Running in Cork, Ireland
Welcome to the Running in Cork blog, home of the Cork running community. This is the largest website in Cork & Munster for news on road races and general running news. Included are a current race calendar, race previews, photos, results as well as some local, national and international news items.
Monday, August 31, 2026
Notice: Cloughduv 5k on Wed 2nd Sept 2026
Sunday, August 30, 2026
Results of the Chris Harrington Memorial 5k in Tramore Valley Park - Sun 30th Aug 2026
The Chris Harrington Memorial 5k organised by Leevale AC was held in Tramore Valley Park on Sun 30th of Aug 2026 and there were 221 finishers.
1 Luke Merrigan (#1691) 15:36 Under 18 (1) Male (1)
2 Mark Walsh (#1619) Leevale A.C. 15:43 35-49 (1) Male (2)
3 Barry Donovan (#1623) Leevale A.C. 16:08 35-49 (2) Male (3)
6 Jane Buckley (#1620) 16:27 Senior (1) Female (1)
8 Hannah Smith (#1639) 17:25 Senior (2) Female (2)
9 Michelle Kenny (#1611) Leevale A.C. 17:31 35-49 (1) Female (3)
Full results HERE
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| 23:23 for former Irish international rugby player Donncha O'Callaghan |
Results & Photos of the Waterford Greenway Half-Marathon - Sat 29th Aug 2026
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| Wet start for the 2026 Waterford Greenway Half-Marathon |
The big race in Munster this weekend was the Waterford Greenway Half-Marathon which sold out months ago. There were 712 finishers this year which is up 7.4% on last year despite the rain and wet conditions.
Full results HERE
1) West Waterford AC have the following galleries...
a) Start and Finish 1 b) Finish 2 c) Finish 3 d) Finish 4 e) Finish 5 f) Finish 6
Prize winners below...
Prize Winners Waterford Greenway Half 29/08/2026
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Joanne Sullivan is the first person in Cork to complete 500 parkruns!
29th of August 2026 - A little bit of parkrun history was made this weekend when Joanne Sullivan became the first person in Co Cork to complete 500 parkruns!
Not only is this a big milestone for Joanne but it's an important milestone for parkrun in Co Cork as a whole as we finally have someone in the county reaching the blue 500 mark.
Some stats...
1) The very first parkrun in Co Cork was in Macroom in May of 2013. The second parkrun was Clonakilty in February of 2014 and Bere Island was the third event to start in August of 2014.
2) Joanne completed her 500th parkrun on the 12th birthday of the Bere Island event.
3) Joanne was a volunteer for the very first Bere Island parkrun on Sat 30th of Aug 2014. Joanne's first run was at the Bere Island parkrun the following week.
4) Amazingly, all 500 of Joanne's parkruns have been at the Bere Island event, there were no visits to other parkruns.
5) Joanne also has an impressive 489 volunteer credits!
Here's to 1000!
Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 29th Aug 2026
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Guest Post: Castlehaven parkrun report ...by Pat Walsh
We had a lovely visit last Saturday to this most quaint and beautiful parkrun. A nice jog on a woodland trail but book-ended by some unique performances.
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Runner Gerry O'Boyle to run coast of East Cork - 27th to 30th Aug 2026
Gerry O'Boyle will be running along the coast of east Cork from Thurs 27th to Sun 30th of August and he would welcome any company.
Gerry writes... "I've been running around the coast of Ireland for the last nine years. (running a few times every month) I've already covered the provinces of Ulster, Connacht and most of Munster. It's 5,396km so far around the Irish coast - and I've reached..... Midleton.
I wll be running on the Thursday evening (27th), Friday morning (28th) and Sunday morning (30th) when I hope to reach Youghal. On the Saturday I'll just do the parkrun in Midleton. I try to stick to the coast as much as possible and I'm hoping you guys can help especially with the section between Ballycotton and Roches Point."
See blog for more detail... https://cliftoncoastalrun.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Clonmel Half-Marathon numbers for 2026
The 2026 edition of the Clonmel Half-Marathon was held on Sunday the 23rd of August.
Results HERE
There were 467 finishers which is up 6.6% on 2025 but as can be seen from the chart above, it is still well down on the historical peaks pre-2020.
Why the big drop?... If we go back about a decade ago, the Clonmel event was kind of the main half-marathon in Munster if you wanted to do one in August.
Compare that to 2026. There was a half-marathon in Limerick City at the start of August. Then there was the Youghal Bay half-marathon a week later with almost 1000 finishers. The Clonmel half was on the 23rd and the Waterford Greenway half-marathon which has sold out is coming up next weekend.
As most runners will choose to do a local event, the net effect is that the catchment area of the Clonmel Half has shrunk. Looking forward, it's likely that the Clonmel numbers will stay at the 400-500 mark unless some other new event starts up putting more pressure on it.
Monday, August 24, 2026
Haulbowline Junior parkrun reaches 100-events - 23rd Aug 2026
Junior parkruns are for 4-14 year olds, are 2kms in length and are held every Sunday morning. The junior parkrun on Haulbowline Island in Cork harbour celebrated its 100th edition on Sunday 23rd of August 2026.
Here are some stats...
1) The inaugural event was on Sun 14th of January 2024. The 100th event was about 2-years and 7-months later.
2) There were 75 finishers for the 100th event which was the 5th highest ever and was the highest in over two years.
3) The numbers for all 100 editions are shown in the chart below. As can be seen, the numbers have been gradually dropping.
4) The average number of finishers for all 100-events is 31. The average number of finishers in 2025 was 26 and the average for the number of finishers so far for 2026 is 19.
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Michael Harty of East Cork AC sets new M45 National Half-Marathon record in Antrim
On Sunday the 23rd of August, Michael Harty of East Cork AC posted a time of 1h 05m 58s in the 2026 Antrim Coast Half-Marathon. Subject to ratification, this is a new M45 National Half-Marathon record.
29 Michael HARTY #138 01:05:57 01:05:58 M M45 East Cork AC
Back at the start of July, Michael broke the M45 record for 10k at the Coillte 10k in Dundrum, Tipperary.
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 22nd Aug 2026
Guest Post: The Bear and the Wolf ...by Pat Walsh
* The Bear and the Wolf *
We're gonna get to that place
Where we really want to go, and we'll walk in the sun
But 'til then, tramps like us
Baby, we were born to run….. Springsteen
What a fantastic Summer we have had and while all hope isn’t lost yet for the rest of August and September we have to admit the evenings are drawing in. It was fantastic to be able to pull on shorts, t-shirt, running shoes and out the door. No need to worry about cold or rain. I went for a cycle one day and it took me 20 minutes to get the bike out of the shed, pump the tyres, oil the chain, test the brakes and the gears and then find my helmet and glasses. I would have a few Kms done at that stage running.
I do honestly think it is hard-wired genetically into our DNA to just run. Nothing mad fast, but enough to be moving and stay ahead of the bears and the wolves that chased us when we put our nose outside of the cave a few thousand years ago. We were running then and we evolved and graduated to running around a field or a mountain trying to mind goats and sheep. We have always ran. Nowadays the beauty is that we have a choice for our health and mental sanity. We are blessed to be able to do it.
There is no mention of triathlons or kite-surfing in the annals of ancient Ireland and no sport except for Cú Chulainn hitting a ball around the place with an old stick. People either walked or ran. The bicycle is less than 200 years old and you only swam back then when you fell out of a boat. We were born to run. There were running events in the Greek Olympics 2500 years ago. Some, like Mark English must have had very fast ancestors but I think I’m more related to Fred Flintstone. My instinct and breeding is to be in the middle of the field, the safest place to be in the history of human evolution.
Of course it is important to do different things and try our hand at every type of exercise. But when all is said and done you can’t beat an easy run, with good company in a peaceful scenic location and the sun shining down on us. It was also nice to be able to go for a coffee afterwards without the fear of hypothermia from wet gear and a biting cold wind. I know the farmers are worried about the lack of rain but as my lawnmower is enjoying a restful summer then I’m not complaining.
I met some lovely people while I travelled around this Summer and those beautiful memories can help shorten whatever winter lies ahead. Running is a great way of socially mixing, strangers in a race become buddies as the miles go on, and many a kind word is exchanged at the finish line.
Thanks to all for saying hello and your very kind comments about my posts. They are welcomed and valued. I write about what I see and feel as I run. Keep getting out to run and socialize, it is part of your nature and no fear nowadays of the bears and the wolves.
'I write to see and the seeing is through language'.. McGahern
Please don’t ever take me seriously.
#Keeponrunning
#pwr
Friday, August 21, 2026
Results of the Donoughmore 7-mile road race - Fri 21st Aug 2026
3730 2 Vivian FOLEY Eagle A.C. 2. M M55 38:43
3727 3 Donal COAKLEY Glanmire A.C. 3. M M40 38:43
3713 25 Brid HEARNE 1. F F40 45:59
2916 27 Katie HICKSON St. Finbarrs A.C. 2. F F45 46:59
3085 30 Irene EIGHAN St. Finbarrs A.C. 3. F F45 47:25
Full results HERE
End of the 5k parkrun in Youghal ...for now - Aug 2026
The organisers of the 5k parkrun in Youghal in east Cork have announced that the event is cancelled until further notice.
They wrote... "Pobalscoil Na Tríonóide Parkrun is no longer accessible but we are working hard on a new route locally.
Once we get the stamp of approval from Parkrun, we will be delighted to welcome you “Our Runners, Walkers, Volunteers” back to our community Parkrun
It’s not Goodbye forever, just for now!"
Some points...
As far as I know, this isn't a case of just a cancellation of the event at the Pobalscoil na Tríonóide school, it actually means that there will be no more parkruns at this particular location.
That brings up the question of a new location? It can't be on public roads with traffic. The local greenway would be an obvious location if they can get permission but the organisers might have ideas for somewhere else.
The map above shows where a potential parkrun could go on the greenway. There is more than enough room for an out and back course with the turnaround point at 2.5kms well before it hits the road to Ballymacoda.
This course would be pretty much identical to the parkrun on at the Midleton Greenway... it's out and back, it's flat and there is plenty of parking. It's also very easy for visitors to find.
The only crossing point on the greenway around the 500m mark is a set of gates but these could be opened for the outgoing leg with one or two stewards manning the junction. It's only an entrance to one house so it's unlikely to have any traffic.
If and when they find a new location then it's going to take a while to get all the approvals from the various bodies including parkrun Ireland. I get the feeling that most people think that it will be a few weeks before the new parkrun restarts but my own opinion is that it's likely to be several months.
I also think it will be a completely new event so it will have a new name and results webpage. If they do decide with the greenway then it's likely to be called the Youghal Greenway parkrun which will be the only parkrun in Ireland starting with the letter 'Y'... a magnet for all those parkrun alphabet chasers!
The Pobalscoil na Tríonóide parkrun started on the 23rd of October 2021 and there were 223 editions.
The average number of finishers per edition was 54. There seems to be a slight reduction in the numbers in more recent times. If we compare the average numbers for all of 2026 so far to the equivalent time period in 2025 then the number of finishers has dropped 15%.
That's it, for the foreseeable future, we're back to ten parkruns in Co Cork.
Addendum: The reason for the cancellation of the parkrun is because construction has started on two new buildings.
The orange line shows the route that the parkrun used to take.
Results of the Rathcormac 4-mile road race - Thurs 20th Aug 2026
The Rathcormac 4-mile road race was held this year on Thursday 20th of Aug 2026 and there were 128 finishers, down a third on last year.
Top 3 men & women...
64 Fitzgerald Evan Male West Waterford A.C. Overall Male Runner 19:37
40 Hartnett Paul Male East Cork A.C. Overall Male Runner 19:42
184 Simpson Stivan Male Grange AC Overall Male Runner 20:47
197 O Connor Sinead Female Leevale F 40 22:18
177 Kelly Olive Female St Nicks AC F 40 24:19
185 Verling Margaret Female NA Jnr F (U-18) 25:37
1) Graham Meikle has the following finish line photos...
a) Finish 1 b) Finish 2 c) Finish 3 d) Finish 4
Results by John Kennedy (Race Timing Guy). Organised by Bridevale AC.
Bib # Last Name First Name M/F Team Name Eligible Division(s) Finishing Time
40 Hartnett Paul Male East Cork A.C. Overall Male Runner '00:19:42
184 Simpson Stivan Male Grange AC Overall Male Runner '00:20:47
191 Meade John Male St Finbarrs AC M45 '00:20:57
59 Macak Tomas Male Glanmire A.C. Overall Male Runner '00:21:25
71 Hayes Fionn Male Grange/Fermoy A.C. Jnr Male (U-18) '00:21:31
25 Morin Emilien Male Jnr Male (U-18) '00:21:37
197 O Connor Sinead Female Leevale F 40 '00:22:18
88 Morrison Richard Male Glanmire A.C. Overall Male Runner '00:22:20
46 Leahy Sean Male Jnr Male (U-18) '00:23:16
23 Cooke Matthew Male North Cork A.C. Jnr Male (U-18) '00:23:19
92 Carroll Patrick Male Overall Male Runner '00:23:21
200 McCurtin Francis Male NA Overall Male Runner '00:23:34
58 Walsh Brendan Male Bridevale A.C. M 40 '00:23:43
30 Collins David Male Bridevale A.C. M 40 '00:23:52
44 Shortall Kevin Male Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C. M45 '00:23:54
20 Fox Brian Male Eagle A.C. M 40 '00:24:04
41 Hartnett Eoin Male East Cork A.C. Overall Male Runner '00:24:12
177 Kelly Olive Female St Nicks AC F 40 '00:24:19
57 Bartley Conor Male M 55 '00:24:38
56 Murphy John Male Grange/Fermoy A.C. M 55 '00:24:43
17 Buckley Jamie Male Carraig-Na-Bhfear A.C. Overall Male Runner '00:24:46
5 Mc Bride Ross Male Bridevale A.C. Overall Male Runner '00:24:54
60 Casey Adam Male Overall Male Runner '00:25:15
67 Dunne Adam Male Overall Male Runner '00:25:21
180 O Connor Jim Male Bridevale M 40 '00:25:22
185 Verling Margaret Female NA Jnr F (U-18) '00:25:37
193 McCarthy Donal Male NA M45 '00:25:47
50 Mc Elvaney Emilie Female Grange/Fermoy A.C. Jnr F (U-18) '00:25:59
82 O Sullivan (Watergrasshill) Linda Female Watergrasshill A.C. F 55 '00:26:23
106 Collins Daniel Male Grange AC Overall Male Runner '00:26:32
183 Aherne Neilus Male Midleton AC M 65 '00:26:50
102 Bartley Cormac Male NA Overall Male Runner '00:27:00
94 Twomey Kieran Male M 60 '00:27:07
36 O Brien Jack Male Grange/Fermoy A.C. Overall Male Runner '00:27:09
198 Leonard Clem Male Grange AC M 50 '00:27:10
7 Sweeney Eugene Male Grange/Fermoy A.C. Overall Male Runner '00:27:12
28 Quaine Gavin Male Grange/Fermoy A.C. M45 '00:27:28
85 O Neill Aoife Female Watergrasshill A.C. Overall Female Runner '00:27:31
130 Collins Stephen Male St Catherines AC M 40 '00:27:38
86 O Mahony Aileen Female Watergrasshill A.C. F 40 '00:27:39
87 O Callaghan Roisin Female Overall Female Runner '00:27:49
196 Conroy Gwen Female Watergrasshill F 50 '00:27:59
48 Byrne Thomas Male Glanmire A.C. M 40 '00:28:06
49 Mc Elvaney Conor Male Grange/Fermoy A.C. M45 '00:28:24
77 Joyce John Male Overall Male Runner '00:28:28
14 O Rourke Daniel Male Doneraile A.C. M 50 '00:29:13
89 Cronin Donagh Male Overall Male Runner '00:29:18
135 Bailey Deirdre Female Mourneabbey Milers F 40 '00:29:21
171 Morrison Richard Male St Nicks AC M 50 '00:29:25
73 Power John Male St. Catherine's A.C. Overall Male Runner '00:29:32
53 Mc Donnell Ronan Male Grange/Fermoy A.C. M 40 '00:29:53
132 Dorgan Sinead Female Bridevale F 40 '00:29:54
186 Dorgan John Male Bridevale M45 '00:29:55
84 Duffy Una Female Watergrasshill A.C. F 40 '00:30:11
187 Loughnane Stephen Male NA M 40 '00:30:12
105 Dempsey Rhona Female St Finbarrs AC F 45 '00:30:16
63 Fleming Sheena Female Watergrasshill A.C. F 40 '00:30:18
104 Barry Ellie Female St Catherines AC Jnr F (U-18) '00:30:24
190 Baldwin John Male Bridevale M45 '00:30:25
43 Bransfield Pat Male St. Nicholas A.C. M 65 '00:30:34
2 Stone Ciarán Male Bridevale A.C. Overall Male Runner '00:30:44
83 Breen Pat Male Riverstick/Kinsale A.C. M45 '00:30:55
107 Collins Sean Male NA M 55 '00:30:56
134 Cosgrove Brian Male Watergrasshill AC M45 '00:31:04
178 Corcoran Terry Male Grange AC M45 '00:31:06
91 Abdallah Murat Male Overall Male Runner '00:31:08
24 Cooney Amy Female Overall Female Runner '00:31:16
80 Corcoran Maurice Male Midleton A.C. M45 '00:31:19
123 Byrnes Liam Male Youghal AC M 55 '00:31:20
69 O Sullivan Linda Female Togher A.C. Overall Female Runner '00:31:22
101 O Mahony Sylvie Male Youghal AC M 65 '00:31:22
21 O Donoghue Donal Male Watergrasshill A.C. M 55 '00:31:25
39 Riordan Hazel Female Bridevale A.C. Overall Female Runner '00:31:25
62 Sheehan Cormac Male Grange/Fermoy A.C. Overall Male Runner '00:31:27
66 Mc Grath Aislinn Female St. Nicholas A.C. F 40 '00:31:30
55 Gaffney Cathal Male Overall Male Runner '00:31:32
128 Lyne Susan Female Togher AC F 45 '00:31:32
15 Magner Seamus Male Doneraile A.C. M 60 '00:31:49
126 Corrigan Bernard Male NA M 55 '00:31:50
176 O Brien Denise Female St Nicks AC F 50 '00:32:01
13 Ivess Seán Male Overall Male Runner '00:32:08
182 Hales Emmett Male NA M 40 '00:32:14
68 Twomey Marian Female Grange/Fermoy A.C. F 40 '00:32:20
195 Howard John Male NA M 55 '00:32:28
19 Murphy (Shandrum) Mary Female Shandrum A.C. F 65 '00:32:32
127 Linehan Billy Male NA M45 '00:32:35
37 Johnson Dermot Male M 55 '00:32:48
42 Murphy Mary Female Mallow A.C. F 65 '00:33:21
122 O Mahony Mary Female Youghal AC F 60 '00:33:41
189 O Callaghan John Male NA M 40 '00:33:52
199 Cronin Brian Male NA M 40 '00:34:03
78 Murphy Annette Female Bridevale A.C. F 45 '00:34:08
81 Hogan Colette Female Bridevale A.C. F 40 '00:34:08
181 O Connor Dee Female Bridevale Overall Female Runner '00:34:08
75 Degand Estelle Female Overall Female Runner '00:34:15
188 Morrissey Niamh Female NA F 40 '00:34:23
129 Barry Aidan Male NA M 55 '00:34:31
125 Kingston David Male NA Overall Male Runner '00:35:17
131 Pratt Stephen Male NA Overall Male Runner '00:35:20
22 Groeger Gillian Female F 45 '00:35:30
29 Matejkowska Katarzyna Female Grange/Fermoy A.C. Overall Female Runner '00:35:56
121 Collins Anne Marie Female NA Overall Female Runner '00:35:56
8 O Leary Martina Female Overall Female Runner '00:36:18
179 Barry Nuala Female Bridevale F 40 '00:36:21
65 O Keeffe Noreen Female Watergrasshill A.C. F 50 '00:36:27
74 Walker Christopher Male M 40 '00:36:54
54 Kelly Niamh Female Overall Female Runner '00:37:18
45 Howard Sandra Female F 60 '00:37:19
79 O Connell Con Male Grange/Fermoy A.C. M 50 '00:37:24
33 Morin Amaelle Female Overall Female Runner '00:37:29
18 Evans Paul Male St. Nicholas A.C. M 50 '00:37:34
192 Walshe John Male Roadrunners Club M 65 '00:39:01
72 Cooney Amanda Female Midleton A.C. F 65 '00:39:03
10 O Donovan Rachel Female Watergrasshill A.C. F 45 '00:39:41
3 Mc Carthy Gerard Male Overall Male Runner '00:39:50
4 Mc Carthy Megan Female Overall Female Runner '00:39:51
124 Hayes Maura Female St Catherines AC F 50 '00:39:53
194 Leahy Angela Female Croydon Harriers F 50 '00:40:12
103 Hayes Caoimhe Female St Catherines AC Overall Female Runner '00:40:35
76 Mulcahy Mary Female St. Finbarrs A.C. F 60 '00:40:54
93 Mc Carthy Conor Male Overall Male Runner '00:41:52
52 O Mahony Lisa Female Wibblies A.C. F 50 '00:42:14
34 Enright Gobnait Female Watergrasshill A.C. F 50 '00:43:38
47 Cooper Fiona Female Wibblies A.C. F 45 '00:44:21
51 O Regan Siobhan Female Wibblies A.C. F 55 '00:44:22
70 Murphy Susan Female Watergrasshill A.C. F 45 '00:47:21
133 Kearney Bartholomew Male Leevale Ac M 65 '00:52:32
































