Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club

The Raheny 5 Road Race

The Raheny 5 mile Road Race was first held on the 29th of January 1985. From a field in excess of 800 runners. Martin Kelly (Dundrum) won the race. Marese Cullen from Castlepollard won the ladies race. Since then the race has gained in stature and is now regarded as one of the most prestigious road races in the country and the premier 5 miles race. Over the years there have been many highlights. Gerry Curtis (Donore Harriers) set the current course record of 22 minutes 39 seconds in 1987, the fastest time ever run by an Irishman over 5 miles. He then went on to win the race for the following 2 years. His time on both occasions were within 10 seconds of his record. In 1998 when Dublin celebrated its millennium the event had its biggest ever field with over 1,500 finishers. Another very satisfying feature of the race is the big number of runners that come down from the North of Ireland each year. David Wilson of Annadale Striders, Belfast has won the won the race 3 times and has led his club to a hat-trick of team titles. Theresa Duffy also from Belfast has won the ladies race twice and is current holder of the course record in a time of 26 minutes 28 seconds set in 1994. The race also attracts athletes from England and Wales and in 1992 Welshman Jamie Lewis was victorious. Former Olympic Marathon runner Gerry Kiernan was the winner in 1991 and then came back to win the veterans title in 1996. For the hosts Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club, the wins of Olive Bollard in 1988 and 89 Annette Kealy in the ladies race have been high points. Also the club teams have always figured prominently in the team completions. The 1997 version held on the 26th of January was once again with two of the countries most popular athletes and the races most loyal competitors winning. Noel Cullen (Clonliffe Harriers) won the race for the second year in a row. Mags Greenan (DCH) won the ladies after 13 years of trying. The men's team title went to Civil Service while DCH won the ladies title. Raheny Shamrocks led home by Dick Hooper recent winner of the Disney Marathon in Orlando. Won the veterans team award. Lexlip Loafers won the ladies equivalent. In 2002 TV3 camera's where on hand to record the first Raheny man to win the Raheny 5, as Mark Kenneally became the first home town winner of the men's race in it's 18 year history. Kenneally went onto retain his crown in 2003 with Maria McCambridge claiming the women's title. Off the road the club continued to develop the race, for the first time at the Raheny 5, the full results were computerized and posted on the RahenyShamrock.com website later that evening. The 2004 Women’s race was won by a late entry in former European Cross Country Champion Cathriona McKiernan, who easily despensed of the womens field to win in 26.52, In the mens race Metero St.Brigets Colm DeBruga claimed his first Raheny 5 title. As was later said of Colm, He comes from the same club as Eamonn Coughlon, but theres one difference, Eamonn Coughlon never won the Raheny 5. 2005 was a special moment for the organisers as the Raheny 5 celebrated its 21st Anniversary, complete with a new sponsor in AXA Insurance. Also a very special guest arrived in Raheny, this time on the first Sunday in February, As President Mary McAlesse started the record crowd of 2000 on there way around Raheny Village. President McAleese husband, Martin McAleese took part in the race for the second time. To add to the special occasion for the first time in the 21 years a non-European claimed the Raheny 5 crown as Kenya's Charles Kiplagat crossed the line first to be followed by his country man Jackson Kipngetumy. The women were not to be outdone as Irish Olympian Maria McCambridge stormed home to claim her second Raheny 5 title this time in a course record of 26.20.