Week ending Saturday 1st February
New committee elected to steer Mullingar Harriers in its 50th year
Scheduled for last Friday evening, our Annual General Meeting had to be postponed at short notice to Saturday evening because of Storm Eowyn. Despite the very short notice, attendance was actually very good and we must express our thanks to our members and to the Greville Arms Hotel for accommodating the change at very short notice.
Now in its 50th year and approaching the anniversary of its founding in December 1975, the Club’s membership is nearly 600, and while there should have more at the AGM, it was still well attended, which shows the interest among members on how the Club is managed and organised on their behalf.
Chairperson, Margaret Daly opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and introduced the Secretary’s report by Patrick Muldoon, Greg Duggan’s report on registrations, competitions and public relations, and Greg also deputised for the Treasurer, Joanna Tyrrell, and presented her report as she was away. These reports were followed by Margaret’s own Chairperson’s Address and the President’s Address by Seamus Gibney.
In a wide-ranging report, Patrick detailed the many activities and undertakings needed to manage the Club on a day to day basis, and on the events that the Club organised itself during the year, focussed in on the Pat Finnerty Memorial 5k held in Belvedere in May, the proceeds of which were presented to local charity Tanzanian Heavenly Homes at the end of the meeting, when founder John McCauley gave a very moving account of why and how with others he formed the charity in 2013 and how it has grown over the years, expressing his appreciation for the donation and outlining how it would be used to better the lives of some of the poorest people in Tanzania.
Among the highlights from the other reports was International debuts in 2024 by four members – Jessica Cunningham (World Deaf Youth Games in Brazil), John Glennon (SIAB Schools T&F International in Wales), Eddie Lynch (British and Irish Masters International Cross Country in Belfast) and Ian McCormack (CISM World Military Cross Country in Belgium). Eight other members also represented Ireland last year – Sean McMullin (4 times), Aidan O’Donoghue, Brigid McCabe (3 times), Colm Walsh, Maura Dervin and Eddie Newman. Pride of place though must go to Oisin Lane and Cormac Dalton, Oisin competed at the European T&F in Rome and Cormac at the European Cross Country in Turkey, his fifth consecutive year to compete in this event.
In a year when Athletics Ireland recorded record registrations, breaking through the 70,000 member barrier for the first time, 2024 was also the year when Mullingar Harriers had a record membership of 584 at the end of December and interest in joining continues to be very strong. However, the Club continues to face challenges in managing the increase in membership but the lack of interest in competing in events, particularly among the younger ages is a big concern. We now have excellent training facilities at the Club Grounds and a renewed call was made for more help for coaches, particularly with the younger underage members that train at the 6pm sessions.
A very noteworthy success came in the recent Leinster Intermediate Cross Country in Kilcormac, Co. Offaly, when the Intermediate men won the Club team title, and when taken with the Leinster Novice and Senior men team titles won in the Autumn of 2024, means that for the first time Mullingar Harriers has won every men’s cross country team title in the same season, which is a nice achievement as the Club approaches its fiftieth anniversary this year.
The following were elected as officers and committee members for the coming year: Seamus Gibney (President), John Mulvihill (Vice-President), Bobbie Begley (Chair), Catriona Duffy (Vice-Chair), Joanna Tyrrell (Treasurer), Cormac Finnerty (Secretary, Ian McCormack (Assistant Secretary), Greg Duggan (PRO coordinator), Tom Wallace (Juvenile Training Officer), Tom McGrath (Minute Secretary), Pauline Quinn, Margaret Daly and Greg Duggan (Child Officers), Eoin Clarke, Margaret Daly, Michael Lane and Michael O’Sullivan (Trustees). The officers and trustees are automatically on the new committee, as are Life Vice-presidents including Cormac Finnerty, Martin Fagan, Bobbie Begley, Christy Creagh and Mark Christie, and will be joined by Andrew Nevin, Declan Costello, Amanda Dalton, Kris Foster, Susan Glennon, Sean Liston, Aine O’Reilly, Alan Sherwin and Sinead Whitelaw, who were elected to the committee.
Several important issues were discussed and debated with plenty of lively contributions from those in attendance. Concluding the meeting, Margaret Daly thanked all present for their attendance and input, closed a successful AGM and invited everyone to stay for the presentation of the cheque to John McCauley and some light refreshments that were served after the meeting, which gave everyone a nice chance to stay and chat for a while [GD].
Raheny 5 Mile
The Raheny 5 Mile Road Race took place last Sunday. The popular event, which is one of the most eagerly awaited races on the athletics calendar, had sold out weeks previously and on day there were 3,754 finishers with runners from Clubs throughout the country represented. It was wet and windy in Dublin from early in the day and while it eased off in the afternoon approaching the race start time of 3pm, conditions were not ideal and competitors had to brave the wet and wintry conditions throughout the out and back course which ran along the perimeter of Saint Anne’s Park and included a welcome stretch along the seafront with tailwinds in the latter part of the race.
Mullingar Harriers had a small contingent of five athletes taking part, two seniors and three masters and all finished well up in the huge field of runners. One of our strongest senior athletes at present, Vinny Connolly, ran a great race, mixing it with the leaders from the early stages and he finished well in a highly creditable seventh position in a very fast time 24:32. Vinny was quickly followed into the finish by Timmy Murphy who also had an outstanding run finishing in an excellent time of 25:52. Patrick Muldoon (33:42), Liam McGlynn (34:47) and Michael Purdue (38:09) completed the Mullingar contingent and all three were happy with their performances. The team of Vinny, Timmy and Patrick finished a very respectable eighteenth team of the 74 teams that competed in an extremely competitive race [PM].
Galway Indoors
Although the Galway Indoors in Athlone last Saturday was the Galway Indoor Championships, guest athletes were allowed to compete. Such was the high number of entries though, the event always ran the risk of not being able to keep to the schedule and this unfortunately is exactly what transpired, meaning warming up presented a big challenge as start times kept changing.
The North Leinster Schools Cross Country scheduled for Friday was postponed to the following Wednesday due to the red weather warnings for Storm Eowyn, which gave Jamie Wallace an opportunity to complete in the men’s 1,500m. Jamie knew it was going to be a very competitive race as there was eight men in the race that had run under four minutes. Jamie tacked on to the back of the field from the start and allowed the race to develop up front. At the half-way point, Jamie started to make his move and slowly started to make ground through the field to eventually came home in a fine seventh place in 4:03.73, just outside his best for the distance but he was happy to finish ahead of some top-class athletes [TW].
Moylurg Cross Country Challenge
Kelly Dunne and Sharon O’Dowd flew the flag for Mullingar Harriers at the inaugural Moylurg 4k Cross Country Challenge held in the grounds of Lough Key Forest Park in Boyle, Co. Roscommon last Sunday morning. Conditions were very cold with sleet, frost and ice, as well as a strong wind to cope with. Added to that were several muddy sections on a very challenging course. Organised by Tribal Running and part of the Galway and Roscommon GOAL Cross Country series, the event was billed as ideal preparation for the National Intermediate and Masters Cross Country in Westport in two weeks. Battling hard all the way, Sharon was very pleased to come home in 19 minutes even, with Kelly achieving a best time for the distance despite the conditions, delighted to finish in 22 minutes [MO’S].
February Committee Meeting
The first meeting of the new committee elected at the AGM last Saturday will take place next Tuesday 4th February in the Club house at 8.20pm after training. As this is the first meeting of the new committee, a full attendance is required.
Sympathy
Finally, the Executive and members of Mullingar Harriers wish to extend sincere sympathy to Margaret Daly on the recent death of her aunt, Sister Immaculata Bannon, in Tullamore, in her 99th Year. May she rest in peace.
Check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or its Facebook page for all the latest news.
PRO
