2pm to 4:45pm, Saturday June 4th 2022
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John Quigley, AIMS/World Athletics Grade A International Measurer, and offical Course Measurer for the Cork City Marathon and Half-Marathon since 2007, will give a short talk on the course, along with a Q&A session, and tips on running the SPR (Shortest Possible Route), at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm
Eamonn Hayes, a very experienced Pacer, and has been heavily involved in the Technical and Admin side of the Marathon for many years, will give a briefing on the Pacers and Pacing Groups, at 2:40pm, 3:35pm and 4:35pm
Cork Athletics Webmaster's Facebook page
This article by By John Walshe, appeared in the Youghal and Midleton & Dist News on Thursday 02/06/2022
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| Back in February 1978, Mary Dempsey wins the National Intermediate Cross-Country in the snow, at Rockwell College | A smiling Mary Sweeney at the finish of the recent Great Railway Run 25km from Cork to Carrigaline - Photo: Derek Costello |
On a February day all of 44 years ago, on a snow-covered course at Rockwell College, Mary Dempsey from Youghal won the National Intermediate cross-country title when finishing a half-minute clear of Mary O’Sullivan from Limerick
Now, almost four-and-a-decades later, Mary Sweeney (as she is today) is still winning prizes and will take to the streets of Cork on Sunday next for which, fittingly, will be her 46th appearance over the classic marathon distance
One of the most familiar figures on the running scene, the St Finbarr’s athlete has played a pivotal role in the popularity and acceptance of women’s running in Cork county and beyond. Not just by her achievements alone, but also by her encouragement and enthusiasm for the sport she loves so dearly
And it all began over 50 years ago in the seaside town when, as a young girl, she joined the local athletics club. “My running career started off with one of the greatest men in Youghal, Jimmy Drake, Martin’s dad,” she recalls. “We used to run around the pitches of St Raphael’s Hospital and then, after Jimmy passed away, my father, Jack, who was a nurse in St Raphael’s, got involved”
Despite being part of a thriving club, success in the juvenile grades wasn’t immediate. “When I started off, at 10 or 11, I wasn’t much good at the short races but my father used to say ‘you have stamina and you definitely have determination’ and so the longer distances suited me"
“Midleton had a great club at the time and one girl, Elizabeth O’Brien, used to always beat me. When I got to 14, I beat her for the first time and it went on from there.” After representing Ireland in the Home Countries Schools’ cross-country at the age of 16, the following year at Rockwell College on a course that had three inches of snow underfoot, she took the National Intermediate title. “The course was tricky enough I recall but I think I led from the start and won easily enough”
As the 1970s came to a close, road running was still in its infancy, especially for women. The second edition of the Ballycotton ‘10’ in 1979 had just five females amongst the 82 finishers. Leading them home, in a time of 68:47, was Mary Dempsey from Youghal. “I had never run 10 miles in distance as my father minded me and to this day I appreciate that. But I said I would love to run this race as a lot of people were talking about it and he gave in, so you could say that was the start of another part of my athletics career.”
In an era when the prize structure was what would be construed as sexist nowadays, Mary’s Ballycotton reward was a hair dryer. However, it proved to be somewhat of a little earner as she used to hire it out to her siblings at the weekend: “I made a few bob out of that orange hair dryer as in a family that contained five girls, a hair dryer was a very, very valuable item.”
Countless victories on the local scene followed and in 1993 Mary made the Irish team for the world half-marathon championships in Brussels. “I qualified for that from the national half-marathon which was held in Cork. The first five were selected to go and we had a great four or five days out there and to me I was amongst the elite.”
Eleven years previous she had taken part in her first marathon in Dublin, followed in 1983 by the second of the original Cork marathons. “Although I didn’t run that many marathons when I was running well at the shorter distances, when Cork returned in 2007 I ran three or four a year so now, please God, Cork on Sunday will be my 46th,” she says
Ten years ago, Mary won the F50 category in Cork in a time of 3:11:42 and a decade later is still way ahead of her contemporaries in her present F60 category. Last Friday night she ran 27:29 for four miles at Ballymacoda and then turned out the following morning to record 22:52 in her 91st 5km parkrun.
“The parkruns are amazing, not alone the runners but the volunteers as well. Every level is acceptable at a parkrun and every level is treated with the same kindness and dignity. It doesn’t matter what time you do and I can’t speak highly enough of them,” she says
A total of 80 of those parkruns have been achieved in Ballincollig where Mary now resides. Although living in the satellite town now for the past 35 years, the love of Youghal is still evident: “Youghal will always be home to me. When I’m going to Youghal I always say I’m going down home. The loss of my dad did take it away for a little while but Mam is still there as are my sisters and brother, so I’ll always be a Youghal girl.”
Looking back at the training that brought her so much success, Mary says she always listened to her body. “I was good to do the mileage which I felt was the backbone of your running but I always took a day off a week. I was a working mum, I had two young kids, I was working 12-hour shifts in a nursing home at the time so I ran to and from work. I was covering around 50 miles a week and maybe went up to 60 or 65 for a few years when I was younger and the body was able to take it
“I was lucky with injuries; I was blessed. So to be told four years ago that I had rheumatoid arthritis was an awful knock. Amazingly, when I’m resting it’s then that the rheumatoid arthritis attacks my body. I don’t dwell on it too much as I find when I’m out running I’m doing something that’s good for my health and my arthritis.”
But what shines though the positive energy that this remarkable 61-year-old conveys is an immense sense of gratitude. “Running gives me a purpose and it’s what keeps me going. I count my blessings and I am privileged and so lucky to be able to do it. Number one, I’m grateful for my health, number two I’m grateful for the people around me that have made running so good to me and for me. Everybody is a friend and I know from the bottom of my heart that I don’t have an enemy. I do feel that God is always around us all and if you’re kind to people you’ll always get kindness back.”
Saying she’s not interested in what time she runs on Sunday, there is no doubt that Mary Sweeney will go home happy in the knowledge that she achieved what her body was capable of on the day. “And when I cross the finish line on Patrick Street, regardless of what’s up on the clock, I’ll have a happy smile that says ‘Thank You’.”
Other Guest Articles by John Walshe
Stephen Hennessy – A Youghal Sporting Legend
1972 Fermoy Cross-Country Championship Recalled
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
Slieveroe, Riverstick, Co. Cork
to Sunday June 6th 2022
Drone View of the Cork Athletics Riverstick Grounds
Silage cutting began earlier this week and will continue for the next few days, consequently, the grounds are closed for training until next week, after Sunday 6th June 2022
9am Onwards, Thursday June 2nd 2022
Cork Athletics Webmaster's Facebook page
Cork City Marathon organisers are looking for able-bodied volunteers to help move boxes of t-shirts, medals, etc, in City Hall, for a couple of hours, on Thursday morning next, June 2nd, from 9am
If you can spare an hour or two, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0879886966
Sunday June 5th 2022
The Cork City Half-Marathon Start has moved to Monaghan Road, further along the route from previously, eliminating the Victoria Road Roundabout. The move has been facilitated by adding a loop around part of the new Park/Plaza on the city side of Páirc Uí Caoimh and through part of the Páirc Uí Caoimh car-park, before coming back down in front of the stadium, and rejoining the previous course at approx. 1.4 Miles
The course now starts on Monaghan Road, east of Kennedy Park. It then continues along Monaghan Road, passing CAB and entering the Atlantic Pond amenity area, turning left towards the all weater pitches and the Blackrock end of the stadium...and proceeding as below
Outline view of new loop around Páirc Uí Caoimh
The course skirts the eastern side of the All-Weather pitches, before turning left and passing in front of the stadium. It then continues directly ahead to the new Plaza, taking a right around the 'grassy flood zone', and then enters the Páirc Uí Caoimh gated car-park, heading right again, at the city end of the stadium. After passing through the gates on the Ballintemple side, the course swings left and again passes in front of the stadium - the two parallel, but opposite direction, streams of runners will be separated by barriers/tapes. At the Blackrock end of the stadium, the course swings left and rejions the previous course. This new start should make for a faster start
The Half-Marathon course, along with the Marathon course, has been remeasured this year, in accordance with AIMS regulations, having last beeen measured in 2017. Remeasurement would have been required in any case, due to the change in the course. The courses were measured by John Quigley AIMS/World Athletics Grade 'A' International Measurer
AIMS/World Athletics Measurement Certificate
Wave Start - Cork City Marathon Release May 25th 2022
"Cork Half Marathon has become the biggest race in Munster this year so far! As a result of this and to accommodate these record numbers the race will start in two waves
Those hoping to run the race in 1 hour 58 minutes or faster will start in wave one. The 1 hour 50-minute pacers will be the last pacers in Wave 1. Once Wave 1 has cleared then Wave 2 will be led out shortly after by the 2-hour pacers so if you are hoping to follow this group of pacers and get in just under 2 hours then wave 2 is for you. Or if you are hoping to start off behind the 2-hour pacer and push on a little later in the race then wave 2 is for you also. The remaining pacers 2:10, 2:20 and 2:30 will also be in wave 2
Runners will be split into two groups on arrival and all runners should be at the start line at 9:45am. Starting the race in two waves will boost your chances of a Personal Best as there will be less crowding on the course. These measures are in place in all big races from New York to London. Remember you will be Chip Timed so your time will start when you cross the start line regardless of what wave you are in. These measures will help to enhance your experience and hopefully help you to get that Personal Best you have been training so hard for"
Related Articles
Cork City Marathon & Half-Marathon Event Information
Cork City Marathon & Half-Marathon Awarded AIMS Certification
Marathon Advice - The Last Two Weeks
Download Cork Athletics Webmaster's Advice - The Last Two Weeks - PDF File
Download Cork Athletics Webmaster's Advice - On The Day - PDF File
Download Cork Athletics Webmasters Advice - Recovery - PDF File
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| Cork City Marathon AIMS Measurement Certificate 2022 | Cork City Half-Marathon AIMS Measurement Certificate 2022 |
Good news this week with AIMS Certification of both the Cork City Marathon and Half-Marathon being confirmed on Friday last, following course re-measurement
AIMS certification is an entry requirement for many big Marathons and Half-Marathons, particularly the famed Boston Marathon, so the re-certication of the Cork courses is a major coup for the event, and ensures that anyone achieving qualifying times, in Cork, for the Marathon Majors, will have 'made the grade'
The courses were last measured in 2017, and AIMS certification lasts 5 years - unless the course(s) change - so full remeasurement of both courses was required this year
Certification by AIMS requires that the course is measured by an AIMS A or B International Grade Measurer. This year, as since 2007, the course was measured by John Quigley, AIMS Grade A Measurer
John Quigley, AIMS Grade A Measurer, during 2018 Measurement of Karen Fenton 5k
Cork City Sports
MTU Track
Tuesday July 5th 2022
On July 5th at the MTU stadium in Bishopstown, Irelands premier athletics meeting returns after a two-year absence due to Covid restrictions. We are delighted to have the support of BAM Ireland once again as our title sponsors
As a WACT Bronze meeting, athletes will receive higher ranking points towards qualification for major
championships. This year the meeting is within the qualification window for the European Championships in Munich this August, so it also offers athletes the opportunity for achieving qualification. A lot of Irish and International stars will be competing on the night chasing ranking points, prize money and qualification standards
Included in the list of international stars is two-time Olympic Champion and three times World Champion
over 800m, Caster Semenya. The South African will compete in the 3000m, looking to impress ahead of the Commonwealth Games
There are a host of Irish stars who will be competing including Corks Louise Shanahan who recently set a new Irish record in the 800m. Louise has postponed her trip to the World Championships to compete in front of her home crowd
Bandon’s Phil Healy, who is a great supporter of Cork City Sports, will be attempting to run a double in the woman’s 100M and 400M
Darragh McEllhinny has confirmed that he is going to attempt to rewrite the 17-year-old meeting record in the mens 3000m. The record is held by the great Craig Mottram. This would be a major achievement in front of a Cork crowd. Darragh will be pushed by other Irish stars such as Sean Tobin, Hiko Tonosa, Brian Fay and teenage star Nick Griggs. He will also have British opposition from Andrew Butchert who has been a star on the Diamond League circuit for some years
Andrew Coscoran will be looking to take the Mile and with the form he is in who would bet against him. Sarah Lavin has been in superb form over the last year and will be looking to run sub 13 seconds on Irish soil in the 100M Hurdles. Eric Favors who recently broke the thirty year old Irish record in the Shot Putt will be competing against a strong field
There will also be inter firm relays competitions and Junior races in addition to the international events. These have proved very popular over the past few years
The Cork City Sports Committee wish to acknowledge the financial support of the Irish Sports Council, Sport Ireland, Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Athletics Ireland and Cork County Board AAI
We would like to thank our event sponsors, Cork Airport, Cork Education and Training Board, Johnson Controls, John Buckley Sports, AON, Musgraves SuperValue/Centra, the River Lee Hotel, FDC Financial Services, JCD Group, Glenilen Farm, O’Leary Insurance Group and Media sponsors, the Echo and Cork 96FM C103. We also wish to thank our Event Host, Munster Technological University and the Defence Forces for their ongoing support
It will be a great evening of sport at MTU for all the family who will be able to see the stars of Irish and World athletics at first hand
| Tony O’Connell Chairman, Cork City Sports International Athletics Committee This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | Joe Hartnett Meet Director, Cork City Sports International Athletics Committee |
Cork City Sports Facebook Page
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
3pm to 6pm, Saturday June 4th 2022
Cork Athletics Webmaster's Facebook page
Are you free this Saturday, 4 June? We're looking for volunteers, to help with race pack collection, and similar marathon related tasks, at Cork City Hall, anytime from 12-6pm, and particularly between 3pm and 6pm! If you can spare even an hour or so, when collecting your own pack, would be greatly appreciated!
Volunteers are so important to ensure our marathon is the best it can be! We couldn't do it without them.
If you're free, we'd love to hear from you!
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go online to our website: CorkCityMarathon.ie
Be part of a great day and great event
#CorkCityMarathon22 | #MoreThanAMarathon | #TheWorldComesToCork
Week 23 2022
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This Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday June 5th 2022
Next Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday June 12th 2022
This Month's Events - June 2022
Next Month's Events - July 2022
The biggest events of the year on the roads in Cork, the Cork City Marathon and Relay, along with the Cork City Half-Marathon, take place on Sunday next. On Thursday, we see the brand new Cloyne 5 Mile take place on Thursday. Further afield, a large Cork contingent is sure to be heading to Tullamore for the 104th Irish Schools T&F Championships, on Saturday
Wednesday June 1st, 20:00 - Cork Athletics County Board Monthly Meeting
Admin Building, MTU Track
Thursday June 2nd, 20:00 - Cloyne 5 Mile
Cloyne
Friday June 3rd, 19:30 - Deadman's 4 Mile Road Race (Tipperary Race)
Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary
Saturday June 4th, 09:30am - Parkrun - Various Locations
Bere Island, Glengarriff, Castlehaven, Clonakilty, Macroom, Ballincollig, Glen River, Mallow Castle, Youghal
Saturday June 4th - 104th All-Ireland Schools T&F Championships
Tullamore, Co. Offaly
Saturday June 4th, 13:00 - Carrauntwohill (IMRA - Kerry)
Killarney, Co. Kerry
Sunday June 5th, 08:30am - Cork City Marathon & Relay
Sunday June 5th, 10:15am - Cork City Half Marathon
Sunday June 5th, 13:00pm - St Brendans AC Open Sports (Kerry Race)
Ardfert, Co. Kerry
Sunday June 5th, 19:00pm - Diamond League 2022 - Rabat
Rabat, Morocco
River Lee Hotel
Wednesday May 27th 2022
Sinead O'Connor, Leevale AC, is Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for April 2022
Sinead O'Connor, with her Family
The award was presented to Sinead at a function at the River Lee hotel, on Friday May 27th 2022
Sinead O'Connor with Cork City Sports representatives and sponsors
The Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month Award is sponsored by 96FM/C103FM, The Echo, The River Lee, Cork Crystal and Leisureworld
Cork City Sports - Awards Archive
The Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for April 2022 is Sinead O'Connor, Leevale AC
The Recipient Sinead O’Connor, Leevale AC, is the Cork City Sports Athlete of the Month for April.
Held in conjunction with the GREAT IRELAND RUN, in Phoenix Park, Dublin on April 9th. Sinead stormed to victory in the National 10km Championship of Ireland in a time of 34min and 20sec. This was Sinead’s first National Senior individual title
Photos
Photos on Cork Athletics Facebook Page
Sinead O'Connor Award Citation
Watch Cork Athletics Videos on Vimeo
Week 22 2022
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This Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday May 29th 2022
Next Week's Events - Week Ending Sunday June 5th 2022
This Month's Events - May 2022
Next Month's Events - June 2022
A quieter week ahead in Cork. Locally the second of the Cork Athletics Track nights takes place on Wednesday
On the Road, the only Road Race in Cork, the Ballymacoda 4 Mile, is on Friday
Over the weekend, the Munster Combined Events Championships take place over Saturday and Sunday, at MTU Track
Tuesday May 24th 20:00 - - Templemore 5k
Templemore, Co. Tipperary
Wednesday May 25th, 8pm - Munster Athletics Annual Convention
Via Zoom
Wednesday May 25th, 7:30pm - Cork Open Track & Field Evening Meet 2
MTU Track
Thursday May 26th 8pm - Fethard 5k
Friday May 27th, 7pm - Ardmore 5 Mile
Ardmore, Co. Waterford
Friday May 27th, 8pm - Ballymacoda 4 Mile
Ballymacoda
Friday May 27th, 8pm - Kilmallock 4 Mile
Kilmallock, Co. Limerick
Saturday May 28th, 09:30am - Parkrun - Various Locations
Bere Island, Glengarriff, Castlehaven, Clonakilty, Macroom, Ballincollig, Glen River, Mallow Castle, Youghal
Saturday May 28th - Diamond League 2022 - Eugene, Oregon, USA
Templemore, Co. Tipperary
Saturday May 28th - Munster Combined Events Championships - Day 1
MTU Track, Cork
Sunday May 29th - Curragh Woods (IMRA - Cork)
Curragh Woods, Midleton
Sunday May 22nd, 11am - Munster Indoor Combined Events Championships Day 2
MTU Track, Cork
Bob Heffernan & Mary Hanley 5k Road Race
Enfield, Co Meath
Tuesday May 17th 2022
Michael Harty, East Cork AC
Photo: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Subject to ratification, Michael Harty, East Cork AC, broke the Irish Masters M40 record, at last night's Bob Heffernan & Mary Hanley 5k Road Race, in Enfield, Co Meath. Michael ran 14:20, for third place, behind Paul O'Donnell (DSD AC), 14:00, and Peter Somba (Dunboyne AC), 14:17. Michael's time was one (1) second inside Brian Maher's previous record of 14:21
Enfield 5k Top 10
Bob Heffernan & Mary Hanley 5k Results 2022
Setting the new record last night must have provided Michael with some satisfaction after last month's Streets of Kilkenny 5k, where, running 14:14, Michael was credited with breaking the record, only for the organisers to issue a statement, some days later, disclosing that the course had been found to be short, so the 'record' set that day cannot stand
Top 10 Streets of Kilkenny 5k
Streets of Kilkenny 5k Results 2022
Michael Harty bides his time behind Sean Doyle, North Cork AC and Eoin Everard, Kilkenny City Harriers
Photo: Paul Dargan Photography
Statement from Kilkenny City Harriers AC
While the shortfall has not been stated, it has been reported, unofficially, to have been some 60m short. Also inside the 'record' that night, was existing record holder Brian Maher, from the host club, Kilkenny City Harriers, just two places and four seconds behind Michael
