Google+ Running in Cork, Ireland: Update on parkrun numbers in Cork...

Friday, January 02, 2015

Update on parkrun numbers in Cork...

Way back in August of 2011, I had a post up about 5k parkruns in Britain and asking if they would spread to Ireland. Fast forward to today and there are now 23 parkruns in Ireland with large clusters in and around Dublin and Belfast.

There are now 3 in Co.Cork....Macroom, Clonakilty and Bere Island. The Macroom one started in mid-2013, the Clonakilty one at the start of 2014 and the one on Bere Island in the autumn of 2014. You can see the numbers below....


The parkrun in Macroom has dropped back from the initial 60 or so per week down to about 40.

Clonakilty has also dropped a bit and is now getting about 20-30 per week.

Bere Island despite its remote location gets about 20 or so per week. A visitor wrote a short review of it recently in this magazine.

There is no entry fee for any of these 5k parkruns and the only requirement is that you must be registered. You just need to print out a bar code and bring it along to any event you want to do. Each parkrun is run by volunteers who take turns organising the event.

Elsewhere in Munster, a new parkrun started up in Clarisford, Co.Clare in late October. They've been getting very good numbers...roughly 70 per week...which may well be due to the proximity to Limerick City. On the 24th of January, a new parkrun will be starting in Tralee, Co.Kerry which will be a welcome development for runners there.

Will we see a few more new ones in Cork & Munster in 2015???

If you want to find out more about parkruns then visit the Irish website... http://www.parkrun.ie/

9 comments:

John Kissane said...

Would be nice to have one in the city.

Anonymous said...

It sure would! How about Fota? Or the woods in Castlemartyr, or Blarney Castle grounds, or the walk around the small lakes/wetlands between the Mallow road and Blarney?

F.

Anonymous said...

One in Cork City would be great.I go to the one in Macroom occasionally but its a bit of a trek down

Anonymous said...

Doneraile Park would be a good spot for one too. Lots of runners there on weekend mornings already.

Anonymous said...

One closer to Cork City would be great alright. Especially for many people looking to improve on their 5k times

Anonymous said...

Same feeling here, one in Cork city would be great for those of us with no means of transport

bogotabandit2 said...

Well guys - you know what to do if you want one (or more) in the city - approach parkrun Ireland and start one up! They provide great support and starting one up is not as hard as you may think!

As an aside, I see the numbers are up for all 3 parkruns in Cork, and even Bere Island is getting over 50. Great to see

Anonymous said...

would be brilliant if there was one in cork city.

i don't have transport so can't get to macroom, clonakilty or here island... :(

Anonymous said...

Bere Island - population 200 has a parkrun.
Cork City (and commuter belt) - population 200,000 has none.

I hope one becomes established here soon.