Launch of St. Patrick’s Day 10k/ 5k road race
A large crowd gathered for the launch of the St. Patrick’s Day road race in Tubbercurry last Thursday evening in St. Brigid’s Hall. Spokesman Gerry Lee says the race is going from strength to strength: “Last year we had 430 taking part, our highest ever number. We are hoping to increase the numbers again this year.”
The concept for the Tubbercurry 10k road race came about 44 years ago thanks to Luke Kilkoyne and Annie Killoran. It has since grown to include a 5k and a children’s 1k race and is now considered a family fun day out on the local calander.
Gerry says: “The 10k Tubbercurry race is a well established track and one of the best on the circuit. It is a well regarded and tough course. Emmet Dunleavy won it last year.”
Gerry explains that the couch to 5k programme run by South Sligo Athletics club in conjunction with the Sligo Sports Partnership has helped to increase interest in the St. Patrick’s Day event.
He adds: “Last year we had 75 participants in the counch to 5k and 73 of those took part in the 5k road race. This year we’ve seen a 25 percent increase with 95 people taking part in the couch to 5k, so we expect to see a lot of those running on St. Patrick’s Day also. Volunteers from the club take runners out on a Thursday and a Sunday evening and the programme gives a great boost to our St. Patrick’s Day event.”
At the launch, Gerry also mentioned that a portion of the proceeds from the race will go towards the Kevin Bell Repatriation Fund. “We are very much a part of the community and we want to give something back,” Gerry says.