Paul Hardman fondly remembered during Ringtown 5k event
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Participants gathering before the 5k at Whitehall Church; and (inset) setting off.Image 2 of 20
Johnny Hardman, Margaret Hardman, Shinead SheridanImage 3 of 20
Johnny Hardman, Claire Reynolds, Ciaran Reynolds,Margaret Hardman, Shinead Sheridan and Sean Reynolds at the 5k run and walk organised by North Westmeath Athletic Club at Ringtown GAA.Image 4 of 20
Derek, Callie and Willie Cheevers.Image 5 of 20
Lily Moran, Kerys Brady, Paula O’Connor and Amy Hardman.Image 6 of 20
Amy Hardman, Sinead Hardman, Jade Hardman, wife and daughters of Paul Hardman at the 5k event in Ringtown.Image 7 of 20
The family of Paul Hardman out to support the event held to mark his 50th birthday last week.Image 8 of 20
Ciaran O’Donnell, Darragh Moran, Mark Davis, Ciaran Moran and Eoin Harper.Image 9 of 20
Jack Moran, Dylan Brady and Sean Boylan.Image 10 of 20
Connor Sheridan, Martina Lowe, Shinead Sheridan, Ned Delaney, Michael Delaney, Rebecca Delaney – family and cousins of the late Paul Hardman – at the Ringtown 5k run and walk on Sunday week last.Image 11 of 20
Ryan Lynch Gallagher, Declan Austin, Doug Gallagher and Dean Gallagher.Image 12 of 20
Members of North Westmeath Athletic Club, who organised the event at Ringtown GAA on Sunday week last.Image 13 of 20
Participants during the 5k walk/runImage 14 of 20
Oliver O’Farrell, Eamon Campbell and Mel Leahy.Image 15 of 20
Bryan Mahon and Irene Crawley.Image 16 of 20
Méabh O’Hagan, Niamh Murtagh Morgan, Sharon Hardman, Caroline Moran and Susie Fagan.Image 17 of 20
Larissa Ricarte, Ellie Bourke Murtagh, Una Bourke and Bettie Gallagher at the 5k run and walk at Ringtown GAA last week.Image 18 of 20
Sheila Devine, Niamh Brady, Laura Moran and Méabh O’Hagan.Image 19 of 20
Shane Brophy, Brian Brophy and Adrian Moran.Image 20 of 20
Juliet Hyenne, Isabella Robinson and Charlie Hyenne.North Westmeath Athletic Club organised a 5k run walk in memory of Paul Hardman, RIP, to celebrate his 50th birthday. The event was on Sunday March 29, at Ringtown GAA, and participants came from all over to show their solidarity with Paul’s family and club and enjoy the beautiful local scenery on the route.
Paul, who passed away last September, was an active member of the community in Ringtown as well as the Castletown Finea Coole Whitehall football club. Paul was also remembered at Performance Driven Strength and Conditioning (PDSC) in Mullingar through an event that raised funds to purchase an AED and to donate more than €2,000 for the Irish Heart Foundation.
Johnny Hardman, Paul’s brother, shared some heartfelt words at the event: “Paul’s 50th birthday is a milestone, even though he’s not here in person to celebrate, we will honour him by coming together today with family, friends and the community. He would have loved it, Paul probably would have been encouraging us and maybe be racing ahead of us the odd time while making sure everyone was having a laugh and enjoying themselves.”
Chairperson of North Westmeath Athletic Club, Niamh Murtagh, shared some memories of Paul when she had first joined the club in 2021: “He was one to encourage and support. Paul was so supportive of North Westmeath; he had served on the committee, but he was an all-rounder, whether you’re a beginner or you are a marathon runner.”
Paul was the co-founder of the Turgesius 10 Mile event, which takes place in Lough Lene every February. Talking to the Westmeath Examiner, Niamh said: “Just like the rainy weather this morning, it reminded us of the morning in 2022 at the Turgesius event, Paul said to us, ‘Of course it’s going ahead, it’s all planned’.”
“He was interested in getting people into running, but also for people to enjoy the running as well as reaching their personal best. He was always phoning up, wanting to get the news, how people were doing, how the committee was doing. He was immersed in the community,” Niamh added.
Before the 5k began, Johnny Hardman said: “We will remember his laugh, his smile, his voice, and I think on this run we’ll carry a bit of his spirit with us, his kindness, his humour and his strength. Listen, happy 50th birthday to Paul, we miss him, and we love him.”