New paths at the Atlantic Pond in the Marina Park - Dec 2025

Over the last two years or so, the whole Marina area in Cork City has been redeveloped and the latest section to open last week is around the Atlantic Pond.

This area was really showing its age with areas next to the Pond prone to constant flooding and the paths often had large pools of standing water. There were some sections which were more like a bog with people trying to avoid getting wet.

By contrast, the new paths are nice and wide and there's plenty of options there for runners and walkers.

The lane up to Barrington's Avenue has also reopened which gives access again from the Blackrock Road.

There are some photos up on the Running in Cork Facebook page HERE

It would seem like a nice area for a 5k parkrun? ...or at least a 2k junior parkrun?

Notice: Cork BHAA Gas Networks Ireland 5k road race in Cork City - Wed 16th July 2025

This years Cork BHAA Gas Networks Ireland 5k road race in Cork City is coming up on Wed 16th July 2025 at 8pm.

Entry fee is €5 for registered runners and €10 for non-registered. Registration is open from 6:30pm to 7:30pm at Cork Boat Club in Blackrock village, with the first 500 entries receiving a free long sleeve dry fit t-shirt.

There are no pre-entries so get there early on the night to enter.

You will need to be there in person to pick up the t-shirt, you can't pick up a t-shirt for someone else.

Marina in Cork City reopens - Dec 2024

The Marina in Cork city has been closed for most of 2024 as contractors work on the major refurbishment of the park. During the last week however, they re-opened the Marina itself while other parts of the new park will take a few more months.

The photo above shows the area at the entrance to Holland Park where the new slides are. They really have made an excellent job if it.

The photo above shows the Marina section by the Atlantic Pond and as you can see, the surface is really smooth. It's perfect for anyone roller blading or kids on scooters.

It's also of course perfect for running. The old road surface was pretty poor and even that was an improvement on what it was about 20 years ago when I used to run on it in the dark. The only light was from across the river and it was impossible to make out the potholes and raised edges.

The new Marina won't mean anything unless cars can't get access and with that in mind, there are bollards at both ends.

The photo above shows the city end of the Marina with bollards preventing access to vehicles. The three thicker bollards on the left are retractable which allows access for maintenance staff.

If any race organisers are thinking about using the Marina as part of a route in future, the bollards might be an issue.

When the whole Marina Park project is completed, this will be one of the premier city parks in Cork City.

It's also worth mentioning that some thanks should go to the city councillors who have supported this Marina project since the beginning. 

It's hard to believe now but one former councillor in Mayfield was against the project because he thought the Marina should be kept as a road so that 'old people can be taken for a spin on Sundays'. You couldn't make it up.

Fair play to Cork City Council for a job well done. Now for the parkrun...

Elevated walkway fitted at the Marina Park in Cork City - Nov 2024

Works are continuing on upgrading the extensive new park at the Marina in Cork City and Cork City Council recently released some photos showing the new elevated walkway that is being installed.

This section is located near Barrington's Folly which is just to the east of the Atlantic Pond.... shown below in purple. It seems likely that a lot of the work will be completed by early 2025 and the whole project by the end of the year. 

Over the next decade or so, there are plans for large residential developments in this general area and across the water in Tivoli which will hopefully be linked by a new bridge.

As so many people will be living in this area in the future, it raises the question of whether a parkrun is viable? Be it a 5k for adults or a 2k for juveniles.

There are loads of paths to make some routes and the greenway to Rochestown could be used for an out and back section if needs be.

Is anyone interested in this be it as an organiser or a participant?

Parkrun have a contact page here is anyone wants to try and get something going... https://www.parkrun.com/about/join-us/start-your-own-event/

Results & photos of the Run in the Dark 5k & 10k in Cork - Wed 15th Nov 2023

There was a strong recovery in numbers compared to 2022 for this years Run in the Dark event in Cork with just over 1500 runners and walkers crossing the finish line in Cork City.

In the 5k race, there were 760 finishers with another 749 in the 10k event.

The overall numbers over the last decade or so are shown at the end of the post. It's still down on the numbers of a few years ago but any event that gets 1500 people on a dark evening in Cork City in the middle of November is still impressive.

10k - Top 3 men & women...

1 Ryan MULROY (#1662) 35:05 
2 Keelan DESMOND (#1832) 35:43
3 Gerald O' SULLIVAN (#1585) 35:51
1 Brigid LONG (#831) Bord Gais 41:08
2 Trish HEGARTY (#965) 42:53
3 Roisin HURLEY (#1861) 43:36

10k results HERE

5k - Top 3 men & women...

1 Dermot RYAN (#5562) EY CORK 16:49
2 Alexis VIGNER (#1860) 17:42
3 Aaron KELLY (#1736) 18:33
1 Alison DONNELLY (#946) 19:20 
2 Eloisa Gayle MALLILLIN (#660) KPMG 19:59
3 Kathleen RYAN (#1698) Stryker RITD 2023 20:48

5k results HERE

Photos...

1) Mick Dooley has a gallery of about 80 photos HERE

Results & Photos of the Douglas Credit Union 5k - Sun 1st Oct 2023

First place finishes for Gavin Kenny & Linda Kelly

The annual Douglas Credit Union Charity 5k was held in Tramore Valley Park in Cork City on Sunday 1st Oct 2023 with 146 crossing the finish line, a jump of 62% on the figure for 2022.

Proceeds from this event went to two deserving charities, Cork Cancer Care Centre and Feileacain. 

Top 3 men & women...

Bib Pos. Name Club AG Chip Time Gun Time  
2983 1 Gavin KENNY Bandon A.C. M 16:13
2976 2 Conrad WATT M 16:44
2981 3 Jason O MAHONY Eagle A.C. M40 16:56
2899 4 Linda KELLY Carrigaline Road Runners A.C. F40 19:12
2428 9 Olive KELLY F40 19:30
2416 15 Norleen KENNY F40 21:49

Full results HERE

Photos...

1) Pop Up Races has a gallery of finish line photos HERE

2) Douglas Credit Union has several galleries... Album 1 ... Album 2 ... Album 3 

Support needed for St Mary's Campus Junior parkrun in Cork City

 

The St Mary's Campus Junior 2km parkrun in Gurranabraher started on the 2nd of April 2023 and the event next Sunday will be its 18th edition.

The numbers for each week are shown above but as you can see, the turnout has been pretty low. In July, just 4 and 7 kids took part on two respective Sundays.

It looked like the event next Sunday the 3rd of Sept would be cancelled due to a lack of volunteers but in the end, they managed to get a team together after an appeal.

Considering that this is the only junior parkrun on the northside of Cork City, it should really be getting much larger numbers. The map below shows what areas are within 2kms of the parkrun and there must be thousands of 4-14 year old's in the catchment area.

I suspect the main reason that the numbers are so low is that people just don't know about it.

If you think your kids might be interested then it's on every Sunday at 9:30am and it's free.

For more info, go to https://www.parkrun.ie/stmaryscampus-juniors/

Tramore Valley Park parkrun to take a 2-week break - 19th & 26th Aug 2023

With people going away on holidays, the guys at the Tramore Valley Park 5k parkrun in Cork City are taking a break on Saturday 19th and 26th of August 2023. They will be back in action again on Saturday 2nd of September.

The closest alternative 5k parkrun events are the Glen River parkrun on the northside of Cork City and Ballincollig parkrun at the regional park.

New junior 2k parkrun in Gurranabraher is up and running...

The new Junior St Mary's Campus 2k parkrun in Gurranabraher on the north side of Cork City got underway on Sunday the 2nd of April 2023 with 49 participants crossing the finish line. This is now the fourth junior parkrun in Cork joining Cobh, Ballincollig & Ballinlough.

As outlined in a previous post, there are plans for new junior parkruns as well in Togher, Dunmanway and Mallow.

As with all parkruns, the organisers of the St Mary's Campus 2k parkrun are looking for volunteers to help out. If you want to help, send a mail to stmaryscampusjuniors AT parkrun DOT com 

Their website is https://www.parkrun.ie/stmaryscampus-juniors/

Some key points...
1) It's called the St Mary’s Campus junior parkrun
2) It is held every Sunday at 9:30am
3) As with all Junior parkruns, it's for 4 to 14 year olds
4) The course is 2kms which is 3-laps of the campus in an anti-clockwise direction.
5) And it is of course free

Final push needed to get 3 Junior 2k parkruns in Cork City over the line

In January of 2023, I had a post up about a proposed new 2km parkrun for 4-14 year olds in Clashduv Park in Togher. See post HERE

About a year ago, I had a post up about a new 2k Junior parkrun in Ballinlough. See HERE

Back in 2019, I had a post about a proposed new 2k Junior parkrun in Gurranabraher. See HERE

While the Togher Junior parkrun is a new proposal, the other two have been delayed for various reasons.

Finally, it now looks as if ALL THREE will go ahead in 2023 and there will be three new 2km  Junior parkruns in Cork City! That will bring the total number of Junior parkruns in Cork to five with the Ballincollig and Cobh events already on the calendar.

Help needed... To get this project over the line, they are looking for volunteers.  

This is from Cork Sports Partnership... New Junior Parkrun Clashduv Park Junior Parkrun | Volunteer Call Out

Cork City Council, Cork Sports Partnership, Parkrun Ireland, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare’s plans and developments are well underway to set up a new 2k junior parkrun in Clashduv Park Junior Parkrun in Togher! For this to proceed we need volunteers!! Exciting times ahead as Cork Sports Partnership working together with local partners on 3 new Junior Parkrun sites in the city:

St Mary’s Health Campus, Gurranabraher, Ballinlough Park & Clashduv Park, Togher

If you can help out then send an email to john DOT kissane AT parkrun DOT com

Alternatively, you can fill out the form at the end of the information page HERE

What is junior parkrun? - A free, fun, and friendly weekly 2k event for juniors (4 to 14 year olds).​

When is it? - It is held every Sunday at 9:30am.

What does it cost to join in? - Nothing - it's free! but please register before you first come along. Only ever register with parkrun once and don't forget to bring a scannable copy of your barcode. If you forget it, you won't get a time.

Results of the Run in the Dark 5k & 10k in Cork City - 9th Nov 2022

The Run in the Dark 5k event was held in Cork City centre on Wednesday the 9th of November 2022 with 520 finishers in the 5k and 480 finishers in the 10k.

As can be seen, that's a huge 45% drop on the numbers taking part in 2019. Despite this, it still remains one of the largest races on the calendar in Cork.

Top 3 men & women in the 10k...

Male
Pos Cat Name Team Gun Time Net Time
1 All Ages Simon Nolan (#7436) Kerry Carrigaline 00:32:39 00:32:39
2 All Ages Adam Gould (#6882) 00:36:22 00:36:20
3 All Ages Karl Mitchell (#6489) PM Group Cork 2022 00:36:32 00:36:30
Female
Pos Cat Name Team Gun Time Net Time
1 All Ages Lia Powter (#7092) 00:43:01 00:42:56
2 All Ages Aisling Byrne (#7036) 00:43:21 00:43:16
3 All Ages April Quinn (#6787) 00:44:35 00:44:02

Full 10k results HERE

Top 3 men & women in the 5k...

Male
Pos Cat Name Team Gun Time Net Time
1 All Ages Ray O'Connell (#6996) Orsted 00:15:54 00:15:54
2 All Ages John Collins (#6931) Cork Track Club 00:15:56 00:15:56
3 All Ages Brian Ahern (#7462) Cognex 123 00:17:37 00:17:36
Female
Pos Cat Name Team Gun Time Net Time
1 All Ages Elaine Collins (#6904) 00:19:32 00:19:30
2 All Ages Eimear O'Brien (#6742)  00:20:34 00:20:34
3 All Ages Sally Ann Lynch (#7432) Alliance Medical Diagnostic Imaging Cork 00:20:41 00:20:40

Full 5k results HERE

Notice: Cork BHAA John Buckley Sports 5k road race - Tues 17th May 2022

The annual John Buckley Sports 5k road race is one of the most popular races in Cork City and always attracts a large crowd. Organised in conjunction with the Cork BHAA, this race is suitable for all types of runner...from the serious to the more casual runner. The entry fee is only €5 for Cork BHAA registered runners or €10 for non-reg runners.

You can pre-enter this race by going to https://johnbuckleysports.com/

You can also enter on the night but it really helps if you pre-enter so that they can have everything ready.

Please note that the race HQ is at the LEE ROWING CLUB near the Pairc Ui Chaoimh stadium.

There will also be a draw for a free pair of NIKE Air Pegasus shoes for anyone who pre-enters! (...or similar in a brand of your choice)

Online entries will close around lunch time on Tuesday. Entries on the night close at 7:30pm so that they have time to input all the data.

NTA allocate €1.5 million for new path from Grange to the Tramore Valley Park

Update 11th Feb 2021: Good news! The National Transport Authority (NTA) have just allocated €1.5 million in funding to construct a new pedestrian and cycle path from the Grange Road / Frankfield to the Tramore Valley Park. This will include a new bridge over the South Ring Road.

 

Back in early 2018, full planning permission was granted for a new pedestrian/cycleway from the Grange Road through the Vernon Mount Valley with an overbridge to the Tramore Valley Park.

At a recent meeting of Cork City Council, the Director of Infrastructure Development said that the plans were now finalised... ‘The detailed design of the project has been completed, aided by grant funding by the National Transport Authority. Under the current programme it is envisaged that subject to funding, the Council will be tendering for works and appointing a contractor in 2021, with an estimated construction time of 18 months.’
 

Slowly but surely this project is gradually getting there. The key word however in the statement above is funding. 

Ground work on the entrance from Grange in 2016

Previous posts...

Cork City Council plans to build a bridge to access Tramore Valley Park (May 2018)

Update on the bridge and walkway for the Tramore Valley Park (Oct 2015)

Planning Notice (2017)

Opinion Poll shows 90% public support for keeping Marina closed to traffic

 

 

Cork City Council carried out a recent public consultation as to whether the Marina should remain pedestrianised and closed to cars and the answer was a resounding yes!

There were a total of 250 replies to the consultation. 224 wanted to keep the Marina free from traffic, 21 wanted to keep it open to traffic and 5 didn't express a choice one way or the other.

This is excellent news for runners, walkers and cyclists alike and the results of the consultation will now be discussed by public representatives at a council meeting in mid-December. With the public giving a resounding 'Yes' to the proposal, it's hard to see how any councilor could realistically vote against keeping it closed to traffic.

It is expected that the Council will proceed to fit removable bollards on the Marina at the northern entrance to Pairc Ui Chaoimh and at the junction near Church Avenue. This will be an important step as simple barriers can be pushed aside as has happened when there were GAA matches going ahead in Pairc Ui Chaoimh a few months back.

The Council are also looking at a long-term option of fitting automatic rising bollards on the Marina.

Public consulation on keeping the Marina in Cork City pedestrianised

Reminder: Public consultation on keeping the Marina pedestrianised closes Mon 2nd Nov 2020

* * * * *

 

Cork City Council recently announced plans to close a number of roads in the city to traffic and one of those is the Marina. This was closed to traffic due to to the COVID pandemic to allow the public more space for exercising and social distancing.

The short term plan is for it to remain closed to traffic until the end of the 2020 but the Council now plan to keep it pedestrianised. That however is subject to public approval.

The Cork City Council notice is HERE

You can give the council feedback on the proposal HERE (registration required but it's free).

The Marina is one of the most popular spots in Cork City for walkers, runners and cyclists alike. It's vital that this public amenity doesn't revert back to being a rat run for cars and vans again.

I'd ask you to consider making a submission in support of the closure to traffic and keep it as a public amenity. Submissions close on the 2nd of November 2020.

Results & Photos of the Glen River 5k parkrun - Sat 11th Jan 2020

There were 110 participants for this weeks 5k parkrun in the Glen in Cork City. As you can see, the numbers at the start of last year were about the same level and then died off in late Febraury. We'll have to wait and see what happens this year.

1 Craig HARRINGTON Male SM30-34 Togher AC 19:05
2 Andy GOULDING Male SM30-34 Watergrasshill AC 19:17
3 Kevin GLEESON Male VM35-39 19:38
19 Eileen DUFF Female SW30-34 Stubbington Green Runners 23:20
24 Ruth O CONNOR Female VW35-39 Watergrasshill AC 24:28
25 Jayne O'BRIC Female VW40-44 24:35

Full results

Photos...
1) The organisers have a gallery HERE
2) Mick Dooly has a small gallery HERE

Results & Photos of the Glen River Park 5k parkrun - 1st Jan 2020

The first 5k parkrun of the new year the Glen in Cork City got off to a remarkable start with 255 taking part. As can be seen from the chart above, this is a huge jump in numbers and is a new reocrd for the event.

The good thing about the large numbers is that many people will have seen the Glen parkrun for the first time and it will hopefully encourage a few to turn up on a regular basis. For a 5k parkrun on the north side of Cork City, it really should be getting at least 100 participants every week.

1 Ken INCE Male VM35-39 Watergrasshill AC 18:09
2 John SPELMAN Male JM15-17 Midleton AC 18:13
3 Ben ROWLANDS Male VM35-39 Orion Harriers 18:24
20 Eilis MANNION Female VW40-44 20:50
47 Sandra WALSH Female VW45-49 23:45
49 Sarah TREACY Female SW30-34 23:52

Full results

Photos...
1) Mick Dooley has a set of photos HERE

Results & Photos of the Glen River 5k parkrun - Sat 14th Dec 2019

Sonia O'Sullivan leads out the troops at this weeks 5k parkrun in the Glen in Cork City

A grand total of 79 runners turned out for this weeks 5k parkrun in the Glen on the north side of Cork City.

As you can see from the photo above, the first woman home was Sonia O'Sullivan, a World Champion and Olympic Silver medalist for the 5000m.

What many of you may not know is that the first man home is a record holder in his own right. Brian Linehan holds the record for the fastest time for cycling from Cork to Dublin back in 1994, well before the motorway network was built. His time... 6 hours and 16 minutes from the GPO in Cork to the GPO in Dublin. Video HERE


1 Brian LINEHAN Male VM55-59 20:29
2 Fergal BRENNAN Male VM40-44 20:49
3 Richard HAWKINS Male VM50-54 Eagle A.C.
7 Sonia O'SULLIVAN Female VW50-54 Glenhuntly AC 22:22
11 Edith O'DONNELL Female JW11-14 23:44
15 Sally-Ann LYNCH Female SW25-29 23:53

Results

Photos...
1) The organisers have a gallery HERE

Results & Photos of the Douglas Credit Union 5k in Tramore Valley Park - Sun 1st Dec 2019

The inaugural Douglas Credit Union 5k was held on Sunday the 1st of December 2019 in Tramore Valley Park in Cork City. A total of 219 people took part on what was a cold but sunny morning.

Some fast times were recorded on this course with the first 3 men breaking 16 minutes and the first 3 women going under 20 minutes!

593    1 Adam Kiely    Leevale A.C. M 0:15:49   
1969    2 Brian Kearney Leevale AC   M40 0:15:58   
977    3 Eric Curran    Leevale A.C. M 0:15:59
579    17 Breda Gaffney Mallow AC F40 0:18:26   
1157    27 Rachel Smith F 0:19:16   
354    34 Linda O'Connor F40 0:19:45

Full results

Photos to follow...
1) There will be two albums going up on the Running in Cork Facebook page.
...a) Start and first lap
...b) Second lap

In the men's race, it was down to three at the halfway mark...

In the men's race, it was down to three at the halfway mark

By the end of the second lap, Adam Kiely had opened up enough of a gap to take the win comfortably

Brian Kearney managed to stay ahead of Leevale team mate Eric Curran for 2nd place

Breda Gaffney of Mallow AC was the clear winner in the women's race

Rachel Smith (#1157) was 2nd with Linda O'Connor (#354) finishing 3rd

L-R... Padraig Sheehan receiving a pair of NIKE Air Pegasus shoes from Conor Kavanagh of John Buckley Sports after winning the pre-entry draw to the Douglas Credit Union 5k

Notice: Run in the Dark in Cork City - Wed 13th Nov 2019

Following the success of last years Run in the Dark charity events, they will be repeated again this year in various cities like Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. The date is Wednesday the 13th of November 2019.

Update 4th Nov 2019 :  Fewer than 200 places left now.
Update 8th Nov 2019 : SOLD OUT!!

From the organisers... Run in the Dark Cork – Join us for a 5k or 10k run on Wednesday 13th November 2019
 
Run in the Dark Cork takes place on Wednesday the 13th of November at 9.00pm. Every November, as darkness sweeps the globe, thousands of people in 50 cities across the world will pull on their running shoes and red flashing armbands and hit the streets to Run in the Dark.
 
We know there are lots of running events out there, so why choose Run in the Dark?!

Apart from being a unique night run taking place in iconic locations around the world, there’s also an important cause fuelling this fundraising run. Run in the Dark is a global running movement helping to cure paralysis in our lifetime.

Run in the Dark is organised by the Mark Pollock Trust, named after blind Irish adventure athlete Mark Pollock. Unbroken by blindness in 1998, Mark Pollock suffered a catastrophic spinal cord injury in 2010 when he fell from a second story window that left him paralysed. As Mark strives to walk again, his most complex journey is ahead of him – to find a cure for paralysis.

By taking part in Run in the Dark you are enabling ground-breaking collaborations and research which could change the lives of millions of paralysed people around the world.

Every donation, every step, every study, moves us towards a cure for paralysis and enabling people to walk again.

Sign up HERE