Stephen running marathon within 2km of his home!
A Dundalk man is determined to see through his marathon plans, by running the full distance within two kilometres of his north Louth home!
Stephen O’Connor announced that he will begin the mammoth challenge on Sunday next, May 3rd.
‘With these crazy times we’re living in, I’ve decided to run a full marathon without leaving the 2km radius from my own house in Lordship. This is to raise funds for the Children’s Respite Centre in Lordship and Special Olympics Ireland. Both are registered charities in Ireland doing fantastic work for the young and vulnerable.’
‘I will be covering a full marathon distance, that’s 42.2km or 26.2miles in old money, without leaving the speed limit zones in Lordship. This is a single person event, I can’t encourage any spectators but if you are passing through Lordship on an essential trip, please give me a wave and a beep.’
He aims to complete the challenge on Sunday from 8am to approximately 12 midday.
He added: ‘As practically everything has shut down, all donations and fundraising have been severely affected. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on Special Olympics Ireland income, most notably the postponement of their National Collection Day. Part of the donations received will help Special Olympics Ireland’s vision to increase their reach so that every person with an intellectual disability has the opportunity, in their local community, to participate in high-quality Olympic style sport and leadership activities that bring life-changing experiences of increased skills, self-confidence, and joy.’
Anything raised by Stephen will be divided evenly between both Special Olympics Ireland and The Children’s Respite Centre.
To support Stephen log on to www.gofundme. com/f/Lockdown-Marathon-for- Children.
GARDAÍ have charged one man, aged in his 30s, in relation to an incident of dangerous driving which concluded on the R132 north of Dundalk on Sunday.
He was due to appear before Monaghan District Court yesterday (Monday) morning.
The two other men arrested in relation to this incident remain detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 in Dundalk Garda Station on Monday morning.
Gardai said the male driver allegedly failed to stop for a Covid-19 checkstop at Lissenhall, Swords, north county Dublin at around 4.35pm on Sunday.
A chase – described by gardai as ‘a managed containment operation’ which involved multiple official garda vehicles then ensued as the driver drove at speed northbound on the M1 motorway before it veered onto the northbound lane of the old Dublin-Belfast road – the R132 – north of Dundalk where gardai were able to stop the vehicle.
‘During the course of the containment operation an official garda car was damaged but no persons were injured,’ gardai said in a statement last night.