The Green Party Lord Mayor of Cork has been harshly criticised for posing on the steps of City Hall with a group of nude cyclists, with one local Councillor describing the display as “totally inappropriate” for a public space.
Controversy has raged on social media over the last several days after Cork Lord Mayor Dan Boyle was photographed smiling with a number of participants in the annual Naked Bike Ride in broad daylight.
According to the event’s website, this ride seeks to raise awareness about “body image”, as well as opposing fossil fuel transport methods like cars to reduce carbon emissions.
“By cycling naked, we declare our confidence in the beauty and individuality of our bodies, and the bicycle’s place as a catalyst for change in the future of sustainability, transport, community and recreation,” the website reads.
This event takes place every year in cities around the world, and has been held in Cork since 2009. It features partially nude or totally nude cyclists, some wearing body paint, cycling down the street in the middle of the day to raise awareness about environmental causes.
However, one Cork Councillor objected to the Lord Mayor’s endorsement of such an event.
“Some people have brought the photograph to my attention,” Independent Ireland Councillor Ken O’Flynn told Gript.
“I don’t think posting these photographs is appropriate. It’s my understanding that people that walk around nude in the city, which has happened on one or two occasions, have been arrested for that. I don’t think it’s appropriate, particularly in the day time.”
O’Flynn added that the incident was particularly inappropriate in a public place “where children could see it”, adding: “I certainly don’t think it should be condoned by the Lord Mayor of the city.”
Asked what he would say to participants who argued it was just a bit of harmless fun to raise awareness around the issue of cycling, the Councillor replied: “I don’t think it’s harmless fun. I really don’t.”
He said that while people should be “mature” and “promote cycling in a positive manner,” some cyclists are “quite vicious and quite dogmatic in their views about cycling in the city.”
“Here we have something going on that is inappropriate, doesn’t give the city a good image, and I think it was a very immature and poor decision of the Lord Mayor to stand in to that photograph, to entertain this sort of thing,” he said.
“I think there’s far better ways of promoting cycling throughout our city and our country than doing this.
“Look, I’m a very big fan of cycling. I took a recent trip to Utrecht. I think there’s great opportunities for cycling in the country. But this type of carry on is totally inappropriate and unacceptable. And certainly does damage and lowers the tone of the office of Lord Mayor of Cork.”
O’Flynn added that he would be writing to Boyle “asking him to reconsider his position as Lord Mayor of Cork, because I don’t think he’s giving the office the gravitas that it needs by entertaining this sort of sleazy publicity stunt.”
In the letter seen by Gript, O’Flynn highlighted the importance of the role of Lord Mayor, and its historic association with “revered figures” in Irish history:
“As you are no doubt aware, the office of Lord Mayor is not only a symbol of civic pride and governance, but also carries the historical weight of the sacrifices made by revered figures such as MacCurtain and McSweeney. Their legacy, which embodies the spirit of Cork, demands the highest standard of decorum and respect. The photographs in question, unfortunately, undermine the esteemed nature of your office and could be interpreted as a departure from the dignity expected of a figure holding such a prominent position.”
In a response letter also seen by Gript, Boyle pushed back on these criticisms.
“The World Naked Bike Ride has taken place in Cork since 2009 and has been greeted on the steps of Cork City Hall by many previous Lord Mayors,” he said.
“I have been happy to do so again this year. I am particularly supportive of the underlying message of the Bike Ride that the nakedness is a symbol of the fragility that many cyclists feel when competing for road space with much larger, more dangerous vehicles.
“Participants, to a greater or lesser extent, use body paint, but essentially make their statement through being naked. This greeting has been given happily and without controversy for many years. I am happy to have continued with this tradition.”
The Lord Mayor added: “As a member of Cork City Council since 2004, as your brother and father had been before you had been, I am surprised that you don’t seem to be aware that this event has existed and why.
“It may be that you see a political advantage in highlighting something you have been very aware of and have chosen not to know about. I am quite happy to talk to you about these issues, but only in an atmosphere where cheap political points are not being sought.”
O’Flynn replied that these criticisms were “disheartening and unfounded.”
Gript contacted the Lord Mayor for comment by email and by phone, though no reply was received.
Notably, in 2018, a 57-year-old man in Longford was fined €200 for sunbathing naked in the communal area of his apartment complex on one of the hottest days of the year.
The same year, a man in his 20s was arrested after walking around naked outside a Dublin shopping centre, charged with public-order offences.
Gript asked the Gardaí for clarification on whether or not it constituted an offence to walk around in broad daylight in a city with one’s genitals exposed. However, the Garda Press Office refused to answer, replying: “Legal advice or opinion is not provided from this office.”