Dublin Marathon Ballot opens Thurs 12th Nov 2026

The 2027 Irish Life Dublin Marathon ballot opens Thursday 12th November at 9am!

📅 Ballot closes: Tuesday 17th November, 11:59pm

📩 Ballot results: Wednesday, 25th November

💚 NEW FOR 2027: If you’re unsuccessful, your ballot fee will be refunded automatically. If you’re successful, the fee will be deducted from your marathon entry price.

Please note that the ballot is not first-come-first-serve, and and all applications up to the closing time are recorded.

For everything you need to know before the ballot opens, head to this link 🔗➡️ https://irishlifedublinmarathon.ie/general-ballot-2027/

For the Official Eventmaster entry link which opens tomorrow, head to this link 🔗➡️ https://eventmaster.ie/event/BPKyT23c8j

Notice: Dungarvan 10-mile road race - Sun 31st Jan 2027

The biggest 10-miler in Munster is the  hugely popular John Treacy Dungarvan 10-mile road race which is organised by West Waterford AC and it's coming up on Sunday 31st January 2027. 

Dates & Entries...

1) Entries opened on the 1st of Dec 2026 for Athletics Ireland club members

2) Entries for everyone including non-club runners opens on Mon 8th Dec 2026.

The entry link is https://eventmaster.ie/event/wZnLUPySRQ

Info... Note that there are 3,750 spaces for this race which is a huge amount. They expanded the entry number by 25% in 2023 to cater for the demand. This remains the level for the 2027 entries.

Remember that most runners are not members of an athletics club. Entries may open on the 1st of December for club runners but the main entry is on the 8th of December.

If you want to do this race than I'd recommend that you enter as soon as possible once the entries open.

From West Waterford AC... "Entries for this years race will open on 1st  December for A.A.I. members. On 8th December all remaining entries will go on sale.  For A.A.I. members just use your life membership number to avail of this opportunity for early entry.

Enter Here: https://eventmaster.ie/event/wZnLUPySRQ

Race numbers are limited to 3,750 participants.

Elite entries will be accepted up to Friday 29th January 2027. The standards set down are Men 55 minutes and Ladies 60 Minutes. These times must have been posted within the last 2 years. Proof of these qualifying times may be required.

For Elite entry, please email: info AT westwaterfordathletics DOT org

The entry fee for 2027 is €45. There are no refunds on race entry fees. As in previous years, there will be no late entries except for elite entries, which will be taken up to Friday 29th January 2027 if you contact us directly. Please understand that this is to facilitate the correct amount of t-shirts, goody bags and for safety reasons so we can cater for the numbers on race day.

Charity Option to Donate - Over the last 9 races, we have added an option to donate to a certain charity and to date runners and West Waterford A.C. have donated an unbelievable  €42,625 to Dogs for the Disabled, Aoibheens Pick Tie, Cystic Fibrosis, Alzheimers, Concern, Breast Cancer Ireland, Bumbleance, The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, Irish Kidney Association and last years charity the Children's Health Foundation.

Our chosen charity this year is Make A Wish.

 All race details can be found at www.dungarvan10mile.org"

Results of the Eyeries 5-mile road race - Sat 7th Nov 2026

There were 228 finishers for the 2026 edition of the Eyeries 5-mile road race in west Cork which was held on the 7th of November. 

Post pandemic, the numbers for this race took a dive and they have been gradually recovering since. 228 is the exact same number as there were back in 2019.

Top 3 men & women...
 1240 1 Mark WALSH Leevale A.C. 1. M M 26:37
1315 2 Donal COAKLEY Glanmire A.C. 2. M M40 27:11
1239 3 Michael CORBETT St. Finbarrs A.C. 3. M M50 27:27
1178 4 Hannah STEEDS Leevale A.C. 1. F F 28:02
1159 10 Julie O BRIEN Durrus A.C. 2. F F40 31:42
1205 21 Ellen VITTING Kenmare A.C. 3. F F40 33:55

Full results HERE

Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 7th Nov 2026

Saturday 7th November 2026 - It was cold but dry for the parkruns in Co Cork this weekend with a temperature of about 6 deg at Cork Airport at 10am.

There was a total of 1395 finishers across the eleven events.

Milestones... 

Carrigaline... This was 4th edition of the new parkrun in Carrigaline and 121 participants didn't seem to be a problem for the narrow walkway. This parkrun does had a certain capacity but what that is remains to be seen.

There were plenty of visitors this week with Mary O'Reilly from Dublin making the trip to complete her 600th parkrun.

Bere Island... And then there were two! Edel Murphy becomes the second person in Co Cork to complete 500 parkruns! 

Edel is pictured above with husband Brendan and family members Oisin , Michaela, Olan, Brendán and Ultan and friends. Photo & info courtesy of Proinnsias O'Keeffe.

At the same event, Proinnsias O'Keeffe completed his 400th parkrun! 

Proinnsias is one of only two people to have completed a century of parkruns at two events in Co Cork... 156 at Ballincollig and 141 on Bere Island.

Staying with Bere Island, Sheila Walsh earned her 200th volunteer credit.

Tramore Valley... Anna Winning completed her 100th parkrun.

Ballincollig... Emma Keohane completed her 100th parkrun.

Macroom... Both Jeremy Kelleher and Donal McCarthy completed their 100th parkrun.

Clonakilty... Niamh Ryan completed her 250th parkrun.

Niamh earned her 250th volunteer credit back in September.

Glengarriff... Gerard Harrington earned his 300th volunteer credit.

Results...

Tramore Valley Park - Number of finishers - This week 286, last week 329

Top 3 men & women...

1 Tiarnan O DONOGHUE Male SM18-19 Togher AC 16:58

2 Richard BATE Male VM40-44 Stevenage & North Herts AC 17:47

3 Thomas HEISING Male VM35-39 Sanctuary Runners 18:57

10 Niamh CRONIN Female VW50-54 St Finbarrs AC 19:52

15 Karen WALSH Female VW45-49 20:41

41 Sarah CONNOR Female VW45-49 23:04

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/tramorevalley/results/227/

Ballincollig - Number of finishers - This week 386, last week 316

Top 3 men & women...

1 Unknown

2 Sheldon KIRKWOOD Male VM40-44 Leevale AC 19:01

3 Jack O'DRISCOLL Male SM25-29 19:28

43 Edel BUCKLEY Female VW40-44 22:49

46 Ciara FITZPATRICK Female VW40-44 22:59

54 Claire O'SULLIVAN Female VW35-39 23:27

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/ballincollig/results/449/

Glen River - Number of finishers - This week 70, last week 67

Top 3 men & women...

1 Marcus BISHOP Male SM30-34 17:56

2 Gordon WALLACE Male SM30-34 Moray Road Runners 19:45

3 Diarmuid DEASY Male SM20-24 19:54

14 Sandra WALSH Female VW55-59 24:29

15 Eileen KENNY Female VW75-79 St Finbarrs AC 24:53

17 Mags HASSETT Female VW50-54 St Finbarrs AC 25:08

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glenriver/results/336/

Carrigaline - Number of finishers - This week 121, last week 79.

Top 3 men & women...

1 Conrad WATT Male VM35-39 Cork Track Club 17:40

2 Conor O'NEILL Male VM45-49 17:55 

3 Rory O' SULLIVAN Male VM45-49 St Finbarrs AC 18:07

8 Kathleen RYAN Female VW35-39 20:17

24 Liz O'DONOVAN Female VW55-59 Footloose & Fancy Free 24:23

27 Eva O HERLIHY Female SW20-24 24:58

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/corkharbourgreenwaycarrigaline/results/4/

Midleton Greenway - Number of finishers - This week 202, last week 197

Top 3 men & women...

1 Justin RYAN Male VM35-39 16:49

2 Cormac LINEHAN Male SM20-24 18:11

3 Daniel ROSS Male SM30-34 18:24

13 Linda O SULLIVAN Female VW55-59 20:18

15 Suzanne ALCOCK Female VW40-44 20:35

17 Sophie O CONNOR Female JW11-14 21:12

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/midletongreenway/results/90/

Mallow Castle - Number of finishers - This week 76, last week 91

Top 3 men & women...

1 Vinny GRIMES Male VM35-39 18:33

2 Michael O'CONNOR Male VM45-49 19:52

3 Chris GALLAHUE Male VM40-44 20:15

14 Bernadette O'DRISCOLL Female SW30-34 23:17

15 Elaine O'CALLAGHAN Female VW40-44 23:26

17 Jill O'DONNELL Female SW30-34 24:25

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/mallowcastle/results/253/

Macroom Demesne - Number of finishers - This week 80, last week 101

Top 3 men & women...

1 Conor LUCEY Male VM40-44 18:07

3 Darrell HOLDEN Male VM35-39 Killarney Triathlon Club 19:54

4 Luke HOWARD Male JM11-14 West Muskerry A.C. 20:00

2 Aoife LUCEY Female SW20-24 West Muskerry A.C. 19:18

24 Leila FOLEY Female JW11-14 24:47 

25 Arya LANDRY Female JW11-14 24:48

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/macroomcastledemesne/results/601/

Glengarriff - Number of finishers - This week 61, last week 61

Top 3 men & women...

1 Cathal D'HONDT Male JM15-17 20:24

2 Stephen O'SULLIVAN Male VM55-59 21:19

3 Danny MANNING Male VM50-54 24:15

10 Pippa O SULLIVAN Female JW15-17 29:38

11 Julia COOPER Female VW40-44 29:38

12 Brede FLYNN Female VW45-49 30:23

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glengarriff/results/478/

Bere Island - Number of finishers - This week 49, last week 65

Top 3 men & women...

1 Garry MORIARTY Male VM50-54 21:39

2 Colin GLEESON Male VM70-74 24:37

3 Edward STEL Male VM55-59 24:55

4 Breeda O SULLIVAN Female VW55-59  Beara AC 25:05

7 Carol HURLEY Female VW55-59 Beara AC 27:10

8 Ann Marie ROBERTI Female VW60-64 27:42

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/bereisland/results/570/

Castlehaven - Number of finishers - 20 this week, 19 last week

Top 3 men & women...

1 Aaron ROSS Male SM25-29 22:50 

2 Andrew BOWLER Male VM35-39 Manchester YMCA Harriers Club 22:59

3 Stephen CONNOLLY Male VM45-49 23:31

7 Kathleen O REGAN Female VW40-44 27:18

9 Kate CROWLEY Female VW40-44 29:19

10 Louise LYNCH Female VW60-64 Sanctuary Runners 30:34

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/castlehaven/results/490/

 
Clonakilty - Number of finishers - 44 this week, 47 last week

Top 3 men & women...

1 Paul DEANE Male VM45-49 Clonakilty Roadrunners AC 19:19

2 Martin WHITE Male VM45-49 Clonakilty Roadrunners AC 19:19

3 Noah O'SHEA Male SM18-19 19:30

10 Maura REGAN Female VW45-49 22:20

13 Aoife O'SULLIVAN Female SW20-24 Bishopstown Orienteering Club 24:50

16 Katie HARTE Female VW35-39 Clonakilty Roadrunners AC 25:35

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/clonakilty/results/555/

*************

For more information about the weekly 5k parkruns in Co Cork, go to this page HERE.

Guest Post: Sorrow... by Pat Walsh

 * Sorrow *

A difficult week in Irish Athletics and just a bad week in general. The passing of Ciara Mageean has left a void in Irish sport, we have lost an inspirational person who was respected and loved. The talent, the beautiful spirit, the winner. What could she have gone on to achieve, who else could she have inspired. In the prime of her life struck down with all the medical and professional help that surrounds elite athletes. 

No words of mine can make sense or comprehend the loss to her family, friends and all who looked up to her. I never met her and still feel like many in the running community in Ireland she was one of us, a familiar face, a look up to person, a gem.

I have spent years advocating to keep going, keep running, mind yourself, watch your weight, moderation at all times. We all strive to achieve, to be the difference, to live life to the full and hopefully it will see us to old age. Then how do we explain this. I can’t. I’m actually lost. We moan about a sore knee when people are dealing with serious illness. We laugh and joke with friends when we don’t know who is going through a hard time mentally.

Life takes unusual twists and turns and many not in our favour or what we expected. It is called life. Those plans that we have we must not put off. The example we give to others and especially to the younger generation. The ability to stay positive. The life of Ciara exemplified this. I was given a present of her book recently and not sure when I will get the courage to read it. 

I strongly contemplated not writing this as what do I know? Hitting a few keys on the keyboard and you think you can solve it all, but it isn’t like that. I'm as lost as the next man. 

Four generations at the Bere Island parkrun...

Four generations of parkrunners were pictured recently at the Bere Island 5k parkrun!

(L-R) Great granddaughters Crioa and Céala who are currently in training in a Cribb to 5k programme.

Granddaughter Leahanne who has completed 86 parkruns. Daughter Joanne who recently was the first person in Cork to complete 500 parkruns.

And finally great grandmother Finola who is just behind Joanne with 497 parkruns and should soon hit the 500 mark.

Thanks to Proinnsias O'Keeffe for sending on the photo.

Impact of the summer holiday season on parkrun numbers in Cork (2026)

In this post, we're going to look back at the numbers taking part in the 5k parkruns in Co Cork during the Spring, Summer & Autumn of 2026 and examine what impact holidays and tourism had.

To remove some of the 'noise' and variability from the data, I calculated the average numbers for each month from February to October 2026. The problem with weekly data is that it jumps all over the place and it makes it harder to see a trend.

I have also split the parkruns into three groups... a) The three parkruns in Cork City b) The satellite towns of Midleton, Mallow & Macroom and c) West Cork.

a) The three parkruns in Cork City... Ballincollig, Tramore Valley & Glen River.

I'm not sure what happened in March but it seemed to be the busiest month for both Ballincollig and Tramore Valley.

You'll notice that there is a definite dip in July which is probably the peak of the summer holiday season. The change is about 10% so it's not huge. The fact that both were down suggests that there is something there alright.

The Glen by contrast showed no dip and it increased by about 13% although it wouldn't take that many runners to show a big jump there.

b) The satellite towns of Midleton, Mallow & Macroom

Midleton saw a large jump in April when a lot of runners took part in the parkrun in memory of someone who had recently passed away. During July and August, there did seem to be a noticeable increase in numbers. July was up 19% on June.

Mallow and Macroom seem to be pretty steady and there seems to be a balance between locals going on holidays and visitors taking part.

c) West Cork

West Cork is a different story though and there is a clear sign of visitors causing a jump in numbers.

The numbers at Clonakilty seem reasonably steady except for July & August when the numbers jump about 40%.

The Castlehaven parkrun in Rineen Woods is the smallest parkrun in Co Cork and also the toughest! The big surge in numbers in August is more than double the figure for June.

Glengarriff shows a similar pattern although it's curious as to why it slowly declines from March to June as opposed to staying steady? Like the rest, there is a big jump in numbers in August.

The most dramatic change is on Bere Island with the August numbers jumping about 180% compared to the usual level in the Spring.

If you look at the charts at the top of the post then you can see that during the months of July and August, Bere Island is the 4th largest parkrun in Co Cork and the largest in West Cork.

Think about that for a monment. A 5k parkrun on an island off Castletownbere way down the Beara Peninsula and where most participants have to get a ferry is the fourth largest parkrun in Cork during July and August.

Is Triathlon under threat from Hyrox?

 

Most of you will have noticed that over the last year or two, there has been a huge surge of interest in HYROX in both Ireland and abroad. HYROX is an indoor fitness competition that combines running and functional strength training.

It was announced last week that Hyrox became a recognised discipline within World Triathlon which in turn could make it eligible for inclusion at the Olympics.

The sudden announcement hasn't gone down well with all of those involved in Triathlon. In a BBC interview, British triathlete Max Stapley said the following... "I was like, hold on a minute, what's this? We don't even get an early notification, we found out on Instagram. How does Hyrox grow triathlon? If anything they've killed triathlon. Sponsorships have reduced because there's no visibility on TV, you have to pay to watch us.

We are triathletes that do the short distance, which is the Olympic distance, and we've trained all our lives for it. There's no swimming, there's no biking, it's indoors. [Hyrox] has got nothing to do [with triathlon]. It seems like our sport's gone, 'no worries, come along, use our structure, use our access to the International Olympic Committee, and perhaps take our space'.

We've got an opportunity to win medals in Los Angeles [at the 2028 Olympics], but will we have it further down the track?"

The full article can be found on the BBC website HERE

Tony Higgins is the first person in Ireland to earn 1000 parkrun volunteer credits

Tony Higgins & Co at the inaugural parkrun in Carrigaline

Last weekend, Tony Higgins became the first person in Ireland to earn 1000 parkrun volunteer credits!

Not only has he volunteered 1000 times but he has also completed 437 5k parkruns at a total of 101 different events. His home parkrun is Tralee and he has completed 209 there.

Tony is the regional event  ambassador for Munster and helps in the setting up junior & 5km parkruns in the province. Tony who is originally from Cork, works in Kerry General Hospital.

When Tralee parkrun was getting ready to launch back in January 2015, his wife, Maeve said to event director... “I think Tony might enjoy volunteering – he’d like doing the results and taking the photos, but I can tell you he’ll never do a parkrun!” 😂😂

Parkrun Ireland have an article up on their website HERE

Major problem with Strava using too much mobile data

If you have an Android based mobile phone and you are using the Strava app on it to record exercise sessions, make sure to check how much data you are using.

Looking back on the sessions that I did at the start of October, a workout might use up something like 3 to 10 MB of mobile data which is not really an issue.

I can see that on the 22nd of October, a training session used up 2.18 GB which is 2180 MB! I did a cycle today (Sun 1st Nov 2026) and it used about 1.2 GB so it's still a current problem.

Needless to say, a lot of people are having problems with Strava causing users to exceed the data available on their mobile phone plans and incurring additional charges.

I'm not sure if Stava on Apple iPhones are having the same problem.

If you are using an Android device then check your data limits and be careful how you use Strava.

Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 31st Oct 2026

Saturday 31st of October 2026 - After the torrent of rain and cancellations of last Saturday, there was a full house of parkruns in Co Cork this weekend.

It's amazing to see what a difference the weather makes, both Ballincollig and Tramore Valley more than tripled their number of finishers this week compared to last week.

Macroom celebrated its 600th event and had over 100 finishers, they haven't had over 100 since January of this year.

There were a number of visitors to the new Carrigaline parkrun this weekend and the numbers were at 79 which is fine for this narrow course.

There was a total of 1372 finishers across the eleven events.

Milestones... 

Midleton... Eibhlin Cleary completed her 100th parkrun this weekend and most of them were in Midleton and Youghal.

Tramore Valley... David Lynch completed his 100th parkrun this weekend.

Ballincollig... Martin Lynch taking halloween costumes to the next level when he completed his 300th 5k parkrun at the Ballincollig event this weekend.

23:24 in a clown suit!

At the same event, Peter Shanahan completed his 100th parkrun and 94 of these were at Ballincollig.

Macroom... The Macroom event is the oldest parkrun in Co Cork and it celebrated it's 600th edition this weekend! 

There were 101 finishers which is the 13th highest for this parkrun.

Glengarriff... Well done to Peter O'Brien who earned his 100th volunteer credit!

Bere Island... Edel Murphy completed her 499th parkrun! Just one to go.

Elsewhere...

Dungarvan... Kamila Jakubowska-Switaj is a regular at the parkrun in Ballincollig and she travelled to Dungarvan to do her 250th parkrun.

Results...

Tramore Valley Park - Number of finishers - This week 329, last week 89

Top 3 men & women...

1 Eoghan O'CONNOR Male SM20-24 Belgooly AC 14:50

2 Andrew HINDS Male SM18-19 14:55

3 Naoise MACNIFICO MAC MURCHADHA Male SM18-19 15:51

22 Eilish MALCOLM Female SW25-29 19:35

25 Niamh CRONIN Female VW50-54 St Finbarrs AC 19:48

44 Maria INSA PRAT Female SW25-29 22:04

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/tramorevalley/results/226/

Ballincollig - Number of finishers - This week 316, last week 95

Top 3 men & women...

1 Sheldon KIRKWOOD Male VM40-44 Leevale AC 18:22

2 Trevor WOODS Male  VM55-59 Cork Triathlon Club 19:23

3 Jim POWER Male SM25-29 19:34

30 Davina FENTON Female VW45-49 Ballinora National School 22:53

36 Ciara FITZPATRICK Female VW40-44 23:14

38 Georgia BURNETT Female SW25-29 23:23

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/ballincollig/results/448/

Glen River - Number of finishers - This week 67, last week 28

Top 3 men & women...

1 Donal FALLON Male VM40-44 Mt. Hillary AC 19:47

2 Liam CUNNINGHAM Male VM50-54 Fr Murphy Athletic Club 19:52

3 Diarmuid DEASY Male SM20-24 20:16

14 Mags HASSETT Female VW50-54 St Finbarrs AC 24:11

15 Niamh SHEEHAN Female VW35-39 Togher AC 24:34

18 Eileen KENNY Female VW75-79 St Finbarrs AC 24:55

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glenriver/results/335/

Carrigaline - Number of finishers - This week 79, last week 53.

Top 3 men & women...

1 Evan FITZGERALD Male SM25-29 West Waterford AC 14:54

2 Peter FENYVESI Male VM50-54 18:40

3 Aaron HORNIBROOK Male VM40-44 19:06

15 Liz O'BRIEN Female VW55-59 23:17

28 Anne Marie SHEEHAN Female VW40-44 Eagle A.C. 25:37

29 Aisling ODONOGHUE Female VW35-39 Team Fitness Goose Running 25:51

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/corkharbourgreenwaycarrigaline/results/3/

Midleton Greenway - Number of finishers - This week 197, last week 76

Top 3 men & women...

1 Darren MCCANN Male VM40-44 17:06

2 Andy GOULDING Male VM40-44 Leevale AC 17:36

3 Martin COLLIER Male VM45-49 17:47

10 Fiona RIORDAN Female SW30-34 Glanmire A.C 19:46

29 Anna ERFURTH Female VW40-44 22:19

31 Sinead FITZGERALD Female VW50-54 22:31

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/midletongreenway/results/89/

Mallow Castle - Number of finishers - This week 91, last week CANCELLED

Top 3 men & women...

1 Vinny GRIMES Male VM35-39 18:34

2 Finbarr ODWYER Male VM50-54 19:37

3 Will CHARLTON Male SM30-34 20:26

10 Elaine O'CALLAGHAN Female VW40-44 22:48

12 Edel BUCKLEY Female VW40-44 22:55

13 Bernadette O'DRISCOLL Female SW30-34 22:56

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/mallowcastle/results/252/

Macroom Demesne - Number of finishers - This week 101, last week CANCELLED

Top 3 men & women...

1 Jude MURPHY Male SM18-19 18:37

2 Steven O'KEEFFE Male VM35-39 19:14

3 Cian MCPARLAND Male VM45-49 St Finbarrs AC 19:32

6 Chloe MCCARTHY Female JW15-17 21:04

18 Ellen BURKE Female SW20-24 22:56

33 Karena NÍ CHÁRTHAIGH Female VW45-49 West Muskerry A.C. 26:35

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/macroomcastledemesne/results/600/

Glengarriff - Number of finishers - This week 61, last week CANCELLED

Top 3 men & women...

1 Jonathan NEVILLE Male VM35-39 18:37

2 Liam OCONNOR Male VM50-54 20:21

3 Finn CONNER Male JM15-17 21:14

6 Sharon LEVIS Female VW45-49 24:38

14 Marian MINEHANE Female VW40-44 27:24

18 Catherine BELAIR Female VW35-39 30:06

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glengarriff/results/477/

Bere Island - Number of finishers - This week 65, last week 15

Top 3 men & women...

1 Joe O NEILL Male SM25-29 20:34

3 Cyril MCNAMARA Male VM60-64 21:48

4 Garry HILLIARD Male VM50-54 St Michael's AC 23:14

2 Genevieve COLLINS Female VW35-39 20:42

6 Farrah O SULLIVAN Female JW15-17 24:45

8 Laoise Ann O SULLIVAN Female JW11-14 25:34

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/bereisland/results/569/

Castlehaven - Number of finishers - 19 this week, 10 last week

Top 3 men & women...

1 Florence FITZGERALD Male VM35-39 22:08

2 Stephen CONNOLLY Male VM45-49 23:41

3 Ben PITTON BRADY Male JM11-14 25:10

9 Celine BUCKLEY Female VW55-59 Castlehaven GAA 31:47

17 Therese LYNCH Female VW65-69 35:46

18 Geraldine RYAN Female VW60-64 Dunboyne AC 36:24

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/castlehaven/results/489/

 
Clonakilty - Number of finishers - 47 this week, CANCELLED last week

Top 3 men & women...

1 Simon NOLAN Male VM40-44 17:11

2 Tiarnan O DONOGHUE Male SM18-19 Togher AC 18:01

3 Alex O SHEA Male VM50-54 St Finbarrs AC 19:19

13 Deirdre MCCARTHY Female VW45-49 Manchester Tri Club 23:25

15 Anna O'NEILL Female VW55-59 23:32

16 Saibh GILBERT Female JW10 23:34

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/clonakilty/results/554/

*************

For more information about the weekly 5k parkruns in Co Cork, go to this page HERE.

Guest Post: Halloween ...by Pat Walsh

 ** Halloween **

What is the scariest thing about this coming weekend. Is it the hordes of children in costume roaming the streets or is it the fact the year is drawing to a close and as a runner you wonder what did you do? If like me, you feel underwhelmed by what you achieved, I suppose there is still time to rectify it and get some sense of purpose come years end. We won’t get a second chance at 2026.

Maybe the lesson is to do stuff and not dream or procrastinate about it. Take part, go for it, what is to lose. If you don’t try you can’t succeed, if you don’t even bother trying then you need to have a chat with yourself. There are many who commit may end up walking a major challenge towards the end or get injured in the training process. That showed intent, a purpose, a goal. Don’t ever be afraid to try. 

- “The person in the arena, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly” -

Don’t worry what anyone else thinks. Some of the best critics never get off the couch. Their opinion is worthless. Only the fellow runner in the competition that supports and encourages you is your true friend. Social media is full of bluffs, fakes, AI enhancements to make you feel inadequate. Be you and proud of you. You are the only one that matters anyway. Say: I ran today.

- “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better.” -

I look back on the Covid times when we could do nothing and we all said once it was over we would change our ways and make life more meaningful. Instead for many the hamster wheel of existence is spinning faster than ever with more commitments and less personal time. What happened our promises to ourselves?

Pick one thing you would like to do before New Years Eve. It doesn’t have to be earth shattering or life changing. It is a simple goal to prove I'm alive and 2026 was a good year. If it is running around your neighbourhood in a scary Halloween costume then so be it. If it a parkrun 5k somewhere nice, or a local charity event or one of the many longer races that pop up this time of year. 

Make it your goal, don’t be scared or frightened of Halloween. 

-- quotes are from Roosevelt – Man in the Arena speech 1910

Have a lovely weekend.

#pwr

Maryborough to Carrs Hill Link to open soon - Nov 2026

 

The team behind the new M28 motorway to Ringaskiddy has announced that the new link road connecting the Maryborough Road to the Carrs Hill road will open in the next two weeks.

As can be seen from the photo above, there is also a new footpath which will give more route options for walkers and runners.

As the map shows above, it's a higher alternative to Maryborough Woods and connects estates like Broadale to the new Bayly estate.

This will hopefully in time connect to the new proposed greenway from Douglas to Carrigaline.

What Cork runners have completed 100 parkruns at more than one event???

Back on the 3rd Oct 2026, I completed my 136th 5k parkrun and my 100th at the Tramore Valley Park event. 

This in itself is nothing too special as there are already 96 Cork runners who have completed 250 or more parkruns and nearly all of them were mostly at one event.

It got me thinking though... 

Q. How many Cork runners have completed 100 parkruns at more than one event?

I checked the data and I found two people who have done a century of parkruns at two events.

1) Proinnsias O'Keeffe (Ballincollig 156 & 140)

2) Olive McCarthy (Glen River 169 & Ballincollig 117)

There are a few others that are closing in on a century at a second parkrun

a) Batt Kearney (Macroom 185 & Ballincollig 90)

b) Tony Cooney (Macroom 106 & Ballincollig 85)

c) Sam De Lint (Tramore Valley 118 & Longford 96)

Ursula Cooney has just to do a few more parkruns to get a double century over the line (Ballincollig  98 & Macroom 96).

If anyone knows of any more then let me know. To keep things Cork based then at least one of the parkruns must be in Co Cork.

Cloyne 4k Winter Series - Nov 2026 to Mar 2027

The Cloyne 4k Winter Series is a set of five low key races in the village of Cloyne in east Cork with an entry fee of just €5! As can be seen from the flyer above, there are five dates. Complete 4 out of the 5 to get a high tech dry fit top.

Each race starts at 9:30am and registration opens in The Rock Bar (P25 DY72) from 8:30am.

Race prizes for 1st three male and female runners of the overall series and 1st 2nd and 3rd male and female juniors.

Children running must be accompanied by a parent/adult. Organised by Cloyne District Community Council (Registered Charity 20079345)

There are no hidden charges, online fees, one-day licence fees or other add-on's, you just turn up on the day and throw €5 into the biscuit tin.

The start line is 600m away down a narrow country road. The course is essentially one loop with a slight overlap and it's a flat and fast course.

This race is very much in the tradition of many of the old road races in East Cork and the Ballycotton area where the entry fee was very modest for a high quality race.