Visually impaired runner Ross Gallagher completes all 11 parkruns in Co Cork

Ross Gallagher with guide runner Proinnsias O'Keeffe

Visually impaired runner Ross Gallagher from Kerry is a regular at the road races and parkruns in Co Cork. On Saturday the 11th of July 2026, Ross completed the grand slam of eleven parkruns in Co Cork when he completed the event on Bere Island!

Clonakilty was his first parkrun in Co Cork back in November of 2023 and Bere Island in July of 2026 was number eleven.

This is a list of the parkruns in Co Cork that Ross has completed...

11. Bere Island 11/07/2026 553 47 29:39 
10. Pobalscoil na Tríonóide 28/02/2026 199 43 29:47 
9. Mallow Castle 27/12/2025 210 40 27:03 
8. Glen River 15/11/2025 285 42 29:48 
7. Tramore Valley 05/07/2025 160 94 27:30 
6. Castlehaven 03/05/2025 410 25 37:44 
5. Glengarriff 12/04/2025 395 19 28:50 
4. Midleton Greenway 01/02/2025 1 213 27:17 
3. Ballincollig 20/07/2024 333 99 26:47 
2. Macroom Castle Demesne 13/07/2024 484 18 28:07 
1. Clonakilty 18/11/2023 406 10 27:25 

The challenge with completing all eleven 5k parkruns in Co Cork is not actually doing any individual one but the amount of travelling required to get to all of them.

Ross is almost certainly the first visually impaired runner to complete all eleven.

I've often wondered how many people have completed all eleven parkruns in Cork?

Back in 2025, Grellan McGrath and myself completed the challenge of cycling to all eleven parkruns.

At the moment, Pat Walsh is completing the tour by doing all eleven in 2026... see previous post.

As for how many have done all eleven? I suspect it's in the tens rather than the hundreds. I'd guess maybe 50? As far as I know, there is no easy way to check.

Visually impaired runner Ross Gallagher completes his 200th 5k parkrun!

A belated congratulations to Ross Gallagher who completed his 200th 5k parkrun in Glengarriff back on the 12th of April 2025!

It's a fair achievement for anyone to rack up 200 5k parkruns but especially so for a visually impaired runner. 

Ross has completed 141 of the 200 at the Tralee parkrun while he has completed 32 in Co Cork.

We should also give credit to all of those volunteers who gave up their time to guide Ross around the various courses.