A 250-mile run like no other run in 1980
EACH weekend in towns and villages the length and breath of Kerry, local communities are organising 5km Fun Runs for a variety of charitable causes. Hundreds of fun runners put their best foot forward to support these events and as they cross the finish line breathe a sigh of relief at the conclusion of this relatively short event.
If the thought of running to the local shop leaves you breathless then spare a thought for the teak tough athletes from Farranfore Athletic Club who participated in a charity run that grabbed the attention of the Kerry public more than four decades ago. In 1980 these athletes did not run a 5km or a 10km course, instead they put of their running shoes and ran a staggering, energy sapping and jaw dropping 250 miles.
Not only did a team of 20 runners cover this magical distance, they did it in 32 hours which at the time caught the attention of RTE and the national media.
Starting at 9am in Killarney Town centre on Friday July 4, the run in aid of St. Mary of the Angles Home in Beaufort and the Kerry Parents and Friends, travelled as far north as Tarbert and Ballybunion, Tralee and west to Dingle via the Conor Pass. From Dingle it wound its way to Tralee, Killorglin, Waterville, along the picturesque Ring of Kerry to Kenmare, Kilgarvan, Rathmore, Barraduff to the finish in Killarney.
Speaking at the launch of the run in 1980, the secretary of Farranfore Athletic Club, Jim O’Shea said, “This is a relay type run. Its non stop from start to finish with one or two runner on the road at all times covering 4 miles at a stint. Approaching each village and town all the runners will run together for the half mile before and after that particular town. There will be a lot of running and lots of miles covered for all the team members but our aim is to raise as much money as possible for St. Mary of the Angels and the Kerry Parents and Friends, charities close to our hearts.”
Thanks to the uniqueness of the run and something that was never attempted in Ireland up to this point, sponsorship was rolling in to assist the athletes.
Kerry Cars, located in Rathass, Tralee under the ownership of Frank Slattery, provided a fleet of six cars and three mini-buses to the event. The drivers were Frank Slattery (Tralee), PJ Brick (Tralee), Tony Fitzgerald (Cordal), John Scully (Beaufort), Michael Relihan (Tralee), Liam Griffin (Tralee), Brendan O’Regan (Tralee), Bertie Hickey (Knocknagoshel) and Dolores Danagher (Tralee). An ambulance was supplied by Gleasures Funeral Home (Tralee) and was driven by Donie Griffin (Spa, Tralee) who was also in charge of medical matters.
Running gear and shoes, the most important equipment for the run, were supplied well in advance of the event to facilitate training by New Balance International who had a manufacturing facility in The Basin, Tralee. The Farranfore runners logged their training, miles covered and the terrain they ran with this information helping New Balance in their design strategy for future running shoes.
“The run took a tremendous amount of spirit and courage. The athletes ran through the night and one of my most abiding memories was the sight of Donal McCarthy getting out of the bus in heavy rainfall at 3.00 in the morning and running past Ballybrac, south of Waterville for his 4 mile uphill stint towards Loher. That takes guts,” said John Leen from the Kerry Parents and Friends, after the run.
The run was an amazing community effort. All along the route, during day light hours, people came out with drinks, sweets and treats for the runners. Over 30 senior members of Currow Youth Club, under the direction of local teacher Bob Walsh, volunteered to man the street collections as the run passed through the various towns and villages. They proved to be a vital cog in the success of the run and were transported by two busses along the route during day light hours.
Branches of the Kerry Parents and Friends all over Kerry assisted with organising meals for the runners, helpers, volunteers and street collectors. Meals were organised in relay fashion with the support of Listowel Arms Hotel, the Grand Hotel (Tralee), Cliff House Hotel (Ballybunion), The Towers Hotel (Glenbeigh) and the Landsdown Hotel in Kenmare.
One of the most enjoyable meal stops was in Finuge where Mrs. Bridie O’Connor opened her home to feed more than 60 people. “I was baking and cooking for days to have enough food for all these lovely young men and women. It was an enjoyable afternoon and I must they were most courteous and great fun, some of them even stayed a little while to do the washing and the cleaning up. They were a credit to their communities and an example of the kindness we see in our youth,” Mrs. O’Connor said.
With music blaring from PA systems, sirens and flashing lights the cavalcade would its way around Kerry to the cheers and support of local communities.
“No runners or helpers slept a wink during the weekend. The fun element and camaraderie in the buses was entertaining with music and singing passing the night away. While our mission was to raise as much money as possible, the social element was also important,” said Joe Clifford, chairman of Farranfore Athletic Club.
Having commenced the run at 9am on Friday morning, the various times runners reached town and villages included Tralee 12.30pm, Ballybunion 4pm, Tralee 7pm, Dingle 11pm, Annascaul 12.15 am, Killorglin 2.30am, Waterville 6.30am, Sneem 10am, Kenmare 12 noon, Kilgarvan 1pm and the finish in Killarney at 5pm where the runners were welcomed home by the president of Farranfore AC, JJ Crowley, local politicians, the local and National media and hundreds of people who lined the streets to witness this historic event.
Athletes who participated in this epic 250 mile run were Michael O’Connor (Kilcummin), Jim O’Shea (Listry), Donal McCarthy (Tralee), Maurice O’Keeffe (Tralee), Con Dennehy (Currow), Charlie Cronin (Farranfore), Patsy Cronin (Farranfore), Danny O’Leary (Kilcummin), Christy O’Leary (Kilcummin), Joe Clifford (Faha), Michael Moloney (Killarney), Seamus O’Sullivan (Ballyhar), Dermot McCarthy (Killarney), Bob Ferris (Beaufort), Frank O’Connor (Tralee), Christy O’Leary (Kilcummin), Denis Cronin (Milltown), Patrick Teehan (Kilcummin), Pat Kissane (Killarney) and Tom McCarthy (Ballymacelligott).