Offaly village hosts successful 5K Fun Run/Walk & Children’s Egg Hunt

ON Easter Saturday the sun was shining from the blue sky and was reflected by the newly laid tarmac of the greenway section between Tullamore and Shannon Harbour.

There was a gentle cooling breeze to keep the 150 participants fresh. Lycra proliferated among the professional and amateur participants. The professionals from Banagher Running Club and Lough Boora Running Group warmed up with gusto. The scent of deep heat was evident in the clean air of The Harbour.

Michael Lyons was a very efficient starter, aided and abetted by Patrick Kenny. In the 5k run there were prizes for 1st, 2^nd & 3^rd in the male, female and under 16 category. Oran Buckley from Banagher was the overall winner with a time of 19 mins 37 secs. His 3rd win in a row, sure he’s nearly as good as the Dublin Football team!

The runners and the 3K walkers really enjoyed the beautiful weather conditions as did the egg hunting children. I noticed Patrick Kenny placing the eggs high up in the trees. I’m sure there was no ulterior chocolate fetish to be satisfied later, when the children had gone, just a mix up between cms. and metres, or was it feet and yards!

The committee were hard at work, Mags Lyons and Niamh Devitt took the names of participants, Ruth Lynch, Michael Lyons, Patrick Kenny and Darren Joyce hid the eggs for the children. Darren from The Harbourmaster's House took photographs whilst Shirley McIntyre was slaving away in the kitchen and had a smile for everyone and food and coffee for the participants, Dermot McIntyre was keeping the bar running like a well oiled machine, no pun intended, the bar I mean. I spotted Kenzi Dolan doing the face painting. Incidentally this year is the 220th anniversary of the completion of the stretch of the canal from Tullamore to Shannon Harbour. The Harbourmaster's house was built at the same time. I managed to get the names of the Lough Boora participants. Deep breath, John Bennett, Padraig Johnson, Claire Nugent, Lucy Devery, Pat Hill, Michael Guinan, Tim Camon, Imelda Brogan.

The 3rd year of a great event is embedded in the calendar and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Well done.

This was followed by a further event; The 10th Anniversary of Nicky McFadden TD Athlone, to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease charity. I spoke to Nicky’s son Eoin Hardman. He told me that Nicky loved to walk the canal bank with her friends and then go into McIntyre’s Pub for breakfast. It was one of her favourite activities. Over 75 participants walked or ran the event. Her sisters Aine McFadden and Gabreille McFadden attended and supported the event for a great cause. A big thanks to all the participants and organisers.