Cloyne 4k Winter Series - Nov 2024 to Mar 2025

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 Harty's Bar from 8:30am.

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 500m 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.

Entry procedure for the 2025 Dublin City Marathon

The next Dublin Marathon is coming up on the 26th of October 2025. The organisers have recently released the details on how to enter.

Note the key entry dates... Mon 18th Nov 2024 & Thurs 21st Nov 2024.

Irish Life Dublin Marathon 2025 entries... "The Irish Life Dublin Marathon 2025 entries will open to the 2024 participants for 72 hours from Monday 18th of November to Wednesday 20th of November. It will also open for the same time frame for all women who entered the 2024 Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon, this is to encourage and support more female entrants to the marathon.

Applications for entries for the 2025 Irish Life Dublin Marathon via the lottery system will go live on the event website (https://irishlifedublinmarathon.ie/) on Thursday 21st of November 2024 and will close midnight on Wednesday 27th of November.

There is an administration charge of €5 per lottery entry which is redeemable against an entry fee of €110 if successful and non-redeemable if unsuccessful.

Registrants will learn their entry status from the lottery via email / SMS on Monday 2nd of December. One entry per person is permitted."

Results of the Thomas Kent 10k in Castlelyons - Sun 10th Nov 2024

The Thomas Kent 10k in Castlelyons was held this year on Sunday 10th Nov 2024 with a total of 375 runners crossing the finish line. This is down 8% on last year.

This race had to be rescheduled from a month earlier and in general, rescheduled races tend to have slightly lower numbers as some people won't be able to make the new date due to other commitments.

Top 3 men & women...
1 Sergiu Ciobanu Clonliffe Harriers AC 32:20 M40 53
2 Barry Twohig St. Finbarrs A.C. 32:55 M45 438
3 Sean Davin Cork 34:40 MS 93
13 Michelle Kenny Leevale AC 37:27 F45 499
26 Linda Kelly Watergrasshill AC  39:34 F50 198
31 Sharon Cantwell Moyne AC 40:20 FS 39

Full results HERE

New world best parkrun time of 13:44 set in Belfast

Nick Griggs completed the Victoria Park 5k parkrun in Belfast on Sat 9th Nov 2024 to set a new world best time for a parkrun. 

The 19-year old runner from Tyrone completed the 5k course in a time of 13m 44s beating the previous fastest time of 13:45 set by Andy Butchart at Edinburgh’s parkrun last June.

Last December, Irish international athlete Ciara Mageean set the women's parkrun record on the same course, running the distance in a time of of 15:13.

Notice: Newmarket 5k road race - Sun 8th Dec 2024

This popular 5 km road race is coming up in the town of Newmarket in North-West Cork on Sunday the 8th of December 2024. This is a fast 5k course and gets a good turnout every year. The race starts at 1pm.

Update: 12th Nov 2024 - 100 places added... 30 places left!

Entries HERE

As you can see from the race flyer above, one of the main attractions this year is that there is a long sleeve dry-fit top included in the entry.

Results of the Eyeries 5-mile road race - Sat 9th Nov 2024

This 5-mile road race on the Beara peninsula attracted a field of 196 runners.

Top 3 men & women...
Bib Pos. Name Club AC Gun Time  
914 1 John LENEHAN City of Derry Spartans M 26:38  
837 2 Aidan NOONE Leevale A.C. M 27:35  
935 3 Donal COAKLEY Leevale A.C. M 27:44  
894 5 Hannah STEEDS Leevale A.C. F 28:46  
909 12 Claire MC CARTHY Leevale A.C. F45 31:11  
834 22 Nina MURPHY Beara A.C. F 34:05

Full results HERE

Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 9th Nov 2024

Results of the 5k parkruns around the county on Saturday 9th Nov 2024. Approximately 1107 runners and walkers took part in the 10 events in Co Cork.

Report... The weather was overcast and mild for this weeks ten 5k parkruns in Co Cork.

ONGOING

If I missed anyone who passed a notable milestone like 100, 200, 250 or above parkruns then let me know.

***

Ballincollig Regional Park: 389 this week, 309 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Sean TWOHIG Male VM35-39 St Finbarrs AC 17:31

2 Paul PENNEY Male VM35-39 St Finbarrs AC 18:15

3 Sam O RIORDAN Male SM18-19 Leevale AC 19:35

16 Rachel GOGGIN Female SW30-34 20:52

19 Kathleen RYAN Female VW35-39 21:18

31 Clodagh CREEDON Female VW45-49 St Finbarrs AC 22:18

Ballincollig results... https://www.parkrun.ie/ballincollig/results/349/

Tramore Valley Park: 275 this week, 298 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Patrick O'DRISCOLL Male VM35-39 16:55

2 Rory O' SULLIVAN Male VM45-49 St Finbarrs AC 17:34

3 Unknown

16 Clare MADDEN Female VW40-44 Togher AC 20:36

26 Helen WALSH Female VW45-49 Togher AC 21:45

31 Roisin CLEARY Female SW25-29 22:10

Tramore Valley Park results...  https://www.parkrun.ie/tramorevalley/results/129/

Glen River: 63 this week, 69 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Colin MORRISON Male VM50-54 20:08

2 Brian LINEHAN Male VM60-64 21:52

3 Bryan GLENDON Male VM45-49 21:53

17 Yan ZHANG Female VW35-39 Sanctuary Runners 26:20

21 Mary OSULLIVAN Female SW20-24 26:31

22 Clodagh BENNETT Female VW45-49 26:47

Glen River results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glenriver/results/232/

Mallow Castle: 88 finishers this week, 74 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Tadhg SULLIVAN Male SM25-29 Bweeng Trail Blazers 16:43

2 Bill MYERS Male SM30-34 19:42

3 Matthew COOKE Male JM11-14 20:09

13 Laura OWENS Female SW25-29 22:45

16 Aoife MCSWEENEY Female SW25-29 23:59

18 Andressa LENIN BRAVO Female SW30-34 24:13

Mallow results... https://www.parkrun.ie/mallowcastle/results/158/

Youghal (Pobalscoil ne Tríonóide) : 47 this week, 61 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Chris O'CONNELL Male VM45-49 St Catherines AC 20:00

2 Adrian GALVIN Male SM20-24 20:29

3 Paddy HUGHES Male VM50-54 21:49

6 Becky CASSIN Female SW25-29 23:05

7 Susan BYRNE Female VW40-44 23:40

8 Saoirse KINSELLA Female JW11-14 24:32

Youghal results... https://www.parkrun.ie/pobalscoilnatrionoide/results/134/

Macroom Castle Demense: 65 this week, 132 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Conrad WATT Male VM35-39 Magnolia RR 18:50

2 Conor LUCEY Male VM35-39 18:55

3 Jude MURPHY Male JM15-17 19:35

4 Martina KIELY Female VW40-44 St Finbarrs AC 19:48

18 Claire CURTIN Female VW35-39 West Muskerry A.C. 24:52

22 Margaret LUCEY Female VW45-49 25:38

Macroom results... https://www.parkrun.ie/macroomcastledemesne/results/501/

Clonakilty: 51 this week, 43 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 David HICKEY Male VM40-44 20:02

2 Niall O'CONNOR Male VM50-54 Ranelagh Harriers 20:47

3 Barry CRONIN Male VM45-49 21:34

11 Sophia KINGSTON Female SW25-29 25:13

12 Laura WHITE Female SW25-29 25:18

14 Kathleen O REGAN Female VW40-44 26:12

Clonakilty results... https://www.parkrun.ie/clonakilty/results/454/

Glengarriff Woods: 69 this week, 101 last week.

Top 3 men & women...

1 JP TREACY Male VM40-44 St Finbarrs AC 19:19

2 Trevor MCGUIRK Male VM40-44 19:35

3 Peter LITTLE Male VM45-49 20:14

6 Michelle BRENNAN Female SW25-29 21:32

11 Niamh CASEY Female VW35-39 24:25

12 Mairead CROWLEY Female SW20-24 24:38

Glengarriff results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glengarriff/results/372/

Bere Island: 30 this week, 46 last week. 

First 3 men & women...

1 Cyril MCNAMARA Male VM55-59 21:36

2 Michael ADAMS Male VM50-54 Lonely Goat RC 22:35

3 Declan MOONEY Male VM35-39 23:06

4 Breeda O SULLIVAN Female VW55-59 Beara AC 23:44

8 Laura WALSH Female SW20-24 28:38

11 Joanne SULLIVAN Female VW55-59 30:25

Bere Island results... https://www.parkrun.ie/bereisland/results/464/

Castlehaven (Rineen Woods): 30 finishers this week, 24 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Merlin HETHERINGTON Male SM30-34 20:27

2 Cathal MINEHANE Male VM45-49 23:36

3 Brian MCCARTHY Male VM40-44 24:45

5 Erin BUSHE Female SW25-29 25:58

7 Deirdre MCCARTHY Female VW40-44 Manchester Tri Club 27:12

8 Sharon LEVIS Female VW40-44 27:15

Castlehaven results... https://www.parkrun.ie/castlehaven/results/385/

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

N73 Dash - Sun 17th Nov 2024

Part of the national N73 road from Mallow to Mitchelstown is currently being upgraded.

On the 17th of November, a 4km stretch of it will be open for a fun walk/run from the Mallow side as far as Ballygown national school.

Registration costs €10 and proceeds go to the school.

Go to www.ballygown.ie if you want to take part.

Sydney added to the World Marathon Majors

It was recently announced that the Sydney Marathon would become the 7th event in the World Marathon Majors.

The World Marathon Majors started in 2006 with five marathons - Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago & New York. Tokyo was added in 2013.

While the Majors has big prizes for elite athletes competing in the series, thousands of people set out on their own personal goal to complete the complete set. Now, Sydney is number seven before the bucket list is complete.

The Sydney Marathon had a record 20,272 finishers during its 2024 race. The next edition is on the 21st of August 2025.

GOAL are looking for help to set up more Christmas Mile events in Cork

Every Christmas, the GOAL charity run GOAL MILE events all over the country to raise funds for their ongoing work. Essentially, people just turn up on the day, make a donation and then run a mile over an accurate course to see what kind of time they can do.

Alan Vard of GOAL has been in touch to say that they are looking for help to set up more events in Co Cork. I know this blog reaches a lot of people right across Munster so I presume they wouldn't say no to help in other counties either.

Alan Vard of GOAL writes... "Right now, GOAL’s courageous country teams are responding to crisis in Gazza, Sudan, and Lebanon, providing food, blankets, and other essentials to those who have lost everything. In Northern Syria, GOAL is providing water to over 250,000 people daily. And in 11 other countries, across Africa, Central America and the Middle East, GOAL staff are working around the clock to save and transform lives."

"I feel very privileged to work in support of the brave and tireless GOAL staff around the world, but to continue GOAL’s essential lifesaving work we need your support. I’m looking to get some more GOAL Mile locations in Cork."

Notice: Churchtown 10-mile road race - Sat 16th Nov 2024

The Churchtown 10-mile road race in north Cork is coming up this year on Saturday 16th November 2024. The race starts at 10am.

After the successful inaugural race last year, this will be the second edition. Please note that entries close at the end of Monday 11th November.

Update: 2nd Nov 2024 - Just under 100 places left now.

Update: 6th Nov 2024 - 50 places left now.

Entries HERE

Churchtown is located just 4kms west of the N20 Cork to Limerick road so access couldn't be easier.

Results & Photos of the Stone Mad Blarney Half-Marathon - Sun 3rd Nov 2024

First place finish for John Meade of St Finbarr's AC

After a gap year in 2023, the Stone Mad Blarney Half-Marathon returned on Sunday 3rd Nov 2024 with 372 runners taking part.

Top 3 men & women...
 1 443 John Meade 01:11:26
2 298 Declan Guina 01:12:07
3 102 Donncha Kiely 01:14:45
1 103 Emma Doyle 01:24:27
2 178 Laura Noonan 01:27:34
3 418 Karen Twomey 01:27:36

Full results HERE

Photos...

1) Mick Dooley has some start line photos HERE and finish line photos HERE

2) Joe Murphy also has some photos... Album 1 ... Album 2... 

Guest Post: In Between Days ...by Pat Walsh

 * In between days *

 “Yesterday I got so old
It made me want to cry’

When you read the news and think of the poor people in Valencia and what they are going through. When you read of wars and conflicts blazing all over the world and we are so powerless to do anything to help.

When you look at America sleepwalking into disaster in the Presidential elections, then is it time for the bed, pull up the quilt and ignore everything.

‘Yesterday I got so scared
I shivered like a child’

But as runners we are better than that. We can’t change the world but we can change our perspective of it. 

Out of bed bright and early today for the Long run. Sky is brightening soon after 7am and hope is in the sky.

The breakfast of Kings, Bran Flakes and a cup of Tea (obviously Barry’s Tea, I’m from Cork ) and maybe there is hope for the world.

Few mobility exercises and stretches to change from a stiff plank just out of bed into a dynamic running machine…! Jaysus what was in the tea!

Off we went on the road to running nirvana. A place that makes us feel better about ourselves and our ability to deal with the world, whether personal or in an overall context. How many sports can offer this. 

Chat as we go to solve the universal problems.

How far you run to reach this state is a personal issue. I need a few miles to thaw out and then I hit the zone. The secret then is to finish before that zone finishes and it just becomes a drag to keep going. 

Usually 10 miles is my go-to distance but in prep for future battles and to sort out a world in turmoil then 12 miles was needed today.

So we finish and what has changed?

Nothing, the world is still in turmoil but my head and the ability to deal with it has just got a booster shot. It is free and available to all. Anytime, anywhere you like. The effects are instant and transferrable.

I can’t shape the world but I can change how I view it. I can help others to deal with what is going on.

12 miles might not change the world but it can change me.

Thanks to Robert Smith and my running friends this morning. Apologies to everyone I met afterwards and annoyed them with my positivity. Yes the Cure were playing when I was warming up at home.

'Show me how you do it, and I promise you

I promise that I'll run away with you' 

#PWR

Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 2nd Nov 2024

Results of the 5k parkruns around the county on Saturday 2nd Nov 2024. Approximately 1156 runners and walkers took part in the 10 events in Co Cork.

Report... The weather was overcast, mild and dry for this weeks ten 5k parkruns in Co Cork.

Macroom... The oldest 5k parkrun in Co Cork celebrated its 500th edition today! It started way back on the 18th of May 2013 and an army of volunteers over the years have kept it going. They had their 2nd largest crowd ever today with 132 participants!

Run Director Sinead Twomey giving the pre-event instructions for the 500th edition

Joe Murphy & Richie Fitzgerald celebrate their 200th and 400th parkrun respectively

100 parkruns for Carmel Purcell!

Bere Island... Well done to Edel Murphy who completed her 400th parkrun on Bere Island this morning!

400 parkruns for Edel Murphy

Mags O'Neill and Breeda O'Sullivan pictured with Olympic rower & medallist Gary O'Donovan at the Bere Island parkrun

Mallow Castle... 

A flying visit! Members of St Edmunds Pacers in Suffolk flew into Cork on a Ryanair flight to take part in this weeks 5k parkrun in Mallow

If I missed anyone who passed a notable milestone like 100, 200, 250 or above parkruns then let me know.

***

Ballincollig Regional Park: 309 this week, 306 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Conor O'NEILL Male VM45-49 17:53

2 Sean O BRIEN Male VM40-44 St Finbarrs AC 18:16

3 Alan O'SULLIVAN Male VM40-44 Eagle A.C. 18:40

10 Aoife COOKE Female VW35-39 19:46

13 Niamh CRONIN Female VW45-49 St Finbarrs AC 19:55

25 Ciara O GORMAN Female SW20-24 21:40

Ballincollig results... https://www.parkrun.ie/ballincollig/results/348/

Tramore Valley Park: 298 this week, 201 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Unknown

2 Rory O' SULLIVAN Male VM45-49 St Finbarrs AC 17:50

3 Shane MCQUILLAN Male SM25-29 St Finbarrs AC 18:08

8 Siobhan HOARE Female VW45-49 Togher AC 18:48

9 Aoife QUIGLEY Female VW40-44 Crusaders Athletic Club 19:29

10 Carmel CROWLEY Female VW55-59 19:43

Tramore Valley Park results...  https://www.parkrun.ie/tramorevalley/results/128/

Glen River: 69 this week, 75 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Colin MORRISON Male VM50-54 20:05

2 Colm CROWLEY Male VM45-49 20:38

3 Michael O SULLIVAN Male VM40-44 20:49

14 Caoimhe WEBB-BROWNE Female JW10 25:10

24 Clodagh BENNETT Female VW45-49 27:04

26 Heather NORVEIL Female VW35-39 27:40

Glen River results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glenriver/results/231/

Mallow Castle: 74 finishers this week, 74 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Katie KING Female VW35-39 St Edmunds Pacers 18:49

15 Norleen KENNY Female VW40-44 St Finbarrs AC 22:45

19 Marie BUCKLEY Female VW40-44 24:28

2 Paul DOCKERILL Male VM45-49 St Edmunds Pacers 18:50

3 Eddie HENNIGAN Male SM20-24 19:10

4 Howard BEASLEY Male VM60-64 St Edmunds Pacers 19:26

Mallow results... https://www.parkrun.ie/mallowcastle/results/157/

Youghal (Pobalscoil ne Tríonóide) : 60 this week, 76 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Noel EARLY Male VM40-44 St Catherines AC 19:47

2 Unknown  

3 Keith BARRY Male VM45-49 St Catherines AC 20:30

7 Shannon SOTOK Female SW30-34 21:51

13 Éadaoin COLEMAN Female VW40-44 22:24

18 Skyla CRONIN Female JW11-14 24:33

Youghal results... https://www.parkrun.ie/pobalscoilnatrionoide/results/133/

Macroom Castle Demense: 132 this week, 37 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 JP TREACY Male VM40-44 St Finbarrs AC 18:48

2 Conor LUCEY Male VM35-39 18:52

3 John O'DONOGHUE Male SM30-34 18:58

5 Martina KIELY Female VW40-44 St Finbarrs AC 19:42

15 Mary LUCEY Female VW40-44 West Muskerry A.C. 23:11

21 Edel BUCKLEY Female VW35-39 Bweeng Trail Blazers 23:56

Macroom results... https://www.parkrun.ie/macroomcastledemesne/results/500/

Clonakilty: 43 this week, 41 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Martin WHITE Male VM40-44 Clonakilty Roadrunners AC 18:10

3 Niall O'CONNOR Male VM50-54 Ranelagh Harriers 20:32

4 Bryan GALLWEY Male VM40-44 20:35

2 Siobhan HORGAN Female VW45-49 20:31

11 Sophia KINGSTON Female SW25-29 24:46

14 Eileen MCCARTHY Female VW55-59 Galway City Harriers 25:53

Clonakilty results... https://www.parkrun.ie/clonakilty/results/453/

Glengarriff Woods: 101 this week, 98 last week.

Top 3 men & women...

1 Patrick O'DRISCOLL Male VM35-39 South Melbourne AC 18:03

2 Ray KELLEHER Male VM45-49 Kenmare Athletics Club 20:15

3 Bobby TANGNEY Male VM45-49 Kenmare Athletics Club 20:15

6 Jade VAN DEVENTER Female SW20-24 21:33

12 Anna O'NEILL Female VW55-59 23:28

16 Kate PLUNKETT Female VW40-44 25:15

Glengarriff results... https://www.parkrun.ie/glengarriff/results/371/

Bere Island: 46 this week, 41 last week. 

First 3 men & women...

1 Michelagh MURPHY Female SW20-24 22:33

4 Breeda O SULLIVAN Female VW55-59 Beara AC 23:58

6 Pippa O SULLIVAN Female JW11-14 25:35

2 Ciarán O' DRISCOLL Male VM35-39 23:16

3 James O'SULLIVAN Male VM50-54 23:45

5 Unknown

Bere Island results... https://www.parkrun.ie/bereisland/results/463/

Castlehaven (Rineen Woods): 24 finishers this week, 21 last week.

First 3 men & women...

1 Kevin MURPHY Male VM40-44 24:44

2 John DALY Male VM40-44 24:45

3 Richard LATTEN Male VM45-49 UTS Run Club 24:52

5 Amy O'MAHONY Female VW40-44 Donoughmore AC 27:24

8 Louise FULLAM Female VW40-44 28:31

10 Aideen COLEMAN Female VW40-44 Eagle A.C. 30:39

Castlehaven results... https://www.parkrun.ie/castlehaven/results/384/

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

Macroom 5k parkrun to celebrate 500th event!

The 5k parkrun in Macroom was the very first parkrun in Co Cork and it started way back on the 18th of May 2013. It would later be joined by the Clonakilty parkrun in February of 2014 and Bere Island in August 2014.

On the 2nd of November 2024, the Macroom event will be celebrating their 500th edition! ..and I hear there will be cake!

For more info on the Macroom parkrun, go to https://www.parkrun.ie/macroomcastledemesne/