Harriers mark two milestones with Dysart 4 Mile Classic
Mullingar Harriers are planning on making Tuesday August 5 a day for the history books, as they celebrate their 50th anniversary, and “30 years of cross country glory” at the Dysart 4 Mile Classic.
As well as the half century, club members will remember an iconic achievement in Irish distance running – victory in the National Senior Men’s Cross Country Team Championship in 1995.
They are inviting everyone to be part of the historic occasion and sign up for the classic in August.
Guests of honour will be the legendary four-man team who made history in Naas in 1995 – one of the few teams from outside Dublin to win the national cross country team title: David Burke, individual champion, Cormac Finnerty, third place finisher, John Burke, seventh place finisher, and Tom McGrath, 13th place finisher.
They went on to win three more national titles, in 1996, 1998, and 1999, and placed fourth at the European Club Championships in 1997 in Spain.
In their careers, they represented Ireland with distinction at multiple world and European championships, and Cormac Finnerty proudly donned the green vest for the 5000 metres at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Fittingly, those four icons still meet and run together every Sunday at Belvedere House and Gardens.
The Dysart 4 Mile Classic begins at 7.30pm (no entries accepted after 7pm). Entry is also online at eventmaster.ie. The fee is €15 and after the race, participants and supporters are invited to Murphy’s Bar for a free BBQ, hosted by Adrian and Deirdre Murphy, two great supporters of the club.
The course winds through Dysart and Castletown Geoghegan, on flat, quiet country roads offering a scenic route for athletes of all levels.
The prize fund (men and women) is: first place €300, second €200, third €100, fourth €80, fifth and sixth €50 each. Top team €150 (two men and two women to score); second team €100. Category winners will receive €50, and all entries will have a chance to win a luxury weekend escape in the Scottish Highlands, at the Church Tower, Crief (see dunaluinn.com/about/the-church-tower). There are also unique category prizes based on occupation (eg, best nurse, farmer, teacher…)
Commemorative medals featuring King Malachy in recognition of the historic ties between him and the Dysart area, and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of Mullingar Harriers AC, will be presented to all finishers.
A QR code is available on the official poster for easy access to the online entry portal.
The club want to attract as many participants, runners, walkers, past members, friends, and families, as possible to celebrate the two milestones. Whether you’re chasing a PB or just soaking in the atmosphere, you’ll be part of club history.
https://eventmaster.ie/event/A0dBIjlIlv
Racing through history at Dysart
By Jason McKevitt, historian and member of Mullingar Harriers
Participants in the Dysart 4-Mile Classic will follow a route that takes in the scenic areas of Castletown Geoghegan and Dysart – they will be racing in the historic footsteps of the Gaelic warriors that once defended the Dysart area along the shores of Lough Ennell.
King Malachy Mór II, (Máel-Sechnaill)
Lough Ennell is noted as having been a Royal site where the High-King (Ard-Ri) of Ireland, King Malachy Mór II, (Máel-Sechnaill) once resided, partially due to its close proximity to the sacred Hill of Uisneach.
Malachy II was High-King of Ireland, twice, the first time in 980AD, and the second time was after the death of the legendary King Brian Boru at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, having defeated the Viking forces of King Sitric.
Historic annals state that King Malachy lived on a Crannóg, known today as Malacy’s Island, close to the island of Cro-Inis, and not far from his fortress at Dun na Sci (Fort of the Sheilds) at the south western corner of Lough Ennell, in what is now the parish of Dysart.
High-King Malachy II died in 1022 and is believed to be buried at Clonmacnoise. Thus, and appropriately, the medal for the four-mile race depicts the image of the legendary High-King of Ireland.
Athletics in Castletown Geoghegan
Another aspect of the route is that the village of Castletown Geoghegan is noted as once having a successful athletic club. Members travelled all over Ireland to athletic events and brought home the silverware time and time again. Among those to bring home medals were Tommy McCormack, Tommy Fallon and George Bell, who came crossed the line in first, second and third places respectively at the 1970 Rathowen five-mile road race.
In 1970, club officers included Willie Brennan (president), Christy Hickey (chairman), Tom Nally (vice-chairman), Gerry Whelan (secretary), Sean Corcoran (assistant secretary), Tommy Fallon (treasurer), Johnny Garvin (PRO), Tommy Nally (club captain) and PJ Connell (vice-captain). For much of the 1970s, the club organised major athletic events along the shores of Lough Ennell, including a cross-country event in Castletown Geoghegan and a road race through Dysart.
It is fitting that the Mullingar Harriers AC 4-Mile Road race once again brings athletics to a beautiful and historic area of Westmeath.