Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 17th Oct 2026

Saturday 17th of October 2026 - Blue skies and sunshine this weekend of the parkruns in the county with a chilly red showers this week with 6 deg C at 9:30am at Cork Airport. There was a total of 1197 finishers across the eleven events.

The big news this weekend was the fact that the new parkrun in Carrigaline has started and we're back to eleven events in the county.

Milestones... 

Macroom... 

Enda Kiernan,  Run Director presenting Padraig Sheahan of Millstreet AC with his certificate for completing his 250th parkrun at the Macroom Castle Demesne parkrun this morning. Padraig ran Berlin Marathon a few weeks ago, runs New York in a few weeks and got a Good For Age entry to Tokyo next year, earlier this week.

Ballincollig... James Redmond completed his 200th parkrun while Violeta Morari reaches 250!

Results...

Tramore Valley Park - Number of finishers - This week 294, last week 276

Top 3 men & women...

1 Rory O' SULLIVAN Male VM45-49 St Finbarrs AC 18:23

2 Darragh O'KEEFFE Male SM30-34 18:40

3 Daniel PEARE Male JM11-14 18:52

29 Maggie RYAN Female JW11-14 22:42

36 Emily Maire PIERSE Female SW25-29 23:11

41 Niamh SHEEHAN Female VW35-39 Togher AC 23:27

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/tramorevalley/results/224/

Ballincollig - Number of finishers - This week 305, last week 307

Top 3 men & women...

1 Govinda O'SULLIVAN Male SM25-29 Eagle A.C. 17:19

2 Unknown

3 Shane COLLINS Male VM40-44 St Finbarrs AC 18:59

7 Isla HEALY Female JW11-14 Togher AC 19:44

14 Niamh CRONIN Female VW50-54 St Finbarrs AC 20:44

29 Sandra KEYES Female VW45-49 22:17

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/ballincollig/results/446/

Glen River - Number of finishers - This week 72, last week 62

Top 3 men & women...

1 Ciarán MURRAY Male VM45-49 Togher AC 19:32

2 Finbarr O DWYER Male VM50-54 19:39

3 Richard BOURKE Male VM45-49 St Finbarrs AC 19:55

21 Catherine DEENIHAN Female VW55-59 UCC Staff Athletics Club 25:21

32 Charlotte O'DONOVAN Female VW50-54 27:03

34 Claire MCGONAGLE Female VW55-59 27:27

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glenriver/results/333/

Carrigaline - Number of finishers - 48 for the inaugural event

Top 3 men & women...

1 Cillian KEHOE Male SM18-19 18:59

2 Donal FALLON Male VM40-44 Mt. Hillary AC 19:13

3 David FLETCHER Male VM45-49 Tallaght AC 20:00

4 Siobhan HOLLAND Female VW50-54 Eagle A.C. 20:20

11 Claire O'SULLIVAN Female VW35-39 23:37

13 Susan LYNE Female VW45-49 Togher AC 24:49

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/corkharbourgreenwaycarrigaline/results/1/

Midleton Greenway - Number of finishers - This week 166, last week 141

Top 3 men & women...

1 Aaron GRAVES Male VM35-39 Tiptree Road Runners 17:48

2 Peter FENYVESI Male VM50-54 18:31

3 Unknown

10 Nollaigh O'NEILL Female VW50-54 20:06

19 Esther LAWLOR Female VW45-49 22:24

21 Lily LAWLOR Female JW15-17 22:34

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/midletongreenway/results/87/

Mallow Castle - Number of finishers - This week 77, last week 98

Top 3 men & women...

1 Matthew COOKE Male JM15-17 17:27

2 Vinny GRIMES Male VM35-39 18:27

3 Aidan CROWLEY Male SM30-34 Bweeng Trail Blazers 19:17

12 Martina LYONS Female VW50-54 23:00 

18 Elaine O'CALLAGHAN Female VW40-44 24:34

19 Aoife MCSWEENEY Female SW25-29 24:38

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/mallowcastle/results/251/

Macroom Demesne - Number of finishers - This week 59, last week 54

Top 3 men & women...

1 Conor LUCEY Male VM40-44 17:50

2 Jude MURPHY Male SM18-19 18:11

3 David BRADLEY Male JM15-17 19:01

14 Caroline O DONNELL Female VW55-59 24:17

18 Katie BROWNE Female SW25-29 25:23

21 Stephanie O BRIEN Female SW30-34 26:35

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/macroomcastledemesne/results/599/

Glengarriff - Number of finishers - This week 52, last week 63

Top 3 men & women...

1 Emily CARROLL Female SW30-34 20:22

8 Clare MURPHY Female SW30-34 25:02

10 Sarah KELLY Female VW35-39 Raheny Shamrock AC 25:28

2 Unknown

3 Stephen O'SULLIVAN Male VM55-59 22:35

4 Danny MANNING Male VM50-54 23:05

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glengarriff/results/476/

Bere Island - Number of finishers - This week 47, last week 42

Top 3 men & women...

1 Jay MURDOCH Male VM40-44 20:13

2 Unknown

3 Maurice O'HARA-LYONS Male VM65-69 Eagle A.C. 22:58

9 Breeda O SULLIVAN Female VW55-59 Beara AC 26:00

10 Edel MURPHY Female VW55-59 26:32

14 Meave QUINLAN Female VW40-44 26:56

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/bereisland/results/567/

Castlehaven - Number of finishers - 21 this week, 28 last week

Top 3 men & women...

1 Luke CONNOLLY Male JM11-14 23:30

2 John Joseph O LEARY Male VM35-39 25:01

3 James WHITE Male VM35-39 25:39

8 Orla CALNAN Female SW30-34 31:16

10 Celine BUCKLEY Female VW55-59 Castlehaven GAA 32:22

11 June CONNOLLY Female JW10 32:46

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/castlehaven/results/487/

 
Clonakilty - Number of finishers - 56 this week, 50 last week

Top 3 men & women...

1 Gerald O SULLIVAN Male SM30-34 17:48

2 Alex O SHEA Male VM50-54 St Finbarrs AC 18:17

3 Noah O'SHEA Male SM18-19 21:09

10 Roisin HURLEY Female SW25-29 22:43

13 Ursula HEDDERMAN Female VW60-64 24:24

22 Kathleen O REGAN Female VW40-44 27:31

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/clonakilty/results/553/

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

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

New 5k parkrun in Carrigaline has started!

The new Carrigaline 5k parkrun has started and the inaugural event was held on Saturday 17th of October 2026. The first event was a low key event so that it wouldn't be overwhelmed with huge numbers.

The official name of the course is the Cork Harbour Greenway Carrigaline parkrun.

As the map shows above, the parkrun is an out and back course and it's held on the Carrigaline to Crosshaven Greenway and it's about 1.5kms east of the town.

This is a more detailed map of the area.

The car park at the start of the Greenway is reasonably small and the organisers ask all parkrunners to use the much larger car park at the Primary Care Centre. There will be stewards available every Saturday to guide visitors to this car park.

The Primary Care Centre is only a few hundred metres away from the start of the parkrun.

This is the road junction near the parkrun. Parkrun visitors are asked to turn right here for the Primary Care Centre.

You can see the traffic lights ahead where people can cross the road to get to the parkrun.

The course is dead flat and it's basically 2.6 kms out, turn near the car park by the Rabbit Island car park and then 2.4 kms back.

The course is quiet narrow and is only about two metres wide in places. The capacity of the course is about 100 runners so it would help a lot if you could delay your visit to give the numbers a chance to calm down.

Guest Post: Survival... by Pat walsh

* Survival *

I am a runner but I want to stay running through the winter. How do I do it?

We all need motivation, a plan, encouragement to keep us going. No one is a Duracell bunny the whole time. There will be dips and stress periods where it is a struggle to go outside the front door but we must persevere.

What is your motivation?

Have you a Winter or Spring race in mind that will force you out. I use the word force but once we enter a race then we feel the need to properly prepare ourselves to give it a go. 

A race entry might seem expensive but taken against the mental and physical benefits of training and achieving over the next few months then it is small change. A round of drinks or a meal in a good restaurant would be a lot dearer with no benefits.

Do you run to get out of the house and have a little me time? That is good

Do you run as a health prescription to keep the weight down and to help offset long term issues that could arise. Fair play

A plan

I will run 3 times a week.

I will run 20 miles a week.

I will do a parkrun each week.

I will run once, do strength training and do an aerobic session in the gym.

I will make my life fit around getting out for a run.

I will get out and enjoy it.

It actually doesn’t matter once you set a realistic plan for yourself and follow it through.

Encouragement

I cannot stress this one enough. We all need help. Find a running buddy, make yourself accountable to someone else. This will drag you out when you don’t feel like it.

I have repeatedly stated on this page how toxic social media is, but an odd post for your friends only, about a run or something noteworthy achieved and give yourself the boost of a bit of love and praise. Genuine people love seeing genuine people just doing something. That sounds basic and simplistic but it is true. I love seeing my friends do well. Why wouldn’t I? They are my friends.

Treat yourself to a cuppa afterwards. Share the joy. I ran with you, didn’t we do well. Positivity brings more rewards than negative. Highlight the can do, rather than the doubts. 

When possible find somewhere scenic to run it might encourage you to return.

As an aside a good pair of leggings, a breathable running jacket, a pair of gloves and a nice hat can be of great use. The Summer was great so they maybe buried somewhere deep and quite smelly but in the fresh air no one will notice. .

"I don't know when the end of the journey will come, but I know that sure as hell I'm going to enjoy every path along the way" Ciara Mageean. 

#pwr

New parkrun in Killorglin on hold due to ownership of bridge

Plans for a new 5k parkrun in Killorglin, Co Kerry are well advanced at this stage but one major obstruction that has popped up is confusion on who actually owns the old railway bridge across the River Laune.

In order to get the parkrun course certified by the official parkrun website, organisers need letters of permission from every landowner along the route.

The Iron Bridge in Killorglin, also known as the Laune Viaduct is shown above and below.

Kerry County Council said the lands at the bridge and around it are not registered with the land registry and are not sure who actually owns it.

Despite this, Kerry County Council carried out extensive repairs to the bridge back in 1993 and recently installed lights on it.

A council official said it would take a ‘number of months’ to find the physical records as they would need to access a national archive in Dublin.

Once it gets going, it will be the sixth 5k parkrun in Co Kerry.

Killorglin has a population of about 2200 people so there should be enough people locally to support a 5k parkrun in the town.

John Buckley Sports moves to new location

John Buckley Sports is one of the main running stores in Cork and Munster and they are now moving to a new location!

The new store is literally just 90-metres east of the old one and still across the river from the Opera House.

Some photos of the interior are shown below.

John Buckley Sports also released the following...

Stephen Murphy completes grand tour of 5k parkruns in Co Cork

During the summer and autumn of 2026, Stephen Murphy set out on the challenge to complete all of the 5k parkruns in Co Cork.

The eleven parkruns are shown below with a visit to Malmo, Sweden thrown in for good measure.

Ballincollig 10/10/2026 445 73 25:56 

Malmö Ribersborg 26/09/2026 353 49 26:01 

Midleton Greenway 05/09/2026 81 38 25:24 

Mallow Castle 15/08/2026 242 28 24:57 

Glen River 08/08/2026 323 26 25:30 

Tramore Valley 01/08/2026 213 87 25:45 

Pobalscoil na Tríonóide 25/07/2026 220 20 25:43 

Bere Island 18/07/2026 554 25 26:12 

Macroom Castle Demesne 04/07/2026 584 20 26:20 

Glengarriff 20/06/2026 459 22 26:27 

Clonakilty 13/06/2026 535 18 24:59 

Castlehaven 16/05/2026 465 8 27:09 

I often wondered how many people have completed all eleven? The vast majority of parkrunners stick to their local event and a lot have maybe two or three. 

After that, the numbers drop way off and I'd guess maybe only 50-100 people have done all of them. Maybe it's less?

Guest Post: World Mental Health Day 10th October... by Pat Walsh

 * World Mental Health Day 10th October *

This is a huge issue at the moment and something close to my heart. I have no qualifications and I do have my own spells of doubt. It is only by talking and acknowledging the issue that we have any chance of helping.

Just run

I know that is so simplistic and maybe underestimating the problem but it works for me. I don’t do personal in this forum but the last few years haven’t been the easiest. The running community is the finest you could meet. There are people there better than the finest psychiatrists you could find anywhere. Solid people with a smile, a welcome, a hug. They won’t knock on your door, you must go to find them. 

I ran today at parkrun. I did the course check on my bike in advance and met the buzzards circling, the kingfisher at the weir, the cat out for a morning stroll and yes there was people as well.

The run was good. Hi, how are you, good to see you, are you slowing up a bit, the usual from the gang. I chatted with people from Waterford, Norries, A German lady living in Cobh and a married couple from Carrigtwohill who volunteered to help. It takes everyone to make an event. It is only by dragging yourself from the bed and going that you can get the embrace of love that comes from the run.

Highlight was running with my offshore friend R who got a PB today. One of the moments of my year was the Bere Island parkrun so to help a island native achieve in the Midleton run was a sense of payback… she will kill me. But then who will run with her?

Is that all about me… NO. It is to encourage everyone to go out and take part. The world is brighter outside the four walls. The world is full of beautiful people if you go out to find them. 

Mental health is a huge issue. 

Just be kind, be nice, avoid negative people. Social media can be toxic so be careful. Don’t get drawn into the abyss and caught up in the shite. Be yourself, read a good book, watch a great film, say hello to someone, message someone to meet for a cuppa, volunteer to help at some event, just get off the couch. 

Please don’t think I am over simplifying this or making it out I have the answers. I DON”T. I am just highlighting that it exists and I want to help.

#pwr #bekind #smile

Results of the Cork BHAA Defence Forces 5k - Sun 11th Oct 2026

The 2026 edition of the Cork BHAA Defence Forces 5k in Tramore Valley Park was held on Sunday 11th of October. There were 209 finishers in the damp conditions which is down about 26% on last year and the same as 2023.

Top 3 men & women...
1 Barry Twohig 0/45M M-1 15:50 Emerald Fencing
2 Darren Coleman M-2 16:44 Kinisla
3 Darren McCann 0/40M M-3 17:01 Navy
12 Michelle Kenny 0/45F F-1 17:55 Dept of Ed
21 Linda O Connor 0/50F F-2 18:53 Musgrave
35 Nollaigh O'Neill 0/50F F-3 19:43 Mercy Hospital

Results HERE

Photos...

1) Joe Murphy has the following galleries... a) Album 1 b) Album 2 c) Album 3 d) Album 4 e) Album 5 f) Album 6 

Michelle Kenny was the first woman home with a time of 17m 55s

Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 10th Oct 2026

Saturday 10th of October 2026 - Mostly sunny with scattered showers this week with 10 deg C at 9:30am at Cork Airport. There was a total of 1121 finishers across the ten events.

Milestones... 

Glen River... Mary Hoare (F85) did her 250th parkrun at the Glen this morning. Mary has done all her parkruns at the Glen!

Bere Island... Visitor Christopher Walker completed his 100th parkrun.

Macroom… Betty O'Riordan earned her 100th volunteer credit at the Macroom Castle Demesne parkrun this weekend.

Elsewhere... All parkruns in Malaysia and Singapore were cancelled due to air quality issues.

Results...

Tramore Valley Park - Number of finishers - This week 276, last week 265

Top 3 men & women...

1 Tom GREEN Male VM40-44 Ealing Eagles Running Club 17:31

2 Rory O' SULLIVAN Male VM45-49 St Finbarrs AC 18:26

3 David MURPHY Male SM30-34 Togher AC 18:49

6 Teresa MURPHY Female VW45-49 Kent AC 19:17

34 Rachel O'CALLAGHAN Female VW50-54 23:22

52 Pia RUTH Female SW18-19 24:17

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/tramorevalley/results/223/

Ballincollig - Number of finishers - This week 307, last week 345

Top 3 men & women...

1 Anthony MANNIX Male VM35-39 Cork Track Club 17:42

2 Cillian KEHOE Male SM18-19 17:45

3 Bryan VILLIERS Male SM30-34 19:26

17 Siobhan HOLLAND Female VW50-54 Eagle A.C. 21:10

20 Patricia VICARIO Female VW45-49 21:26

21 Niamh HEALY Female SW30-34 21:31

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/ballincollig/results/445/

Glen River - Number of finishers - This week 62, last week 60

Top 3 men & women...

1 Ksawery DRABENT Male JM15-17 19:02

2 Diarmuid DEASY Male SM20-24 20:22

3 Glen HOARE Male VM45-49 21:45

11 Sandra WALSH Female VW55-59 24:25

13 Catherine DEENIHAN Female VW55-59 UCC Staff Athletics Club 25:02

17 Le HUYNH Female SW25-29 25:29

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glenriver/results/332/

Midleton Greenway - Number of finishers - This week 141, last week 129

Top 3 men & women...

1 Sean O SULLIVAN Male SM25-29 18:32

2 Ciarán MURRAY Male VM45-49 Togher AC 18:41

3 Callum HALLINAN Male SM30-34 19:04

18 Vincentia DE BARRA Female SW30-34 22:24

40 Orla KELLY Female VW45-49 24:58

42 Kathy MURPHY Female VW50-54 25:13

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/midletongreenway/results/86/

Mallow Castle - Number of finishers - This week 98, last week 117

Top 3 men & women...

1 Adrian O'DONOVAN Male SM30-34 18:54

2 Aidan CROWLEY Male SM30-34 Bweeng Trail Blazers 19:04

3 Vinny GRIMES Male VM35-39 19:58

13 Lisa MCCARTHY Female VW35-39 Raheny Shamrock AC 23:20

18 Marie BUCKLEY Female VW40-44 24:26

19 Edel BUCKLEY Female VW40-44 24:28

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/mallowcastle/results/250/

Macroom Demesne - Number of finishers - This week 54, last week 44

Top 3 men & women...

1 Conrad WATT Male VM35-39 Cork Track Club 17:45

2 Conor LUCEY Male VM40-44 17:49

3 John O'DONOGHUE Male SM30-34 19:24

16 Caroline O DONNELL Female VW55-59 24:29

26 Deborah O'DONOVAN Female VW50-54 25:48

28 Stephanie O BRIEN Female SW30-34 26:37

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/macroomcastledemesne/results/598/

Glengarriff - Number of finishers - This week 63, last week 59

Top 3 men & women...

1 Aidan RUNDEL MULLER Male SM20-24 18:55

2 Jack O'DRISCOLL Male SM25-29 20:28

3 Christopher O SULLIVAN Male SM20-24 20:40

10 Lorraine O SULLIVAN Female VW45-49 23:12

20 Mary MANNION Female VW60-64 28:22

21 Clara MCGHEE Female VW35-39 28:45

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glengarriff/results/475/

Bere Island - Number of finishers - This week 42, last week 43

Top 3 men & women...

1 Michelagh MURPHY Female SW20-24 21:39 

3 Laoise Ann O SULLIVAN Female JW11-14 24:26

4 Emily Maire PIERSE Female SW25-29 24:43

2 Luke MCCARTHY Male SM30-34 23:18

5 Colin GLEESON Male VM70-74 25:04

8 Edward STEL Male VM55-59 25:52

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/bereisland/results/566/

Castlehaven - Number of finishers - 28 this week, 23 last week

Top 3 men & women...

1 Unknown

2 James STOKES Male VM35-39 Ranelagh Harriers 20:16

3 Niall O'CONNOR Male VM50-54 West Cork Triathlon Club (WCTC) 23:41

6 Deirdre MCCARTHY Female VW45-49 Manchester Tri Club 25:19

8 Sharon LEVIS Female VW45-49 25:52

13 Laura O'MALLEY Female SW30-34 Crusaders Athletic Club 30:54

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/castlehaven/results/486/

 
Clonakilty - Number of finishers - 50 this week, 62 last week

Top 3 men & women...

1 Donnacha RYAN Male JM15-17 18:37

2 Paul DEANE Male VM45-49 Clonakilty Roadrunners AC 18:39

3 Mark CRONIN Male VM40-44 St Finbarrs AC 19:06

11 Anna O'NEILL Female VW55-59 23:22

15 Deirdre HARRINGTON Female VW50-54 Durrus Athletic Club 23:50

16 Lorna WALSH Female SW25-29 23:59

Full results... https://www.parkrun.ie/clonakilty/results/552/

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

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

Guest Post: October... by Pat Walsh

 * October *

We enter October and the Summer is behind us. The best of the year may be past but there is still life in what is left. Many runners are turning their focus towards Dublin or one of the many marathons that populate the Autumn. For others it is a case of finding the motivation to keep running as the days grow shorter. Patrick Kavanagh always had a good line in poetry and his ‘October’ poem is no exception.

‘O leafy yellowness you create for me,

A world that was and now is poised above time,

I do not need to puzzle out Eternity’

It can be a beautiful time of the year to run as the cooler weather is much nicer after the heat we had this Summer. No danger of heat exhaustion or dehydration. The colours in the trees and hedges, the birdsong from the brambles. I do miss those long runs this time of year when I was training for marathons. Fantastic early Saturday morning runs were the highlight of many a week. Now my early Saturdays are course check on my bike for the parkrun. But I love it.

Kavanagh also used the poem to compare October to the current phase of his life. The best might be behind but who knows what lies ahead. I can empathise with that as while I would love to run another marathon I know that my body wouldn’t take the training program required. I cut my cloth to suit and have found peace and acceptance in shorter runs. It takes a change of mentality but it is better to be running short runs that pushing the body until it is crocked. NCT – Fail isn’t much good as a medical diagnosis.

‘It is October over all my life’

I would encourage everyone to just keep going. Don’t be drawn into something that could do damage to you or make you lose the love of running. Saying NO can be a sign of maturity. It actually only took me 60 years to discover that. Who knows what lies ahead next week, next year but I do intend making the best of it. Just attending and taking part, mixing with like minded runners, swapping stories and having fun. Birth-cert age is one number, mental attitude has a different measuring tool. There will be good winter wheat in my life. There are other challenges to be conquered. Life is what you make of it, don't waste it.  

‘It is October over all my life and the light is staring
As it caught me once in a plantation by the fox coverts.
A man is ploughing the ground for winter wheat’

#pwr

New athletics club in Cloyne

A new athletics club has just been formed in Cloyne in east Cork.

A HISTORICAL DAY FOR AN HISTORICAL TOWN
7th October 2026 — a date to remember!!!
Yesterday, Cloyne AC was officially formed, making us the first Athletics Ireland affiliated athletics club in Cloyne.
We are incredibly proud to begin this journey, supported by Athletics Ireland and Cork County Board.
But Cloyne AC isn't just about running.
It's about creating a club that is fit for everyone.
Runners
Walkers
All abilities
All ages
Fitness & wellbeing
Friendship & community
Whether you're taking your first steps into fitness, looking to improve your running, returning to exercise, or simply want to be part of something positive — there is a place for you at Cloyne AC.

Volunteers in Cork with 200 or more parkrun credits - End Q3 2026

Last week, I put up a post with the parkrunners in Co Cork who have 250 or more 5k parkruns as of the end of September 2026. Post HERE

In this post, we'll look at the all important volunteers. In the past, the list started at 250 or more volunteer credits. In light of the new milestones that were announced recently and the fact that the volunteers keep the show on the road, I've expanded the list to include those with 200 or more.

Maretta Brennan and Carol Murphy both have over 500 volunteer credits while Joanne Sullivan on Bere Island should reach 500 by the end of the year.

Many of the names on the list turn up week after week whatever the weather to make sure the event goes ahead.

Errors & Omissions... If you know of any volunteer from Cork missing who might be at 200 or more, leave a comment with their name and parkrun number.

Link... More information about the 5k parkruns in Co Cork and previous lists can be found HERE

Guest Post: Schools fill Fota with colour as Cross Cup welcomes nearly 800 runners ...by Trevor Cummins

Schools fill Fota with colour as Cross Cup welcomes nearly 800 runners

From beneath the two great oak trees at the top of the hill, the finish line beckoned and the cheers grew louder. Across the grounds of Fota House & Gardens, school colours streamed towards home as nearly 800 children took their turn in the third edition of Fota House Cross-Cup on Tuesday, October 6.

Hosted by Great Island Athletics, the event brought together 38 primary schools, with 797 finishers across 12 races. It was a considerable undertaking for a young club, rewarded by the sight of the grounds alive with children eager to run and classmates determined to make themselves heard.

Two schools made an immediate impression on their first visit. St Catherine’s NS, Bishopstown, claimed the girls’ overall team trophy, helped on their way by an impressive third class victory from Leevale AC athlete Charlotte Stephens. Scoil Naomh Iosaf, Riverstown, took the boys’ honours, completing a memorable day for the newcomers.

Local supporters had plenty to cheer as Seán St John Crowley gave Scoil Iosaef Naofa, Cobh, a winning start in a hard fought first class boys’ race. There were podium finishes too for host club athletes Bradley Guerin, representing Scoil Mhuire Naofa, Carrigtwohill, and Bobby O Chaoimh of Bunscoil Rinn an Chabhlaigh, Cobh, adding to the Great Island interest at the sharp end of the racing.

Louise Twohig of Rathpeacon NS signed off with a memorable victory in the sixth class girls’ race. There was particular warmth for a popular winner whose parents, both athletes themselves, have given so much support to athletics locally. Her success was a moment to savour for a family held in great affection by the athletics community.

Peter McLaughlin of Ballintemple NS brought the programme to a close with an emphatic sixth class boys’ victory. The Cork City AC athlete and Cork County champion stretched clear in his familiar flowing style, delivering an impressive farewell to the event.

Irish Olympian and European cross-country team gold medallist Lizzie Lee presented the honours, making the occasion all the more memorable for the young runners.

Across distances of 400 to 800 metres, established club athletes shared the course with pupils experiencing their first organised race. Through the Cross-Cup, Great Island Athletics strives to reach children who might otherwise have little opportunity to try the sport, encouraging them towards their local clubs. A first race in such a setting can be the beginning of something lasting.

The club thanks the volunteers and school staff whose work made the day possible, Fota House & Gardens for hosting the event, and Fota Wildlife Park for its support in delivering such a well presented course for the young athletes.

KCM Urban Retreats generously supported the event as main sponsor, with Fenero sponsoring the girls’ overall team trophy and Icon Accounting the boys’ trophy. Thanks also go to race sponsors Doyle Shipping Group, FDC Group, Caltech, Trigon Hotel Group, NeoDyne, Toppa Tapes, GXP Recruitment and Cuskinny Court.

The Cross-Cups travelled home with the winning schools, but many more children left Fota with a reason to want to race again.

Yours in sport, Trevor Cummins, Great Island Athletics

Photos HERE

Results HERE

(All images by Morgan Treacy of INPHO)

Glanmire Area to Carrigtwohill Active Travel Map

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has published a new Active Travel map highlighting the network of walking, running and cycling routes connecting the Glanmire area, Little Island, Glounthaune and Carrigtwohill.

Link HERE

Someone can now walk or run from Riverstown to Carrigtwohill without having to go on busy public roads. This is a huge change from say a decade ago.

You'll notice the two signs in purple which show upcoming upgrades to the network which will extend it to Cork City and Midleton. 

The heat map above from Strava shows the routes that were popular with runners in the last week (Start Oct 2026). You can see that people are running alongside the Glashaboy River from Glanmire and down east towards Glounthaune.

A much smaller number of runners are using the paths next to the Lower Glanmire Road (red arrow) from Tivoli to the Dunkettle roundabout. 

When I examined the equivalent map for walkers, there is a lot less traffic and most walkers stay closer to the population centres in Glanmire and Glounthaune.

All that will change in the future however when the Tivoli Docks will be developed into a residential area. There will be a projected 14000 people living there and the new active travel routes will be their local paths for walking, running and cycling.

The heat map above from Strava shows the routes that were popular with runners in the last week (Start Oct 2026) between Carrigtwohill and Midleton. The railway line is currently being widened from one to two tracks and the new active travel route will run alongside this.

At the moment, there really is no safe walking or running route between the two towns and the new route will change this.

I looked at the equivalent Strava map for walkers and it shows much the same picture but the activity is more concentrated near the towns.

These projects seem to move at a glacial pace so it's likely that by say 2033, there will be a complete safe walking, running and cycling route from Cork City to Youghal.

Results of the Elevate Credit Union Charity 5k in TVP - Sun 4th Oct 2026

First place finish for Caitriona McGettigan as she finishes just 3-seconds ahead of Linda Kelly

The annual Elevate Credit Union Charity 5k in Tramore Valley Park was held this year on Sunday 4th of October 2026.

Top 3 men & women...
2034 1 Adam DOYLE Cork City AC 1. M M 16:05
4327 2 John MEADE St. Finbarrs A.C. 2. M M40 16:12
4351 3 Andrew HOBBS Leevale A.C. 3. M M 16:31

4353 14 Caitriona MC GETTIGAN No Club 1. F F 18:46

4277 15 Linda KELLY Watergrasshill A.C. 2. F F50 18:49

4272 17 Breeda MC GINN No Club 3. F F40 19:46

Full results HERE

Photos...
1) Pop Up Races has some finish line photos HERE

Adam Doyle in first place with 7-seconds to spare