A look back at 'The Human Race' 5k in Barraduff, Kerry in 80's/90's

Back in the late 80's and early 90's, there was 5k held in Barraduff, Co.Kerry called 'The Human Race'. It attracted a very fast field of runners with 41 breaking 17 minutes in 1995 as can be seen from the results below.

1995 Results

Does anyone have any more information about it? Results? Route?

John Walshe of Ballycotton wrote the following piece which appeared in the race programme of the Fields of Athenry race a few years back. 

"What other road races with quirky titles come to mind? There was one in particular which took place in Kerry in the late-1980s / early-90s called ‘The Human Race’. Held from the village of Barraduff on the main Killarney to Mallow road on the August Weekend, it was a straight 5km with the runners bussed out to the start.

The persuasive powers of organiser Mike O’Mahoney brought many of the country’s leading runners to the Kingdom venue. The prize-list also helped. In her autobiography, Sonia O’Sullivan recalled how the first prize of an Aer Lingus ticket to New York gave her the incentive to get back training after missing most of her first year at Villanova University through injury.

Like the Athenry booklet, the event also had a very informative and lavish race programme. The 1994 edition boasted contributions from the likes of John Treacy, Jerry Kiernan, Noel Berkeley and John Downes along with an article on injuries from a certain Paula Radcliffe. That was one of the last races as the ever-increasing work load on the shoulders of the small organising committee became too much and it sadly ceased."... John Walshe.