. Mark and I have both risen through the ranks from where they are sitting,” says Mikey.
He explains: “Kirby is good at finding and building talent – it is a key focus of our company strategy. If our apprentices stay the course and demonstrate their potential, we will put a hand on their shoulder and guide them on the way.”
Kirby takes pride in having some of the best training and development programmes in the industry – programmes that Mikey has also benefited from. “I never thought I would go back to education, but I now have degrees in Management and Strategic Management from the University of Limerick and have completed intensive programmes with the Irish Management Institute (IMI). In time, I’ll look to do a Master’s degree too.”
Fostering talent: Investing in the future
Mikey’s connection with the University of Limerick (UL) was cemented in 2024, with a three-year sponsorship for UL GAA’s four codes: Hurling, Camogie, Football and Ladies’ Football.
At the time, Mikey said, “Partnering with the GAA teams at UL provides a timely opportunity to reinforce our connection to the region and its sporting culture. Like these players, we know we achieve nothing without teamwork and we’re looking forward to seeing the teams in action in the months ahead.”
Supported by Kirby’s investment, UL captured 15 major honours, achieved a clean sweep in higher-education hurling and continued to grow the largest membership base of any Irish college club.
The sponsorship provided significant support for the teams with physio, injury prevention and rehabilitation, sports-science staff, and athletic development, as well as nutrition programmes, free sports equipment and training camps. “Just like our own front-line teams, we know the importance of having the right tools and functional support in place to ensure success on the ground,” he adds.
“Sport and business have strong synergies,” says Mikey. “In the GAA you never leave a team member behind; you are one team and work together to achieve a common goal. Kirby has the same mindset.”
The support also offers Kirby the opportunity to profile its business with the next generation of talent, particularly with female students who might not otherwise consider a career in construction and engineering.
As we head out to tackle our next challenge, Mikey adds, “Everything is built on teams. The whole company will be cheering on our cyclists, runners and support staff, as we come together and raise money for good causes.”
The Kirby Way Cycle challenge will take place on Friday, 22nd August 2025. You can support the team by donating here – https://www.idonate.ie/event/TheKirbyWayCycle2025
