Google+ Running in Cork, Ireland: April 2026

Saturday, April 04, 2026

Results of the 5k parkruns in Cork - Sat 4th Apr 2026



Results of the 5k parkruns around the county on Saturday 4th April 2026. Approximately 1271 runners and walkers took part in the 11 events in Co Cork.

Report... It looks as if most of the rain overnight had passed for this weeks 5k parkruns at 9:30am with the odd scattered shower passing through.

Tramore Valley Park... No volunteers, no parkruns. Well done to Paula Mulcahy who earned her 100th volunteer credit at the parkrun this weekend!


Ballincollig... Well done to Michael Brennan who earned his 250th volunteer credit by doing timekeeping at the Ballincollig event this weekend!



At the same event, Ted O'Keeffe completed his 250th parkrun!


Bere Island... Sean Brennan reached the century mark at the Bere Island parkrun this weekend. Sean has done 40 on Bere Island and 47 at Tolka Valley.

Clonakilty... The person in Cork with the most parkruns this weekend was Philip McIlwrath who was a visitor from Belfast and was doing Clonakilty for the first time. He has 485 parkruns completed.

ONGOING

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

Upcoming milestones....
a) Tramore Valley Park - 200th event - 2nd May 2026

***

Ballincollig Regional Park:  322 this week, 310 last week.

First 3 men & women...
1 Govinda O'SULLIVAN Male SM25-29 Eagle A.C. 17:12
2 Patrick GEARY Male SM25-29 18:48
3 Trevor WOODS Male VM55-59 Cork Triathlon Club 18:54
26 Lia FENNESSY RYAN Female SW20-24 22:03
51 Mairead PEREZ Female VW50-54 Eagle A.C. 23:45
55 Deirbhile O'KEEFFE Female SW25-29 Raheny Shamrock AC 23:55


Tramore Valley Park: 244 this week, 284 last week.

First 3 men & women...
1 Christopher OREILLY Male VM35-39 16:47
2 Daniel HORGAN Male JM15-17 Blackheath & Bromley Harriers AC 17:03
4 Arnaud BENJACAR Male VM55-59 Liffey Valley AC 18:28
3 Orla DRUMM Female VW40-44 Crusaders A C Dublin 18:18
17 Sophie WOLFE Female JW15-17 Togher AC 21:07
23 Lauren KEANEY Female SW25-29 22:22


Glen River: 61 this week, 64 last week.

First 3 men & women...
1 Alex O SHEA Male VM50-54 St Finbarrs AC 20:14
2 Colin MORRISON Male VM50-54 20:17
3 Cian BRANNIGAN Male SM25-29 20:56
8 Siun MOAKLEY REILLY Female JW11-14 22:43
10 Hilary HEDDERMAN Female SW20-24 23:40
15 Helen MOAKLEY Female VW45-49 24:48


Midleton Greenway: 177 this week, 139 last week.

First 3 men & women...
1 Darren MCCANN Male VM35-39 St Finbarrs AC 17:58
2 Michael O DONOGHUE Male VM45-49 18:03
3 Brendan MAGUIRE Male VM45-49 18:34
9 Nollaigh O'NEILL Female VW50-54 20:33
14 Emma BELL Female SW20-24 21:08
20 Sheila PURCELL Female VW50-54 21:38


Mallow Castle: 80 this week, 99 last week.

First 3 men & women...
1 Thomas BROWNE Male SM20-24 17:21
2 Vinny GRIMES Male SM30-34 19:39
3 Chris GALLAHUE Male VM40-44 20:38
11 Orla NOLAN Female VW55-59 Dromahane Roadrunners 23:01
12 Edel BUCKLEY Female VW40-44 23:41
15 Clodagh BENNETT Female VW45-49 24:44


Youghal (Pobalscoil na Tríonóide) : 35 this week, 59 last week.

First 3 men & women...
1 John COUGHLAN Male VM45-49 20:15
2 Brendan COLEMAN Male VM45-49 20:43
3 Adam BULMAN Male SM25-29 20:56
7 Éadaoin COLEMAN Female VW40-44 22:52
14 Cait DELANEY Female SW25-29 24:09
15 Cliona O'KEEFFE Female VW40-44 24:55


Macroom Castle Demense: 59 this week, 56 last week.

First 3 men & women...
1 Conor LUCEY Male VM40-44 19:41
2 Jude MURPHY Male SM18-19 20:58
3 Matt MURPHY Male SM20-24 21:12
18 Carrie DESMOND Female VW40-44 24:34
20 Aoife GARDNER Female VW45-49 25:01
22 Caroline O DONNELL Female VW55-59 25:58


Clonakilty:  56 this week, 39 last week. 

First 3 men & women...
1 Tiarnan O DONOGHUE Male SM18-19 Togher AC 18:59
2 Ciaran YOUNG Male SM30-34 Lothian RC 19:10
3 Niall O'CONNOR Male VM50-54 West Cork Triathlon Club (WCTC) 20:43
12 Deirdre HARRINGTON Female VW50-54 Durrus Athletic Club 23:24
16 Sandra WALSH Female VW55-59 24:57
20 Kate WHELTON Female JW15-17 26:20


Glengarriff Woods: 109 this week, 95 last week.

Top 3 men & women...
1 Darragh COPPINGER Male JM15-17 19:58
2 Finn CONNER Male JM15-17 20:16
3 Declan WHOOLEY Male VM40-44 Raheny Shamrock AC 21:43
14 Sarah KELLY Female VW35-39 Raheny Shamrock AC 24:10
18 Emer BROGAN Female VW45-49 25:08
24 Anita GRIMES Female VW60-64 26:37


Bere Island: 80 this week, 39 last week. 

First 3 men & women...
1 Colm WILSON Male SM20-24 20:07
2 Fergus ROONEY Male VM45-49 20:21
4 Ronan HARRIS Male VM50-54 Raheny Shamrock AC 21:06
3 Michelagh MURPHY Female SW20-24 20:45
11 Mags O NEILL Female VW45-49 Beara AC 26:32
12 Emma ROONEY Female JW11-14 26:51


Castlehaven (Rineen Woods): 46 finishers this week, 24 last week.

First 3 men & women...
1 Florence FITZGERALD Male VM35-39 21:12
2 Ger O'TOOLE Male VM55-59 Blackrock AC 21:59
3 Aaron ROSS Male SM25-29 22:51 
10 Lucy J MCCANN Female SW25-29 24:50
18 Deirdre MCCARTHY Female VW45-49 Manchester Tri Club 27:18
20 Marie KEHOE Female VW45-49 28:00


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

Friday, April 03, 2026

Results of the Streets of Killarney 5-mile - Fri 3rd Apr 2026

The Streets of Killarney 5-mile race was held on Friday 3rd of April 2026. 

The first woman was Michelle Finn of Leevale AC in Cork who won the Killarney race 24 hours after winning the Streets of Kilkenny 5k!

Full results HERE

 

New section of Greenway between Glenbrook and Monkstown is open - Apr 2026

 


Over the last few days, contractors have been putting the finishing touches to the new greenway between Glenbrook and Monkstown and it is now finally open as can be seen in the photo above.

It's not that long but it's another step in getting a full greenway between Carrigaline and Cork City.


The map above shows the location. The bright green section is the new greenway which is about 730m in length. The dark green section is the existing narrower section which runs under the 'Cut and Cover' railway tunnel and comes out in Monkstown.


The new greenway starts at the cross harbour ferry as shown above and heads south.


The photo above shows the end of the new section and transitions onto the narrower 400m section. The 'Cut and Cover' railway tunnel can be seen in the distance and Monkstown is around the corner.

Video... The video below shows part of the new greenway starting from the car ferry...

Cork to Carrigaline Greenway... This is a map of the approximate route for the full 17.5km greenway which will go from Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork City to Carrigaline.


As of the Spring of 2026, there is a greenway from Cork City to Passage West which is about 8kms in length and there is a short 500m section in Carrigaline. The balance is about 9kms.

This new section from the car ferry to Monkstown reduces the undeveloped section from about 9 to 8kms. It's not a huge amount but it's another step in the overall project.

Impact???... The previous footpath was reasonably wide so the impact for walkers and runners of the new section is pretty small, it just means that there is more space. The bigger impact will be for slower cyclists in that the greenway is a lot safer than the main road for adults and children. Motorists benefit because there are fewer cyclists on the road that they need to pass.

In terms of road races, the Great Railway Run from Cork to Carrigaline and the Cork Down Syndrome charity half-marathon from Haulbowline to Pairc Ui Chaoimh use this new section of greenway.

Thursday, April 02, 2026

Notice: Karen Fenton Memorial 5k in Ballinora - Sun 26th April 2026


The Karen Fenton 5K Memorial Run is scheduled to take place this year on Sunday 26th of April 2026 @ 11:30am. The location is for the 5k is in Ballinora which is just to the south of Ballincollig in the western part of Cork City.

Entries...You can enter online HERE

Update: Please note that the start time has been changed from 12:30pm to 11:30am.

Entries will also be taken on the day for the same price.

Part 2 of the South Kerry Greenway near Glenbeigh opens 2nd Apr 2026


The first part of the South Kerry Greenway opened near Goldens of Kells on the 19th of December 2025. See previous post.

The second part of the South Kerry Greenway near Glenbeigh will be opened at 2pm on Thursday 2nd of April 2026. This has been announced in several media outlets over the last few days but if you're not from the area then it's not really clear about what's really happening. I have put together a map shown above which shows the new stages.

The first stage at Kells is about 3.1kms in length and has been popular with walkers. The only thing though is that it's a bit in the middle of nowhere and people have to drive there to get access.

The second stage however starts in the village of Glenbeigh so local walkers and runners can access it from home. It is 4.2kms in length which gives 8.4kms for anyone going out and back. That's probably a roughly 90-minute walk for someone so it's pretty reasonable.

This new section basically has high ground to the west so there are no sea views but the semi-circle of mountains to the south provide a lovely backdrop to this section.


It is expected that an additional 2kms will be added to this section by the summer of 2026. The plan is to add an additional 10kms to the Greenway in 2027.

While the full greenway is 32kms in length and goes from Glenbeigh to Reenard (south west of Cahersiveen), the jewel in the crown so to speak is the section between the first and second sections.

This will have elevated views out over Dingle Bay and will include three short tunnels and one bridge.

New section of greenway near Glenbeigh

Once these two sections are connected then the greenway project takes on a whole new life. It was the same as the Waterford greenway. Once the section from Dungarvan to Kilmacthomas opened, the visitors flocked in. 

It should be the same for Glenbeigh. Cyclists can use it for an easy out and back cycle and there will be plenty of choices for walkers and runners. It's great to see some progress at last.

Wednesday, April 01, 2026

Cork City Marathon finish line moves to the Grand Parade...


The organisers of the Cork City Marathon have announced that the finish line for the 2026 event will move from Patricks Street to the Grand Parade. 

The full marathon will now start on the Grand Parade and finish by the city library on the Grand Parade.

The half-marathon will still start on Monahan Road which is about 500m from the city hall and it will finish on the Grand Parade.

The 10k will start somewhere on the South Mall and will finish on the Grand Parade.

According to the organisers.... "Exciting News! We have new start and finish lines this year, designed to improve safety, increase capacity, and create a stronger city-centre experience for runners and spectators!". They also put out a press release which was a masterclass in a public relations word salad.

What it means... 1) It makes no difference to the runners or spectators experience, it's just a different finish line.

2) They had about 20-metres in width available for a finish line on Patricks Street. It's about 30-metres on the Grand Parade so it's easier for the organisers.

3) Patricks Street is one of the main retail areas of Cork City. By moving the finish line to the Grand Parade, it means a lot less disruption for retailers and shoppers on Patricks Street.


Slí Cumann na mBan... This is the name of the riverside walk which went from the Mardyke Walk to the Irish Distillers plant by the North Mall. The Marathon, Half-Marathon & 10k will no longer use this section and instead, it will take a more direct route towards Washington Street and the finish line on the Grand Parade.

This walkway was useful from an organisers point of view in the past as it meant that fewer roads would need to be closed. It is however quite narrow and was a real bottleneck when the number of runners was high.

By keeping the runners on public roads, it should mean that the numbers can be increased in the future.

In summary... The reality is that the Cork Marathon event is starting to fall behind and wasn't living up to its full potential. Cork City is the 3rd largest city in Ireland and in 2024, the Cork Half-Marathon was the 3rd largest half-marathon in Ireland. In 2025, it dropped down to 7th place because it wasn't able to cater for the demand.

Moving the finish to the Grand Parade means that it is moving from a retail area to a more suitable location for a sporting event. Removing the riverside walk will enable larger numbers in future allow the event to live up to its true potential.