The former Greencore chief executive is now at the helm of the pan-European DIY group King"sher, owners of B&Q, but in his days with the Irish food group he could often be spotted taking his motorcycle through Dublin traf"c to the company's city-centre headquarters.

Radio entrepreneur Tim Collins, chief executive of Ocean FM, is another businessman who prefers two wheels to four. He recently said he sold his car and took up biking "out of sheer frustration with the traf"c in Dublin".

John Fitzpatrick, the Irish hotelier behind the Fitzpatricks' hotels in Chicago and New York, is more of a hobbyist. He enjoys riding a Harley Davidson in his spare time.

Harleys, or 'hogs' as they are affectionately known by their owners, have become increasingly popular with Irish high-"yers in recent years. Late Late Show legend and Road Safety Authority chairman Gay Byrne has been riding low for years. His successor, Pat Kenny, rides a BMW C1-200, with a safety cage, lexan weather shielding, seatbelts and ABS, making it sort of the Volvo of motorbikes.

Solicitor turned property developer Noel Smyth took his Harley enthusiasm to the ultimate level last year, biking down America's iconic Route 66 with his wife Anne Marie as pillion passenger.

Kevin Barrett, chief information of"cer for pharmaceutical company Elan, is another biker with a penchant for wide-open US highways. Barrett, who splits his time between Elan's headquarters in Dublin and its US of"ces in California, keeps a Yamaha R1 stateside but prefers a Yamaha R6 for Irish roads.

Michael McCormick, chief executive of Down's Syndrome Ireland, is a fan of the Honda Pan-European, the powerful touring bike used by the garda traf"c corps.

Meanwhile Tony Sullivan, head of Irish aircraft sale and charter company Mercury Aviation, is the proud owner of a BMW 1200. Conor Brophy