Eddie Mulligan, managing director of Waterford Paint Sales & Hype Hair Salon
Your bike? Harley Davidson XL883 Sportster
Why this bike? I guess I fell for the look and the sound of a Harley. Last year when I decided I wanted to ride a bike again, the Harley was the only option. The Sportster was previously Harley's runt of the litter, but through the years it has progressed and become the most honest to goodness model in the Harley range. There are no shiny and useless bits, just a plain cut-down cruiser, which is economic, light and easy to handle, and a good introduction bike back to biking.
Why did you decide to become a biker again? Due to the nature of my work I have to use a car during the working day because you just can't fit that many paint samples into a saddlebag! I drive a Mini Cooper S, which is a fun car, but once I'm outta work I like to switch off, and using the Sportster certainly ensures that.
How did you get into bikes? My introduction to bikes was through my life-long friend, Willie Walsh. Back in our early teens he was always messing with Honda 50s which we used to ride and race on rough ground behind our house.
I helped him restore a Triumph 200 Cub and finally went on to own and ride a Honda CX500 Custom for a number of years in my early twenties whilst in the Naval Service. Being in the Navy and riding a bike did lead to a lot of jibbing from friends and family alike, particularly in the aftermath of films such as Officer & A Gentleman and Top Gun, I was the butt of a lot of jokes.
Did you take rider training? No, most of what I know to date has been through advice from friends, hard knocks and experience. I spent a lot of time in the bushes still attached to a Honda 50 when cornering went wrong.
Do you worry about your safety? My friends joke with me about being a bit reckless at times, but I'm definitely not when it comes to bikes. Once I'm on the bike my mind is constantly alert to the dangers.
Have you travelled abroad on the bike? No, not yet. When you get good weather in Ireland there's no better place to be out on your bike. Give me some fine weather and I'll just take off for a couple of hours. There's nothing like coastal spins to Rosslare, Kilmore Quay, Dunmore East, Tramore, Ardmore or Youghal.
There is a local Harley Owners Group (HOG) that organise outings throughout the country for weekends such as Dingle. This year they went abroad to France but unfortunately I couldn't make it due to work commitments.
Any tips for survival? I suppose as a Naval Diver we had a saying 'Self Preservation', which can equally be applied to life on two wheels.
Once you're aware of your bike's limitations and the prevailing weather and traffic conditions, you can control the environment.
What do you use your bike for? Mainly pleasure. I totally enjoy the freedom whilst riding on open roads on a good day. I do have to admit to being a fair weather biker, but then I guess I'm enjoying creature comforts, as I'm getting older. I had enough wettings when I was younger
If you won the lottery what would be your dream bike? It would have to be the 15th Anniversary Edition FLSTFI 1550cc Fat Boy for the "fat boy" I am at heart.