(This article appears in today's Echo, 28/09/2023)
Denis McCarthy, East Cork AC, with the Donal Barrett Perpetual Cup, awarded to the winning team at the Cork County Cross-Country, since 1927
Entries & Venue Details for Cork Athletics Cross-Country Championships Day 1 2023, Sunday October 1st - Carrigadrohid, Macroom - Eircode P12K300, West Muskerry AC Venue
Roll of Honour Senior Cork County Cross Country Championship Winners
(This article appears in today's Echo, 28/09/2023)
On Sunday next, the Cork County Senior cross-country championships for men and women take place at Carrigadrohid, near Macroom
But for the diligence and research carried out by two members of the East Cork club, a fact that may have escaped many of those taking part, is that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the staging of the original championship
It is appropriate that the two in question – Denis McCarthy and Liam O’Brien – should undertake this valuable piece of work as both have a close affinity with the annual cross-country decider
Ballynoe native McCarthy has the unique distinction of having run in 40 of those championships – including twice a scoring member of the winning team – while Olympian O’Brien won the individual title in 1989 and was also on the winning East Cork team on nine occasions
Both credit the book ‘Cork Champions Past & Present’, written by Liam Fleming from Ballinscarthy in 2013, as their main source of information. “I suppose I would be in and out of that book fairly regularly and so I became aware that the first championship took place in 1923,” explains Denis
That inaugural race was held at the Cork Showgrounds on April 29 and was won by J Corcoran of Owenabue Athletic Club. Unfortunately, his first name is not recorded. The team contest was a tie between Owenabue AC and Blarney AC. That fixture was organised by the newly-formed National Athletics and Cycling Association of Ireland (NACAI). Prior to that, the GAA organised Irish Athletics
“In 1927, a perpetual cup was donated by Donal Barrett, a subsequent County Board chairman and National NACAI president. and Collins AC were the first winners of the cup which is still contested today,” says Denis. Over the century, the championships didn’t take place on four occasions – 1939, 1941, 1942 (the latter due to foot-and-mouth) and in 2020 because of Covid
The Cork title has always been regards as one of the hardest to win, outside of the national championship. A brief look at some previous winners show that Helsinki 1952 Olympian marathoner Joe West, a native of Carrigaline, took the title in 1945, 1947 and 1953. Ted Geary from Ballymore went one better, winning in 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1961
Two other Olympians, Donie Walsh (Leevale) and John Hartnett (Grange), shared seven wins between then in the 1970s. The following decade, Tony O’Leary of Leevale dominated with seven titles while in the 1990s Donncha O’Mahony had five wins and was also a scoring member of his East Cork winning team on an incredible 15 occasions
“The race itself is not without its turbulence,” states McCarthy. “From 1923 until 1967 the NACAI were the organisers and then in 1967, in an effort to reunite the two bodies governing Irish athletics (AAU and NACAI), the new body BLE was formed
“This worked quite well until the two organisations split, so in Cork we then had two county senior championships from 1968 to 2000, before the present Athletics Association of Ireland came into being.”
The NACAI produced its own array of stars, namely Willie Webb (Rising Sun) in the 1960s, Ger Murphy (Meelin and Millstreet) in the 1970s and John O’Driscoll (Bandon Bridge) in the 1980s
A women’s championship was introduced for the first time in 1966 when Catherine Barry of Emerald AC was the winner. Marie Buckley from Kinsale had three victories in the early 1970s while Valerie O’Mahony-Collins (Togher) was a five-time winner (1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989)
However, the greatest number of wins is held by Louth native Louise Cavanagh, a member of UCC AC, who took first on nine occasions. Leevale’s Lizzie Lee completed a five-in-a-row between 2009 and 2013 before returning to win her sixth race in 2021
In between those years, another Leevale athlete, Michelle Finn, notched up six wins and it’s interesting to note that Michelle’s mother, Mary, won the NACAI version of the race twice in the 1990s
Before underage categories were customary, Margaret Nagle (Millstreet/Donoughmore) was just 14 when she won the NACAI title in 1973 while the youngest men’s winner is St Finbarr’s stalwart John Buckley who was aged 19 in 1965
“Great credit is due to the men and women of the Cork County Board, past and present, for maintaining the great tradition of this race, so roll on the next century,” concludes Denis McCarthy, the main compiler of this important piece of athletics history
Results of Athletics Ireland Registered Events - April 2014 - May 2016 (on Old Cork Athletics website)
Results of Athletics Ireland Registered Events - May 2016 to date
Race Calendar / Fixtures List - Athletics Ireland Registered Events
These Rolls of Honour are drawn from Liam Fleming's book 'Cork Champions Past and Present' ISBN 978-0-955 1253-1-7
| Men | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Athlete | Club | Team Winner | Organisation |
| 1923 | J Corcoran | Owenabue | Owenabue Blarney tie | NACA |
| 1924 | Denis Healy | Blarney | Blarney | NACA |
| 1925 | Denis Healy | Blarney | Owenabue | NACA |
| 1926 | M Collins | Blarney | Owenabue | NACA |
| 1927 | William Corcoran | McCurtains | Collins | NACA |
| 1928 | Daniel Cooney | Owenabue | Owenabue | NACA |
| 1929 | Tony McNamara | Civil Service | Owenabue | NACA |
| 1930 | William Corcoran | Blarney | Blarney | NACA |
| 1931 | Peter Lehane | Blarney | Blarney | NACA |
| 1932 | Peter Lehane | Blarney | Collins | NACA |
| 1933 | Edward Rush | Collins | Collins | NACA |
| 1934 | J O'Connell | Blarney | Blarney | NACA |
| 1935 | J O'Callaghan | Blarney | Collins | NACA |
| 1936 | William Burke | Ballymurphy | Ballymurphy | NACA |
| 1937 | P Connolly | Collins | Collins | NACA |
| 1938 | Danny Murphy | Kildinan | Kildinan | NACA |
| 1939 | Not Held | NACA | ||
| 1940 | George Gubbins | Kildinan | Mosgrove/Crookstown Harriers | NACA |
| 1941 | Not Held | NACA | ||
| 1942 | Not Held | NACA | ||
| 1943 | George Gubbins | Kildinan | Kildinan | NACA |
| 1944 | Peter Quigley | Owenabue | Owenabue | NACA |
| 1945 | Joe West | Owenabue | Owenabue | NACA |
| 1946 | J Murphy | Cork Running Club | Kildinan | NACA |
| 1947 | Joe West | Owenabue | Kildinan | NACA |
| 1948 | Peter Quigley | Owenabue | Kildinan | NACA |
| 1949 | Vincent Murphy | Blarney | Kildinan | NACA |
| 1950 | John Harte | Carrigtwohill | Kildinan | NACA |
| 1951 | Moss Egan | Kildinan | Blarney | NACA |
| 1952 | John Harte | Carrigtwohill | Carrigtwohill | NACA |
| 1953 | DJ O'Connell | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACA |
| 1954 | Joe West | Rising Sun | Rising Sun | NACA |
| 1955 | Denis Collins | Rising Sun | Carrigtwohill | NACA |
| 1956 | Ted Geary | Ballymore | Rising Sun | NACA |
| 1957 | Ted Geary | Ballymore | Millstreet | NACA |
| 1958 | Ted Geary | Ballymore | Rising Sun | NACA |
| 1959 | Donie Lucey | St Finbarrs | St Finbarrs | NACA |
| 1960 | Con Brosnan | Meelin | Meelin | NACA |
| 1961 | Ted Geary | Ballymore | Meelin | NACA |
| 1962 | Willie Webb | Rising Sun | Meelin | NACA |
| 1963 | Mossie O'Donoghue | Millstreet | Rising Sun | NACA |
| 1964 | Matt Murphy | Rising Sun | Millstreet | NACA |
| 1965 | John Buckley | St Finbarrs | Grange | NACA |
| 1966 | John Buckley | St Finbarrs | Grange | NACA |
| 1967 | Matt Murphy | Rising Sun | Grange | NACA |
| 1968 | Matt Murphy | Rising Sun | Leevale | BLE |
| Willie Webb | Rising Sun | Ballydaly | NACAI | |
| 1969 | John Buckley | St Finbarrs | Leevale | BLE |
| Willie Webb | Rising Sun | Rising Sun | NACAI | |
| 1970 | Matt Murphy | Rising Sun | St Finbarrs | BLE |
| Denis Guiney | Banteer | Rising Sun | NACAI | |
| 1971 | Donie Walsh | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
| Willie Webb | Rising Sun | Meelin | NACAI | |
| 1972 | John Hartnett | Grange | Leevale | BLE |
| Donie Buckley | Meelin | Meelin | NACAI | |
| 1973 | Donie Walsh | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
| John O'Brien | Ballymore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | |
| 1974 | Donie Walsh | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
| Denis Hickey | Millstreet/Donoghmore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | |
| 1975 | John Hartnett | Grange/Fermoy | Leevale | BLE |
| Jer Murphy | Meelin | Ballydaly | NACAI | |
| 1976 | Ray Treacy | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
| Jer Murphy | Millstreet/Donoghmore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | |
| 1977 | Ray Treacy | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
| Jer Murphy | Millstreet/Donoghmore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | |
| 1978 | Donie Walsh | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
| Donie Buckley | Meelin | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1979 | John Hartnett | Grange | Leevale | BLE |
| Jer Murphy | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1980 | Richie Crowley | St Finbarrs | Leevale | BLE |
| Jer Murphy | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1981 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
| Jer Murphy | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1982 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
| Francie Dineen | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1983 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | St Finbarrs | BLE |
| Breffni Carter | St Colmans | St Colmans | NACAI | |
| 1984 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
| Pat Histon | St Colmans | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1985 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | East Cork | BLE |
| Vincent Manley | St Colmans | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1986 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | East Cork | BLE |
| Dan Joe O'Callaghan | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1987 | Richard O'Flynn | Bandon | Leevale | BLE |
| Tadhg O'Regan | Glandore | Bandon Bridge | NACAI | |
| 1988 | Tony O'Leary | Leevale | East Cork | BLE |
| Michael Coakley | Bandon Bridge | Bandon Bridge | NACAI | |
| 1989 | Liam O'Brien | East Cork | East Cork | BLE |
| Michael Coakley | Bandon Bridge | Bandon Bridge | NACAI | |
| 1990 | Donncha O'Mahony | East Cork | East Cork | BLE |
| P.J. Twomey | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1991 | Donncha O'Mahony | East Cork | East Cork | BLE |
| John O'Driscoll | Bandon Bridge | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1992 | Donncha O'Mahony | East Cork | East Cork | BLE |
| John O'Driscoll | Bandon Bridge | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1993 | Richard O'Flynn | Bandon | Leevale | BLE |
| John O'Driscoll | Bandon Bridge | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1994 | Donncha O'Mahony | East Cork | East Cork | BLE |
| John O'Driscoll | Bandon Bridge | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1995 | Ken Nason | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
| Noel O'Connor | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1996 | Ken Nason | Leevale | East Cork | BLE |
| Desmond Casey | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1997 | Garret Barry | East Cork | UCC | BLE |
| Desmond Casey | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1998 | Martin McCarthy | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
| Philip Withers | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | |
| 1999 | Martin McCarthy | Leevale | Leevale | BLE |
| Desmond Casey | Millstreet | Rising Sun | NACAI | |
| 2000 | Fiachra Lombard | Leevale | Leevale | AAI |
| Desmond Casey | Millstreet | Rising Sun | NACAI | |
| 2001 | Martin McCarthy | Leevale | Togher | AAI |
| 2002 | Rob Heffernan | Togher | Togher | AAI |
| 2003 | Donncha O'Mahony | East Cork | East Cork | AAI |
| 2004 | Brian McMahon | Carrignavar | East Cork | AAI |
| 2005 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
| 2006 | Brian McMahon | Carrignavar | East Cork | AAI |
| 2007 | Alan O'Shea | Bantry | East Cork | AAI |
| 2008 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
| 2009 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
| 2010 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
| 2011 | Barry Donovan | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
| 2012 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | Leevale | AAI |
| 2013 | Ben Thistlewood | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
| 2014 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | Leevale | AAI |
| 2015 | Ben Thistlewood | Leevale | Leevale | AAI |
| 2016 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | Leevale | AAI |
| 2017 | Mark Hanrahan | Leevale | East Cork | AAI |
| 2018 | Tim O'Donoghue | East Cork | Leevale | AAI |
| 2019 | Tim O'Donoghue | East Cork | North Cork | AAI |
| 2020 | Not Held | AAI | ||
| 2021 | Tim O'Donoghue | East Cork | Leevale | AAI |
| 2022 | Michael Harty | East Cork | East Cork | AAI |
| Year | Athlete | Club | Team Winner | Organisation | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Catherine Barry | Emerald Ladies | Emerald Ladies | NACA | 06/03/1966 |
| 1967 | Rita O'Sullivan | Emerald Ladies | Emerald Ladies | NACA | 30/01/1967 |
| 1968 | Eileen Kelly | Beara | Rising Sun | BLE | |
| Imelda Rice | Tracton | No Team | NACAI | 10/03/1968 | |
| 1969 | Eileen Kelly | Beara | Beara | BLE | |
| Not Held | No Team | NACAI | 16/02/1969 | ||
| 1970 | Eileen Kelly | Beara | Beara | BLE | |
| Marie Buckley | Dunderrow | Clann Eireann | NACAI | 01/03/1970 | |
| 1971 | Joan Fleming | St Finbarrs | Grange | BLE | |
| Catherine Bowles | Clann Eireann | Clann Eireann | NACAI | 14/03/1971 | |
| 1972 | Marie Buckley | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
| Mary Jo Cronin | Millstreet/Donoughmore | Clann Eireann | NACAI | 13/02/1972 | |
| 1973 | Marie Buckley | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
| Margaret Nagle | Millstreet/Donoughmore | Ballymore | NACAI | 04/02/1973 | |
| 1974 | Maura Mellerick | Grange | Leevale | BLE | |
| Eileen Sheehan | Knocknagree | Knocknagree | NACAI | 17/02/1974 | |
| 1975 | Marie Buckley | Leevale | UCC | BLE | |
| Mary O'Keeffe | Millstreet/Donoughmore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | 16/02/1975 | |
| 1976 | Marion Staunton | St Finbarrs | Leevale | BLE | |
| Joan Twomey | Millstreet/Donoughmore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | 26/03/1976 | |
| 1977 | Marion Staunton | St Finbarrs | UCC | BLE | |
| Joan Twomey | Millstreet/Donoughmore | Millstreet/Donoughmore | NACAI | 20/03/1977 | |
| 1978 | Marion Lyons | St Finbarrs | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
| Joan Twomey | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 19/03/1978 | |
| 1979 | Valerie O'Mahony | Togher | West Cork | BLE | |
| Joan Twomey | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 03/12/1978 | |
| 1980 | Fionnuala Morrish | Leevale | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
| Shiela Daly | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 23/12/1979 | |
| 1981 | Fionnuala Morrish | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
| Shiela Daly | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 03/01/1981 | |
| 1982 | Joan Hough | St Finbarrs | Bandon | BLE | |
| Libby Histon | St Colmans | Millstreet | NACAI | 03/01/1982 | |
| 1983 | Valerie O'Mahony | Togher | Leevale | BLE | |
| Libby Histon | St Colmans | St Colmans | NACAI | 02/01/1983 | |
| 1984 | Carmel Lyons | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
| Mary O'Riordan | Rising Sun | No Team | NACAI | 01/01/1984 | |
| 1985 | Carmel McCarthy | Bandon | Leevale | BLE | |
| Frances O'Regan | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 06/01/1985 | |
| 1986 | Valerie O'Mahony Collins | Togher | Leevale | BLE | |
| Majella Mullane | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 29/12/1985 | |
| 1987 | Niamh O'Sullivan | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
| Frances O'Regan | Glandore | Millstreet | NACAI | 21/12/1986 | |
| 1988 | Valerie O'Mahony Collins | Togher | Leevale | BLE | |
| Shiela Daly | Millstreet | Old Abbey | NACAI | 03/01/1988 | |
| 1989 | Valerie Vaughan | Blarney/Inniscarra | Leevale | BLE | |
| Mary O'Riordan | Rising Sun | Old Abbey | NACAI | 18/12/1988 | |
| 1990 | Susan Jenkins | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
| Mary O'Riordan | Rising Sun | Rising Sun | NACAI | 03/12/1989 | |
| 1991 | Susan Jenkins | Leevale | Leevale | BLE | |
| Mary O'Riordan | Rising Sun | No Team | NACAI | 02/12/1990 | |
| 1992 | Mary Sweeney | St Finbarrs | Leevale | BLE | |
| Noreen Slattery | Millstreet | Rising Sun | NACAI | 01/12/1991 | |
| 1993 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
| Mary O'Riordan | Rising Sun | Rising Sun | NACAI | 22/11/1992 | |
| 1994 | Anna Collins | St Finbarrs | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
| Blaithin Hannon | Millstreet | No Team | NACAI | 12/12/1993 | |
| 1995 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | UCC | BLE | |
| Blaithin Hannon | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 08/01/1995 | |
| 1996 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
| Mary Finn | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 14/01/1996 | |
| 1997 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | UCC | BLE | |
| Mary Finn | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 09/02/1997 | |
| 1998 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
| Carol Slattery | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 04/01/1998 | |
| 1999 | Margaret Meade | Leevale | St Finbarrs | BLE | |
| Carol Slattery | Millstreet | Millstreet | NACAI | 13/12/1998 | |
| 2000 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | UCC | AAI | |
| Carol Slattery | Millstreet | Donoughmore | NACAI | 19/12/1999 | |
| 2001 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | St Finbarrs | AAI | |
| 2002 | Valerie Vaughan | Blarney/Inniscarra | Leevale | AAI | |
| 2003 | Freda Davoren | UCC | UCC | AAI | |
| 2004 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | St Finbarrs | AAI | |
| 2005 | Louise Cavanagh | UCC | Leevale | AAI | |
| 2006 | Joanne Waters | UCC | UCC | AAI | |
| 2007 | Carmel Crowley | Bandon | St Finbarrs | AAI | |
| 2008 | Rhona Lynch | Eagle | Eagle | AAI | |
| 2009 | Lizzie Lee | Leevale | Eagle | AAI | |
| 2010 | Lizzie Lee | Leevale | Eagle | AAI | |
| 2011 | Lizzie Lee | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
| 2012 | Lizzie Lee | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
| 2013 | Lizzie Lee | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
| 2014 | Michelle Finn | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
| 2015 | Michelle Finn | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
| 2016 | Michelle Finn | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
| 2017 | Michelle Finn | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
| 2018 | Michelle Finn | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
| 2019 | Michelle Finn | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
| 2020 | Not Held | AAI | |||
| 2021 | Lizzie Lee | Leevale | Leevale | AAI | |
| 2022 | Sinead O'Connor | Leevale | Leevale | AAI |
Other Guest Articles by John Walshe
Brid Murphy - The Inspirational Story of a Three-Time National Champion - Article by John Walshe
Eight Decades on - Famous Cross-Country Victory Finally Honoured - Article by John Walshe
On The Road From Cork To Cobh - Fifty Years Ago - Article by John Walshe
FORTY YEARS AGO - WHEN ‘CMON AGHADA’ WAS HEARD ON HEARTBREAK HILL - Article by John Walshe
Donie Walsh - Train to Race Don't Get Caught Up with Your Time
A Brilliant Performance Sees East Cork AC Take National Silver
BANDON CONNECTION TO WORLD CHAMPION
CORK CITY SPORTS – A BRIEF HISTORY
Mary Sweeney – Youghal's First Lady of Running
Midleton AC County Novice Cross-Country Team 1971
Donie Walsh - 1971 European Championships 10,000m Recalled
Willie O'Mahony has clocked the miles building East Cork Athletics
Memorable Youghal Road Race Took Place at Midnight on New Year's Eve
Midleton AC Virtual Club Challenge
Cork Marathon Magic in 1986 as Marion Lyons Wins
Tullamore Man Won First Cork Marathon
Pioneering Women of Cross-Country
Grange International Cross-Country of 1980 Recalled 40 Years On
Youghal AC's London Emer Casey 10k Exploits
30 Years Ago - Liam O'Brien Wins Cork County Senior Cross-Country Championship
50 Years Ago - When John Buckley Beat The Olympic Champion
40 Years Ago - Jerry Murphy Wins Munster Marathon Championship
Aoife Cooke Runs 55:17 in Mallow 10 2019
Steeplechase Legends Meet at Antrim International
Unique National Double for McGraths
Dick Hooper Speaks at St Finbarrs AC Function
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This Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday October 1st 2023
Next Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday October 8th 2023
Look up your AAI Membership number
| Cork Athletics | Munster Athletics | Athletics Ireland Championships | Athletics Ireland Races | IMRA | Cork BHAA |
The Events
Saturday September 23rd, 9:30am - Parkrun - 10 Locations
Bere Island, Glengarriff, Castlehaven, Clonakilty, Macroom, Ballincollig, Glen River, Mallow Castle, Tramore Valley, Youghal
Saturday September 23rd, 11am - Glen of Aherlow Trail Half-Marathon (IMRA - Tipperary)
Saturday September 23rd, 12 noon - North Cork AC Open Cross-Country Meet
Doneraile Park
Entry on the day - Entry Fees: €5 each Child/Adult, €8 for 2, €10 for family
Saturday September 23rd, 2:30pm - Centra Heart of Allihies AC 5 Mile
Allihies, Beara
Sunday September 24th, 11:30am - East Cork Cross-Country Championships Day 2
Sunday September 24th, 12:00 Noon - Bweeng Open Sports
Community Field, Bweeng, Co. Cork P51 KD5C
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This Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday September 24th 2023
Next Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday October 1st 2023
Look up your AAI Membership number
| Cork Athletics | Munster Athletics | Athletics Ireland Championships | Athletics Ireland Races | IMRA | Cork BHAA |
The Events
Saturday September 23rd, 9:30am - Parkrun - 10 Locations
Bere Island, Glengarriff, Castlehaven, Clonakilty, Macroom, Ballincollig, Glen River, Mallow Castle, Tramore Valley, Youghal
Saturday September 23rd, 11am - Glen of Aherlow Trail Half-Marathon (IMRA - Tipperary)
Saturday September 23rd, 12 noon - North Cork AC Open Cross-Country Meet
Doneraile Park
Entry on the day - Entry Fees: €5 each Child/Adult, €8 for 2, €10 for family
Saturday September 23rd, 2:30pm - Centra Heart of Allihies AC 5 Mile
Allihies, Beara
Register for Heart of Allihies 5 Mile
Sunday September 24th, 11:30am - East Cork Cross-Country Championships Day 2
Sunday September 24th, 12:00 Noon - Bweeng Open Sports
Community Field, Bweeng, Co. Cork P51 KD5C
Mallow
Proposed Track Development
Mallow AC have launched ambitous plans for the new Mallow Track. The development will be a major boost to athletics in the North Cork region, with some fifteen clubs within the zone of what is perceived to be a development hub for athletics
As part of the fundraising drive, Mallow AC is holding a limited 300 Club lottery, and is inviting everyone, including the general public, buinesses, benefactors, along with the athletic community, to support the venture
Location of Mallow Track at Carhookeal
Join the Mallow 300 Club:
1. Pay the full amount of €220 by credit/debit card to avail of a free month, and the bonus draw
2. Set up a direct debit of €20 a month for 12 months
To fill a gap in funding, the club has launched its' Mallow 300 Club, whereby a limited number of 300 people will, it is hoped, subscribe to this club Lotto, for €20 per month, for 12 months, or a single payment of €220, with inclusion in the Bonus Draw, at the end of the 12 months
From Mallow AC
We are hosting a major fundraiser for Athletics Facilities in the North Cork Area. By joining, you not only support the drive for facilities but also have the opportunity to win exciting monthly cash prizes, be a member of the weekly lottery syndicate while contributing to the development of facilities in the area
PRIZES:. Total monthly prize pot €1000
1. Monthly draw:
1st prize-€600
2nd prize-€300
3rd prize-€100
2. Lottery:
You will get a share of 200 lines of Lottery tickets bought per week for both the Irish Lotto and Euromillions. (100 lines of Lotto and 100 lines of Euromillions purchased every week!)
3. Bonus Draw:
For those who sign up to the one-off payment there is a bonus draw at the end of the 12 months with a prize pot of €5,000!
1st prize- €3,000
2nd prize- €1,500
3rd prize- €500
COST:
There are two options to enter:
1) Monthly direct debit of €20 for 12 months (total cost 12 * €20 = €240)
Or
2) One off upfront direct debit for €220 i.e. 12 months for the price of 11 months and also entry into the bonus draw at the end.
Please note the direct debit facility is provided by GoCardless and is secure and encrypted.
HOW TO JOIN:
1. Pay the full amount of €220 by credit/debit card to avail of a free month, and the bonus draw
2. Set up a direct debit of €20 a month for 12 months
DRAW:
Our first monthly draw will take place at the end of October with lottery tickets being purchased at the end of October.
Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Mallow AC Members
The facility will be welcomed by all clubs in the North Cork Area, and well beyond, as it is the first full sized track in the county, outside of the Mardyke and CIT tracks, both in Cork City. Travel from North Cork, to either city tracks, was problematic at the best of times - this development means that clubs might now only need, say 30 minutes, travel each way for training, whereas, until now, a trip to either of the city tracks might need considerably more time, due to traffic log-jams along the way
Management of the Track has yet to be finalised, however one would hope that the club might be asked to take lead role in track operation
The progressive Mallow club has been one of the largest clubs in Cork in recent years, and has already enjoyed much success at County, Provincial and National level, so this venture will, hopefully, see the club spring further forward
Mallow Athletic Club are developing a running track and as part of this we have launched a fundraiser called the ‘300 Club’ which is launching in October. If possible we would love your support and also be very grateful if you could share as much as possible. People have also been asking employers to enter on behalf of their staff. Here’s the scheme it in a nutshell:
What is it?
It's a weekly lottery syndicate called the '300 Club' as it's limited to 300 participants
How long does it run for?
The syndicate will run for 12 months.
What's in it for me?
Each week there will be 200 lines of lottery entered, 100 lines of Lotto and 100 lines of Euromillions
Each month there will be a draw for €1,000 open to all participants with 1st prize €600, 2nd prize €300 and 3rd prize €100 - 12 draws over the 12 months
At the end of the 12 months there will be a bonus draw for those who joined via one off entry (explained below). This draw will be for €5,000 with 1st prize €3,000, 2nd prize €1,500 and 3rd prize €500
What does it cost?
The cost is €20 per month payable by direct debit for 12 months or there is a one off entry which is €220 and is payable by direct debit. The one off entry offers 12 months for the price of 11 but also makes you eligible for the bonus draw at the end of the 12 month term.
Can I enter more than once?
Yes, you can enter multiple times.
More information and sign up links are available at https://mallowac.ie/mallow-ac-300-club/
Mill Road/Centre Park Road, Cork
10am/11am, Sunday September 17th 2023
Help needed setting things up on Kennedy Quay/Marina Walk & Mill Road from 10am, while Stewards are required by 11am on Sunday - Race starts at 12 Noon this year!
This event is the key fundraising event for Cork Athletics. Without this, the county Board would be unable to fund a wide range of things, such as International Awards, Juvenile Bursaries, Coaching programmes, Equipment grants, Safety Training and Equipment grants, along with a wide range of activities. Cork County Board is asking all clubs to provide volunteers on Sunday, to help in the form of stewards, officials, and other help
This year, the event doubles as the Womens County 5k Road Championship, so you'll have an opportunity to cheer on your clubmate...and the opposition!
It's a great day out..and great craic too!
Sunday's weather is looking good to top it all
If you can help, in any capacity, please fill out the Google Form as appropriate
Race Stewards can also contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on 0877593049
Stewards will meet on Centre Park Road (City side) at 11am , on Sunday September 17th, to collect their stewards bibs, vouchers and attend the Stewards Briefing
It is expected that each Club registered with Cork Athletics will supply several stewards and officials to assist in running the event. Non-AAI members are also very welcome, and will also be covered by Cork Athletics insurance policy
Calm before the Storm! Barriers are all in place
Engarde Fencing setting out the barriers in Kennedy park this morning
Help is required for the Start area from 10am until 12:30pm, and for stewarding, from 11am
The start area people should be free for approx. 12:30pm (but, if you can stay longer, and help in other areas that'd be great - we need people for other areas too)
Stewards are needed and should be at Kennedy Park for 11am, for the Stewards Briefing, and to collect their Hi-Viz vests, etc. Stewards should then be free by 1:30 to 2pm
Please fill out the Google Form, stating what area(s) you are available to cover
This weekend sees one of the major events in the Cork Athletics calendar, the Echo Women's Mini-Marathon This event is the key fundraising event for Cork Athletics, and also for it's member clubs. Cork County Board is asking all clubs to provide help in the form of stewards, officials, and other help
This is a Major fundraiser for Cork Athletics, without which the Board could not provide such as T&F, Road and XC Championships, Coaching Courses, Equipment & Safety Grants, organise Cork teams of all categories, and a myriad of other events & activities. It is also the source of funding for Cork Athletics facilities, particularly it's grounds at Riverstick, and, going forward, will, it is hoped, fund other future facilities
In addition the participants raise an estimated €1.3M for their own chosen charities
This event is our Life-Blood - Please Help!
The Echo Womens Mini-Marathon is organised and hosted by Cork Athletics, and sponsored by Cork's Evening Echo, for the 36th year. The proceeds help Cork Athletics fund its competitions and Championships. In addition it enables the Board to organise training, in coaching, coach education, child protection and safety, along with grants for athletics related equipment. The Board also organises transport and accomodation for representative Cork teams.
Cork Athletics is a not-for-profit voluntary organisation. The Officers, Committee members and others who help to run the business of the Board are all volunteers, who give their time and expertise, free of charge, for the benefit of the athletes and the sport.
Cork Athletics is a designated Sports Body, Registered GS Number 3014 - Cork County Board (Athletics Association of Ireland) - under Section 235 Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997
Echo Womens Mini-MarathonCork Athletics County Board asks each of Cork Athletic's Clubs to provide a minimum of four (4) stewards for the event Approx. 100 Stewards are required, including the following:
ContactClubs and individuals should contact/submit names to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on 0877593049 Stewards will meet on Centre Park Road (City side) at 11am, on Sunday September 17th, to collect their stewards bibs, and attend the Stewards Briefing |
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Various Photos taken Thursday September 7th 2023
After months of disappointment, which led to the cancellation of this year's 70th Anniversary Cork City Sports, along with the County Senior, Junior & Masters T&F Championships, and the County Graded Leagues, and the necessity of holding of Cork Athletic's County Juvenile Championships in the Mardyke, and even holding some Cork County Juvenile Championships events in Kerry!, work on the MTU Track is nearing completion ...Maybe!!
The Preparatory work was completed in late Spring, however delays in laying the tarmac sub-surface led to major delays, when the weather turned for the worst - Prolonged periods of dry weather are necessary between layers
The first layer of top surface was started earlier this week. As can be seen in the above photos, there has been good progress on the 'back straight', and the jump areas in particular. Hopefully this will continue in the the coming days. The Final tartan surface will, hopefully, be laid in the next week or two
It will be several weeks more before lining of the track can be done, as the tartan surface must be allowed 'cure' first.
It has been suggested that the track may be available for use sometime between late September and late October - fingers crossed! ...and Pray for continued good weather!!!
There are a total of three layers to be laid, with each layer taking 5 to 7 days to lay, so there is still quite a bit of time to go yet....and, as always, this is very much at the will of the weather!!
Carrigadrohid, Macroom - Eircode P12K300
Sunday October 1st
Macroom - West Muskerry
Eircode: P12K300
Entry Link on Entry4Sport - Competition #868
Entry Fees: Juveniles & Juniors: €4 - Under-23 & Seniors: €7.50
Closing Date: 23:59pm, Wednesday September 27th
Entries for Cork Athletics County Cross-Country Championships MUST be made online, via the Athletics Ireland Entry4Sport portal - Competition #868
Chip timing will be used for all events over the first two Championship days, with a decision regarding chip timing for the remaining two Championship days to be made, likely at the October County Board meeting
Course Maps
Juvenile Under-10/12/14/16/18, Junior, Under-23 and Senior Championships
Under-18 and Juniors (4000m & 6000m respectively) will run together in combined events, and Under-18’s will be entered automatically in the Junior Championship
The County Senior and Under-23 Championships will compete in a combined event, and Under-23 will be entered automatically in the Senior race.
The first race, Under-10 girls, will start at 12noon, followed by the Under-10 Boys, and moving up in age sequentially after that.
The Senior Women’s Championship (6000m) race will start no earlier than 2pm and will be followed by Senior Men’s Championship, inc Under-23 (9,000m)
Closing date Wednesday 27th September
Entry fees: Juvenile and Junior €4 Senior and Under-23: €7.50
• All Athletes taking part MUST be registered Athletics Ireland (AAI) Members
• Club Colours must be worn by all competitors
• Pacing of Athletes is PROHIBITED. Pacing will result in disqualification
• Clubs with fees outstanding from the Track and Field Season will be prohibited from taking part
• Entries by text or by phone will NOT be accepted
• Late entries will NOT be accepted
• Please respect our venues!
• For eligibility for different competitions see Cork Athletics Competition Bye-Laws - PDF File
• For eligibility for the various competitions see - https://www.corkathletics.org/about-us/competition-bye-laws.html
• Women’s events run first, followed by the men’s events
Every person taking photos or videos at these Cross-Country Championships MUST register, on the day, with Cork Athletics Child Protection Officer, or other official. Those taking photos and/or videos may be required to wear identifying Hi-Viz vests. All images taken must comply with the codes/policies below.
The taking of photos and videos at Athletics Ireland events is governed by Athletics Ireland's codes/policies Code Of Ethics & Good Practice for Children in Athletics and Photgraphy Policy for Schools Events - Athletics Ireland
Cork Athletics records, by photo and/or video, its events, for publicity purposes. All such images comply with the above codes/policies
Please do NOT bring dogs to the venue. Only Guide dogs, and other registered assistance dogs, are permitted at Cork Athletics venues, on health and safety grounds
In addition, the presence of a dog is likely to impair the functioning of a trained assistance dog. A person bringing a non-assistance dog is likely to be asked to keep their dog in their car, or, in extreme cases, to leave the venue
Cork Athletics Animal Policy
Entries
| Girls/Women | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | Under 18 | Junior & Under 20 | Under 23 & Senior |
| Boys/Men | Under 10 | Under 12 | Under 14 | Under 16 | Under 18 | Junior & Under 20 | Under 23 & Senior |
River Lee Hotel
Thursday September 21st 2023
Colin Doyle, Leevale AC, Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for August 2023, with sponsors and officials
The Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month Award is sponsored by 96FM/C103FM, The Echo, The River Lee and Cork Crystal
Colin Doyle Leevale AC, Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for August 2023
The award was presented to Colin at a function at the River Lee hotel, on Thursday September 21st 2023
The Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month Award is sponsored by 96FM/C103FM, The Echo, The River Lee and Cork Crystal
The August Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month award goes to Colin Doyle, Leevale AC
Colin Doyle (Leevale AC) is the Cork City Sports Athlete for the month of August. Colin was a major contributor to his Leevale club's victory, at the National Track and Field League Final, held in Tullamore. Apart from winning the 200m sprint, Colin was a vital member of the relay team that set a new National Senior Record, in the 4 x 100m Relay. At the National Senior Track and Field Championships, in August, Colin claimed the silver medal, also in the 200m event
Cork City Sports - Awards Archive
Colin Doyle with Cork City Sports Committe Members and Sponsors
Watch Cork Athletics Videos on Vimeo
(a shortened version of this article appears in the Echo of 14/09/2023)
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| Brid Murphy | Brid Murphy Winning the National Marathon Championship, Mallow, April 1996 |
At the Cork BHAA race in Little Island earlier this year, it would be safe to assume that few of the 400 participants would be aware of the running achievements of the smiling lady behind the counter patiently handing out cups of tea and coffee
But it’s not only for the numerous competitive honours achieved that Brid Murphy should be acknowledged and remembered, but also for the remarkable, inspiring and equally tragic story that lays behind her introduction to the sport
Once described in a magazine as “bubbling and effervescent and who speaks with a merry twinkle in her soft and musical Cork voice,” as she sits in the family home at Glounthaune looking out over Cork Harbour, one cannot but help notice the change in tone as she emotionally recalls a heart-rending incident all of 40 years ago
“Our little boy David, our third child, was born on December 23, 1982 and he tragically died of a cot death on February 7, 1983. Naturally enough, the whole family – my husband David and our two other children, Vincent and Valerie – were devastated.”
Brid, a native of Mallow, then aged 30, had heard of cot deaths. But, naturally enough, never thought it would darken their door. The family lived in Ballyvolane at the time and after the tragedy she hated being on her own in the house when her two children had gone to school and with David at work
“A number of my neighbours had started training for the Echo Mini-Marathon and my brother Michael, who knew I liked sports, suggested that I join them as I found it very hard to get up in the morning and get myself motivated
“There was one neighbour who used to go out at seven in the morning and I started with her, another one went out at 10 o’clock and I joined her as well and then a group of us would go out again in the evening. It was just something to focus on.”
It was quite an achievement for someone who had never run before. And, in the autumn of 1983, when she was expecting her second daughter, Edel, Brid completed the Mini-Marathon for the first time. “The doctor said it was okay to run, he knew it was helping me and helping the family as well.”
Moving on to 1986, Brid’s running had now progressed to such an extent that she had joined Leevale Athletic Club. “I got a lot of help there from the late Kevin Barry who made me very welcome, along with Anne Murphy from Dublin, then based in Cork, who made out a training schedule for me.”
That year she ran the Mini-Marathon (then over 10km) in 42 minutes. The following year she finished second and although first place would elude her, she would also add another second in 1995, along with four third-place finishes (1990, 91, 92, 94)
“It was Pat Dempsey, who lived near me, along with Jackie Motherway, who got me into marathon running. I only had one long run done when I ran Dublin in 1987, and despite hitting the wall I finished in 3:47. The following year, again training with Pat and with advice now from Donie Walsh, I broke the three hours.”
The years of 1989, 1900 and 1991 saw her finish third on each occasion at the Dublin show-piece. Her fastest time of 2:43:00 was achieved in 1992, which also gained her the coveted BLE national title. First that year was Karen Cornwall from the UK in 2:41:58 and just 11 seconds ahead of Brid was Ethiopian Addis Gezahegne who had recorded 2:35:05 in Rotterdam the year before
That time of 2:43:00 would remain the fastest by a Cork woman until Sonia O’Sullivan’s 2:29:01 in London 13 years later. It still places Brid Murphy fifth on the all-time Cork list. She would retain her national title the following year in Clonmel, recording 2:51:33. Nebraska-based Catriona Dowling, home on holidays for the race had kept Murphy company for 13 miles before the Dubliner moved ahead. By 20 miles she had a lead of two minutes, but the Leevale athlete never panicked and closed her down with two miles to go to take the win
Brid Murphy pictured afterwards with two of the three Leevale AC athletes who ran with Brid in Mallow 1996; Pat Dempsey, M45 Champion, on left, and John Quigley, 4th M40. Ted O'Flynn was the third man, and took National Bronze, with the three lads taking National Senior Team Bronze [Brid later described us as being 'Like three escapees from a home for the bewildered!]
Brid would add another marathon title in 1996; this was no doubt the sweetest of all as it took place in her home town of Mallow. Her time of 2:52:52 gave her a margin of almost 20 minutes over Mary-Beth Dillon from the USA. Having decided not to travel to Boston, her decision proved to be correct as she took her third national crown, a remarkable achievement at 43 years of age. Third overall that day was another vet, Eileen Kenny from St Finbarr’s (mother of Leevale’s Michelle)
The IAAF World Marathon Cup was incorporated into the London Marathon of 1991 and there, as part of the Irish team, Brid had recorded another fine time of 2:47:41. At that stage she was part of a national marathon squad led by Brendan O’Shea, a former national marathon champion himself but better known as the man who had guided Jerry Kiernan to ninth place in the 1984 Olympic Marathon. “When I had finished third the first time in Dublin, Brendan got in contact and he was very good to me, including me in weekend coaching sessions and the like.”
Training in the lead up to marathons would reach an elite level of 100 miles a week. “Maybe for about three weeks, we would reach that amount. On a Sunday morning we would do 22 or 23 miles and then go out again in the evening to bring the total up to the full marathon distance.”
The Belfast Marathon of 1992 saw Brid finishing second behind Catherine Smyth from Dublin. This was not without drama, as she explains: “The morning of the marathon I was on the way down for breakfast when the lift broke. I was there for about three-quarters of an hour and the hotel said as it was a Bank Holiday they didn’t know when they could get me out.” Luckily, it was Brendan O’Shea who managed to locate someone to get the problem sorted. Amazingly, Murphy wasn’t fazed as she went on to record what would be her second fastest time of 2:45:49
Brid Murphy’s athletics CV certainly makes impressive reading. Numbered among her other achievements are three victories in the Cork to Cobh 15-mile (1993, 94, 96); two Ballycotton Summer Series overall victories (1990, 91); three times a scoring member of the winning Leevale team in the Cork County senior cross-country (1990, 91, 92). Twice in 1991 she broke the hour for 10 miles – at Ballycotton (59:59) and Charleville (59:52)
In 1992, Brid received the Irish Runner/Seiko Award for Outstanding Performances in Athletics and other honours to come her way include a Waterford Crystal Achiever Award in 1994 and a Munster Athlete of the Month for April 1996
“Looking back, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it and got great opportunities out of it,” says this remarkable and inspirational woman. And she has no regrets given the opportunities and prizes now available in races, especially for women: “No, prizes were never that important to me. If I won something, it was great,” she says with a smile, recalling the type of awards then on offer such as tea sets, bread bins and the like
There’s no doubt that Brid owes a lot to the Echo Women’s Mini-Marathon and those neighbours in Ballyvolane where it all began. “That really got me going, mentally and physically. It was the first time I ever went running, I started to meet more people and it took the whole family out of a tragic situation and started me into doing something I would never have done
“Along the way, I also raised a lot of money through sponsorship for research into cot deaths through the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association. Especially in the marathons, even if you felt bad, that was certainly an incentive to keep going.”
Results of Athletics Ireland Registered Events - April 2014 - May 2016 (on Old Cork Athletics website)
Results of Athletics Ireland Registered Events - May 2016 to date
Race Calendar / Fixtures List - Athletics Ireland Registered Events
Official Calendar of Registered Athletics Ireland events in Cork
Other Guest Articles by John Walshe
On The Road From Cork To Cobh - Fifty Years Ago - Article by John Walshe
FORTY YEARS AGO - WHEN ‘CMON AGHADA’ WAS HEARD ON HEARTBREAK HILL - Article by John Walshe
Donie Walsh - Train to Race Don't Get Caught Up with Your Time
A Brilliant Performance Sees East Cork AC Take National Silver
BANDON CONNECTION TO WORLD CHAMPION
CORK CITY SPORTS – A BRIEF HISTORY
Mary Sweeney – Youghal's First Lady of Running
Midleton AC County Novice Cross-Country Team 1971
Donie Walsh - 1971 European Championships 10,000m Recalled
Willie O'Mahony has clocked the miles building East Cork Athletics
Memorable Youghal Road Race Took Place at Midnight on New Year's Eve
Midleton AC Virtual Club Challenge
Cork Marathon Magic in 1986 as Marion Lyons Wins
Tullamore Man Won First Cork Marathon
Pioneering Women of Cross-Country
Grange International Cross-Country of 1980 Recalled 40 Years On
Youghal AC's London Emer Casey 10k Exploits
30 Years Ago - Liam O'Brien Wins Cork County Senior Cross-Country Championship
50 Years Ago - When John Buckley Beat The Olympic Champion
40 Years Ago - Jerry Murphy Wins Munster Marathon Championship
Aoife Cooke Runs 55:17 in Mallow 10 2019
Steeplechase Legends Meet at Antrim International
Unique National Double for McGraths
Dick Hooper Speaks at St Finbarrs AC Function
Gerard Murphy, author of the history of Kildinan AC, speaking at the commemoration
A long-forgotten Cork cross-country team from a small rural area have finally been honoured with the unveiling of a monument adjacent to the field where they did their training all those years ago
Some of the Large Attendance at the Unveiling
Kildinan is basically a townland situated between Rathcormac and Glenville, and on last Sunday evening a large crowd gathered to pay homage to these men who won the All-Ireland Junior title back in 1943. That winning team consisted of George Gubbins (captain), Danny Murphy, Dinny O’Driscoll, Pat Keohane, Pat Porter, Jimmy Buckley, Dick Barry, J. Purcell, Dan Murphy, Willie Rea, Pat Hourihan and Johnny Dorgan
Maurice Gubbins, son of the 1943 captain, who unveiled the monument
Back in December, a group of local people got together and their endeavours over such a short period has resulted in a beautiful monument which consists of two locally-sourced red sandstone columns erected at the ‘The Pound’ – across the road from the Pond Field where those dreams of glory were first nurtured
“It’s eight decades since the All-Ireland win and we felt that the story of the club and those who ran for it and saw after the running of it should not be forgotten,” said local historian John Arnold, speaking on behalf of the commemorative committee
John also added that the history of athletics in the area goes all the way back to the 1880s when the Phibbs brothers – Bill and Con – won titles at sports all over Munster in the years between 1885 and 1897. Bill also represented Ireland in the GAA Invasion Tour of the United States in October 1898 where he won a race over 880 yards in a time of two minutes and six seconds
Flyer promoting the Unveiling
Also on the night a 36-page booklet titled ‘Remembering Kildinan Athletics’ was launched. This was compiled by former Grange athlete Gerard Murphy who grew up at Bridestown, just across from the farm where the Phibbs lived. Recalling those athletes who won All-Ireland glory in 1943, he said they were the most modest of men. “I grew up here, you would have seen me running the roads every night and in all those years during the ‘70s and most of the ‘80s we were unaware that a previous generation had been doing it in the ‘30s and 40s.”
After 1952 – with seven Cork County senior cross-country titles to their credit - the Kildinan club went into decline. But it was revived briefly in 1964 when it was responsible for the discovery of one Ireland’s greatest runners, John Hartnett from nearby Ballyhooly. “John Hartnett found his way into athletics by accident,” relates Gerard. “One Sunday morning after Mass, when he was 15, Ballyhooly GAA ran a time trial for its members and anyone else who decided to come along. The course was one lap of the sports field by the Blackwater River where the annual sports were held. Running that day was his friend Peadar Dorgan, a member of Kildinan AC and son of Johnny who had won the county novice title in 1939 and was on that All-Ireland winning team of 1943
“John surprised himself by finishing second behind an established runner from Grange, even though most of the competitors were considerably older than he was. After the race Peadar suggested to his friend that he should accompany him that afternoon to Kildinan where the athletic club had been re-established and where they were holding trials for juvenile cross-country
John Arnold, fourth from left, and the organising committee to recall Kildinan AC
“And so, that afternoon John Hartnett and Peadar Dorgan travelled across the hill, in Johnny Dorgan’s lorry, to the Pound Cross where the Kildinan club was holding its races. The races were held in the Pond Field on Walter Lindsay’s land. As it turned out, John was too old for the under-14 so an additional under-16 race was hastily convened for the half-a-dozen or so lads who were over-age. This John duly won – his first-ever victory.”
With the decline of Kildinan, Hartnett went on to join the Grange club in Fermoy where he would go on to win the International Junior Cross-Country title (the forerunner to the World Championships) in 1970 before embarking on an athletics scholarship to Villanova University. Amongst a host of other major achievements, in 1973 he broke Ronnie Delany’s Irish mile record with a time of 3:54.7 and the following year, on a magical night at the Cork City Sports, ran a 3:56.3 mile, one of the fastest ever achieved on grass
Gerard Murphy covers Hartnett’s career from his earliest days and there is a touching anecdote of how the former Kildinan athlete never forgot his roots. “His debt of gratitude to Kildinan can be gauged by something he did during his years at the top. It was standard practice then, and still is, for the winners of races at the Penn Relays, held every April in Philadelphia, to be awarded a specially engraved gold watch with the twelve points of the hour spelt with the letters PENNSYLVANIA
“John won six of those over a three year period. He gave four to his siblings, the fifth to Tom Burke, who ran Grange AC all through the 1960s, 70s and 80s. The sixth he gave to Peadar Dorgan, the man who brought him – by lorry – to athletics in the first place. It was a tacit acknowledgement of his debt to Kildinan.”
Results of Athletics Ireland Registered Events - April 2014 - May 2016 (on Old Cork Athletics website)
Results of Athletics Ireland Registered Events - May 2016 to date
Race Calendar / Fixtures List - Athletics Ireland Registered Events
Official Calendar of Registered Athletics Ireland events in Cork
KILDINAN ATHLETES OF THE PAST TO BE HONOURED
Other Guest Articles by John Walshe
On The Road From Cork To Cobh - Fifty Years Ago - Article by John Walshe
FORTY YEARS AGO - WHEN ‘CMON AGHADA’ WAS HEARD ON HEARTBREAK HILL - Article by John Walshe
Donie Walsh - Train to Race Don't Get Caught Up with Your Time
A Brilliant Performance Sees East Cork AC Take National Silver
BANDON CONNECTION TO WORLD CHAMPION
CORK CITY SPORTS – A BRIEF HISTORY
Mary Sweeney – Youghal's First Lady of Running
Midleton AC County Novice Cross-Country Team 1971
Donie Walsh - 1971 European Championships 10,000m Recalled
Willie O'Mahony has clocked the miles building East Cork Athletics
Memorable Youghal Road Race Took Place at Midnight on New Year's Eve
Midleton AC Virtual Club Challenge
Cork Marathon Magic in 1986 as Marion Lyons Wins
Tullamore Man Won First Cork Marathon
Pioneering Women of Cross-Country
Grange International Cross-Country of 1980 Recalled 40 Years On
Youghal AC's London Emer Casey 10k Exploits
30 Years Ago - Liam O'Brien Wins Cork County Senior Cross-Country Championship
50 Years Ago - When John Buckley Beat The Olympic Champion
40 Years Ago - Jerry Murphy Wins Munster Marathon Championship
Aoife Cooke Runs 55:17 in Mallow 10 2019
Steeplechase Legends Meet at Antrim International
Unique National Double for McGraths
Dick Hooper Speaks at St Finbarrs AC Function
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This Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday September 17th 2023
Next Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday September 24th 2023
Look up your AAI Membership number
| Cork Athletics | Munster Athletics | Athletics Ireland Championships | Athletics Ireland Races | IMRA | Cork BHAA |
The Events
Friday 15th & Saturday 16th September - Level 1 Coaching Course - Weekend 2
An Ríocht Track, Castleisland
Friday 15th - Sunday 17th September - WMA/WMRA World Masters Mountain Running Championships
Calheta, Madiera, Portugal
Friday September 15th, 7pm - Rockchapel 5k
Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th September - Diamond League 2023 - Eugene
Eugene, Oregon, USA
Saturday September 16th, 9:30am - Parkrun - 10 Locations
Bere Island, Glengarriff, Castlehaven, Clonakilty, Macroom, Ballincollig, Glen River, Mallow Castle, Tramore Valley, Youghal
Saturday September 16th, 11:30am - East Cork Division Uneven Ages & Novice Cross-Country Championships - Day 1
Monagown, Conna
Sunday September 17th, 12 noon - 42nd Echo Cork Womens 5k Mini-Marathon
Kennedy Quay, Cork
Enter 42nd Echo Cork Women's Mini-Marathon
Sunday September 17th, 11:00 - Moyne 75th Anniversary Open Cross-Country (Tipperary Race)
Sunday September 17th, 12 noon - Top of Coom (IMRA - Kerry)
A commemoration to unveil a monument in honour of the Kildinan AC team who won the National Junior Cross-Country title in 1943 will take place next Sunday evening, September 10, at 6.30pm. Organised by a small local committee, it will be held at The Pound, Kildinan, which is between Glenville and Rathcormac
Also on the night a 32-page booklet titled ‘Remembering Kildinan Athletics’ will be launched. This covers the history of the club which was in existence from 1938 to 1966. A lot of this research was done by former Grange athlete (and author) Gerry Murphy
One of this country’s greatest athletes, John Hartnett from Ballyhooly, started his career with Kildinan before joining the Grange club. There he would go on to win the International Junior Cross-Country title (the forerunner to the World Championships) in 1970 before embarking on an athletics scholarship to Villanova University where he would go on to break Ronnie Delany’s Irish mile record, amongst a host of other major achievements
Gerry Murphy covers Hartnett’s career from his earliest days and there is a touching anecdote of how the former Kildinan athlete never forgot his roots when - at the height of his fame - he presented Peadar Dorgan, the man who brought him by lorry to his first race, with a special gift
This article, by John Arnold, appeared in The Echo, on Thursday September 7th 2023
John Arnold, fourth from left, and the organising committee to recall Kildinan AC
The Kildinan Club was an amazing phenomenon. John Arnold and others felt that the story of the club and those who ran for it, should not be forgotten
Saluting the heroic deeds of a rural athletics club in County Cork
MOSS Egan was what you’d call an ‘all-round sportsman’.
Reared on the family farm at Desert, Bartlemy, he lived with his parents, brother John and sister Eily in a beautiful old-world thatched house - built probably in the mid-1800s
Moss played hurling and football, was a brilliant athlete and loved sport involving dogs - he ‘followed the hounds’ even in his old age
As a teenager and young man, Gaelic games were at a low ebb in this parish with little playing activity. A club was restarted in Bartlemy in January, 1951, and Moss was one of the 39 present who paid 2/6 (half a crown) each to get things going - incidentally, only William ‘Bob’ O Regan survives from that group of '39
Over the next few years, a few tournaments were won but no League or Championship honours were garnered. Moss played on these teams and, in 1965, when the Bride Rovers Club was reformed, he was still lining out to ensure 15 players were on duty
He never had a problem with weight, he was wiry but strong, and physical farmwork meant stamina and strength were never a problem.
Running came easy to him and cross-country athletics was simply like an extension of daily chores on the ancestral acres
Moss lived close to the parishes of Castlelyons and Lisgoold. Kildinan was at the other end - on the ‘boundary’ with Glenville and Ballyhooley
In the 1880s and ’90s, the Bridestown townland in Kildinan was home to the Phibbs brothers, Con and Bill. They were superb athletes, winning Cork and National titles. Bill was a member of what has come to be called the GAA ‘American Invasion’
In September, 1888, a party of 25 hurlers, 18 track and field athletes and ten officials sailed from Cobh to the New World. The GAA party played exhibition games and took part in several major athletic contests. Bill Phibbs was one of the star competitors
The ‘Invasion Team’ spent six weeks in the States, but Phibbs and others stayed longer - some never returned
Bill did come back and, along with Con, was nationally known - their appearance at a sports meeting guaranteed a bumper crowd
Along the Bride Valley, the fame of the Phibbs brothers was well known
In 1938, the year before Bill died, Kildinan Athletic Club was formed. It was pre-war Ireland, life was simple, and in rural areas like Kildinan, young men often gathered at crossroads or in farmers’ fields of a Sunday afternoon for ‘davarsion’. Some hurled or played football or pulled the tug-o-war rope, and some ran
The Kildinan Club was an amazing phenomenon. Within 15 years, club athletes had captured county cross-country titles at novice, junior and senior. In 1942, a team from Kildinan reached the All-Ireland final in Santry in Dublin. They finished in seventh place
With a stronger team the following year, the club, only five years in existence, won the All-Ireland. The winning team consisted of captain George Gubbins, Danny Murphy, Dinny O’Driscoll, Pat Keohane, Pat Porter, Jimmy Buckley, Dick Barry, J. Purcell, Dan Murphy, Willie Rea, Pat Hourihan and Johnny Dorgan
In later years, I knew Dick Barry and Johnny Dorgan well. In his 95th year, I talked to Danny Murphy of Lackendarra about their great win and he recalled the details with amazing clarity
Dan Murphy, a native of Dripsey, but living near Ovens, told me he was approached to join the club in late 1942. “Little did I think that I’d be an All Ireland winner in a few months.”
It was a brilliant feat for the Kildinan club and it was backed up for nearly a decade with repeated cross-country and track and field successes
It was the Kildinan club that Moss Egan joined in 1948, and from 1949 to 1951 he won a glittering array of medals at county and provincial level. Years later he gave his neighbour and friend Christy Daly an insight into his athletic preparations over 70 years ago
Moss Egan said he never trained at home by day, “’twould be frowned on - too much work to do on the farm from dawn ’til dusk. But at ten o’clock at night, when they’d be all gone to bed, I’d go out in the field and run, run, run...!”
It might be a unique training regime but for Moss it worked. Just this week I got to see seven of his ‘big race’ medals - all won with Kildinan
Oh, sweet were the rambles
When Sundays came round
We all with our friends
Made our way to The Pound
These lines from a local song indicate the importance of ‘gathering places’ like the old rustic bridge, the old boreen and The Pound
Those Kildinan athletes that did ‘normal’ training did so in the Pond Field of the Lindsay family across the road from The Pound
It wasn’t just cross country runners who gathered here. The Pound was also famous for its dancing ‘stage’. Here on Sunday nights the crowds gathered to meet, to dance and to ‘court’. The memories of all those great days and great nights will come back to stay again on Sunday night. Once more the crowds will gather at The Pound
Last winter, a small group got together to commemorate the daring deeds of Kildinan athletes down the decades. The club was formed in 1938 and waned in 1952. It had brief renaissance in the mid 1960s when a young John Hartnett wore the green singlet of Kildinan AC.
It’s eight decades since the All-Ireland win and we felt that the story of the club and those who ran for it and saw after the running of it should not be forgotten
A committee was formed and a plan was worked out for fundraising to put in place a suitable commemorative sculpture
On Sunday evening next, half an hour after the Angelus, an unveiling ceremony will be held to which an open invitation is extended
Four members of that team of 80 years ago, Pat Porter, Willie Rea, J. Purcell and pat Hourihan remain a mystery to us still as we have no contact with any family members
Nevertheless, that tradition of which the Phibbs brothers were a major part, as were the 1943 team, Moss Egan and all who ever ran for Kildinan, will be proudly recalled and remembered
Kildinan is a unique place - partly in Cloyne Diocese and partly in the Diocese of Cork and Ross, and crossing parish boundaries too. It’s hard to imagine how a small group of men with great ambition came together and blazed such a successful trail in a short few years
Moss Egan was a humble countryman who loved sport, and so were all those donned the green of Kildinan down the years. They brought great success to the area, but most of all, huge happiness, enjoyment, fun, and a sense of local pride that will never be forgotten
Results of Athletics Ireland Registered Events - April 2014 - May 2016 (on Old Cork Athletics website)
Results of Athletics Ireland Registered Events - May 2016 to date
Race Calendar / Fixtures List - Athletics Ireland Registered Events
Official Calendar of Registered Athletics Ireland events in Cork
Other Guest Articles by John Walshe
FORTY YEARS AGO - WHEN ‘CMON AGHADA’ WAS HEARD ON HEARTBREAK HILL - Article by John Walshe
Donie Walsh - Train to Race Don't Get Caught Up with Your Time
A Brilliant Performance Sees East Cork AC Take National Silver
BANDON CONNECTION TO WORLD CHAMPION
CORK CITY SPORTS – A BRIEF HISTORY
Mary Sweeney – Youghal's First Lady of Running
Midleton AC County Novice Cross-Country Team 1971
Donie Walsh - 1971 European Championships 10,000m Recalled
Willie O'Mahony has clocked the miles building East Cork Athletics
Memorable Youghal Road Race Took Place at Midnight on New Year's Eve
Midleton AC Virtual Club Challenge
Cork Marathon Magic in 1986 as Marion Lyons Wins
Tullamore Man Won First Cork Marathon
Pioneering Women of Cross-Country
Grange International Cross-Country of 1980 Recalled 40 Years On
Youghal AC's London Emer Casey 10k Exploits
30 Years Ago - Liam O'Brien Wins Cork County Senior Cross-Country Championship
50 Years Ago - When John Buckley Beat The Olympic Champion
40 Years Ago - Jerry Murphy Wins Munster Marathon Championship
Aoife Cooke Runs 55:17 in Mallow 10 2019
Steeplechase Legends Meet at Antrim International
Unique National Double for McGraths
Dick Hooper Speaks at St Finbarrs AC Function
