Annual New Year's Eve race staged by Tullamore Harriers

Round the Houses New Year’s Eve Race

The final club competition of 2025 took place on New Year’s Eve at 12 midday, with the annual Round the Houses race. The event covered 4,700 metres, starting and finishing in the club car park. It was run as a sealed handicapped race, with all athletes starting together and handicaps applied to the finish times.

Although conditions were a little cool, the weather was excellent for racing, in stark contrast to the wind and rain experienced at the 2024 edition of this event. A total of 34 club athletes lined out at the start, heading out the front gate onto Charleville Road, turning left onto Adams Villas, and returning to the car park via the back entrance of Tullamore Harriers. This loop was completed four times.

Adrian Curley welcomed everyone and extended best wishes to all for the year ahead. It was also great to see club stalwart Mick Hayden in attendance, whose familiar roar of encouragement was heard on every lap as the athletes passed by.

The race itself was dominated by Kevin Minnock, who has had an exceptional year. Kevin crossed the finish line first in a time of 14:22. However, after the handicap times were added, the Round the Houses title for 2025 was awarded to Mary Guest. This win will give great encouragement to Mary heading into the new year, having missed several months of training due to a persistent injury.

Second place went to Nick McGowan, followed by Olive Mannion in third and John Carroll in fourth. Hilary Duncan finished fifth, with Elysia McCormack in sixth place. Pauline Curley was the fastest female athlete on the day, recording a time of 18:29.

Well done to everyone who lined out, and best wishes to all for 2026. As always, thank you to Joe Wrafter and Anna Hyland Guilfoyle and to all who marshalled and helped in any way.

Enda Golden Fra Mollen, Emer Rigney, Daragh Rigney, Joe Wrafter and Jason McDermott at the Round the Houses race.

Results:

Name. Time. Handicap Time. Adjusted Time.

Kevin Minnock 00:14:22 00:00:00 00:14:22 Fastest Man

Jonathan Dunne 00:16:14 00:01:05 00:15:09

Shane McGuinness 00:17:01 00:02:38 00:14:23

Nigel Cunningham 00:17:18 00:02:30 00:14:48

Nick McGowan 00:17:27 00:03:43 00:13:44 2nd Finisher

Daniel Molloy 00:17:43 00:03:00 00:14:43

Cathal Dunne 00:18:17 00:03:30 00:14:47

Ollie Neary 00:18:23 00:03:34 00:14:49

Pauline Curley 00:18:29 00:03:43 00:14:46 Fastest Woman

Sarah Flanagan 00:18:45 00:04:08 00:14:37

Jason McDermott 00:19:11 00:04:17 00:14:54

Nita McLoughlin 00:19:41 00:04:42 00:14:59

Darragh Rigney 00:19:47 00:05:27 00:14:20

Brendan Kelly 00:19:59 00:04:08 00:15:51

Evelyn Herlihy 00:20:04 00:05:27 00:14:37

Francis Mollen 00:20:18 00:04:35 00:15:43

Enda Golden 00:20:38 00:06:0О 00:14:38

Elysia McCormack 00:21:11 00:06:57 00:14:14 6th Finisher

John Carroll 00:21:28 00:07:25 00:14:03 4th Finisher

Mary Daly 00:22:24 00:07:50 00:14:34

Hilary Duncan 00:22:25 00:08:15 00:14:10 5th Finisher

Emer Rigney 00:22:34 00:07:50 00:14:44

Mary Galvin 00:22:34 00:08:00 00:14:34

Finian McDermott 00:22:55 00:07:00 00:15:55

Naomi Galvin 00:22:56 00:08:40 00:14:16

Paul Hensey 00:23:19 00:08:15 00:15:04

Johnny Feery 00:23:29 00:08:40 00:14:49

Mary Guest 00:24:22 00:10:52 00:13:30 1st Finisher

Martina Conlon 00:24:44 00:10:02 00:14:42

Olive Mannion 00:24:48 00:10:52 00:13:56 3rd Finisher

Michael Kinsella 00:25:20 00:10:02 00:15:18

Sharon Daly 00:25:25 00:10:32 00:14:53

Jim Langan 00:35:30 00:19:20 00:16:10

Seamus Rigney 00:39:43 00:24:00 00:15:43

Northwest Games

A group of six club athletes made the short journey to the TUS International Indoor Arena in Athlone to compete in the 9th Northwest Indoor Track and Field Games over the Christmas holidays on Monday, 29th December.

All athletes used the meet as preparation for the upcoming indoor season and were pleased with their performances, recording several personal bests and season’s bests throughout the day. The Under 16 girls enjoyed a standout performance, taking gold in the 4 x 200m relay.

Rory Deverell claimed two gold medals in the Masters Men Over 40 category, winning both the 60m and 200m events.

Well done to Rory, Madeline Deverell, Roisin Cotter, Chloe McGowan, Samia Akbari and Katie Deverell.

Pisa Marathon

George Webb finished 2025 on a high with a trip to Italy to compete in the Pisa Marathon on the 21st of December. He ran an excellent race to record a time of 3:25:34, finishing 4th in the O65 age category.

Murphy wins Kilbeggan 6K

Michael Murphy produced a superb performance on home turf at the St Stephen’s Day Kilbeggan 6K. Breaking his own course record by an impressive 13 seconds, Murphy clocked 17:47 over the undulating 6K route around the town of Kilbeggan.

A total of 482 runners lined out to shake off the Christmas Day indulgences, and judging by the excellent times recorded, many clearly didn’t overindulge!

Paul Mitchell, second in last year’s race, delivered another strong run but had to settle for third place. First lady home for Tullamore Harriers was Adelyn Walsh, who finished an excellent sixth overall in a time of 23:52.

Well done to all who took part, and congratulations to club member Dermot Smith for organising another successful event in aid of the Children’s Health Foundation.

Tullamore Harriers results:

Michael Murphy 17:47

Leslie Buckley 23.11 1st O50

Pauric Ennis 23:26

Adelyn Walsh 23:52

Jason McDermott 24:50

Nick McGowan 25.07

John Donegan 25.31

John Joe Galvin 25:34

Lorcan Scally 26.15

Darragh Rigney 27:16

Helana Buckley 27.47

Bryce Frazer 27.57

Aidan Herlihy 27.57

Eoin Herlihy 28.00

Evelyn Herlihy 28.00

Enda Golden 28.22

Adrian Curley 28:53

Mary Galvin 29.25 - 1st O60

John Carroll 28:57

Naomi Galvin 30:49

Catch Grennan 30.51

Lily May Grennan 30.51

Sharon Daly 33.05

Paddy Rowland 33.16

Martina Lydon 33.33

Tracey Kinnarney 34.20

Emer Guilfoyle 34.21

Emer Rigney 35.22

Cillian Rigney 35:22

Finian McDermott 35.24

Olivia Weldon 37.37

Mollie Grennan 37.39

Marlena Grennan 37.39

Dave Dunican 38.26

Olive Herlihy 41.00

Diarmuid Herlihy 41.01

Jim Langan 46.14

Fields of Athenry 10K

Well done to Barry Mooney, who lined out alongside over 2,000 athletes in the Athenry AC, hosted Fields of Athenry 10K on St Stephen’s Day.

The race was won by Jamie Fallon of Craughwell AC in a very fast time of 30:34, with Barry finishing an excellent 23rd overall in 34:06.

Hospice Mile

The 2025 edition of the Tullamore Harriers Hospice Mile, on Christmas Day, was another fantastic success. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who stepped out and donated so generously to the wonderful Offaly Hospice charity. Your support will make a real difference to so many people and their families, and Tullamore Harriers is extremely proud to support this worthy cause each Christmas.

From early morning, the track was alive with activity. Some participants walked many miles, while others came along simply to catch up with friends, but all shared in the special spirit of the day. The stadium buzzed with energy as families, friends, and plenty of four-legged companions came together in support of Offaly Hospice. There was a continuous flow of walkers and runners, with prams carrying new dolls and children arriving on bikes - all gathering early on Christmas.

Humphrey O’Connor, Director of Offaly Hospice, along with Adrian Curley, club chairman and other representatives of Tullamore Harriers, warmly welcomed the hundreds of people who took part in what was a truly festive and uplifting event. The winners of the competitive mile race were Danny Rigney and Adelyn Walsh. Both club members, this marked Adelyn’s second consecutive victory. Well done to both winners and to everyone who pushed the pace in the mile race.

Huge thanks to everyone involved, and sincere appreciation to all who donated so generously. If you missed it and would still like to support Offaly Hospice, donations can be made here:

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/tullamoreharriers2

Tullamore Harriers 5K

Tullamore Harriers AC will host the annual 5K Road Race on Sunday, 8th March. This race marks the first event in the 2026 Healthy Offaly 5K Road Race Series and is one not to be missed. The race starts outside the Tullamore Harriers club grounds on the Charleville Road and follows a looped course before turning back to finish on the tartan track in the stadium

The course is flat and fast, run on fully closed roads for added safety and always attracts runners of all standards to kick off the road race season.

SEE NEXT: Fixture announced for Offaly Walsh Cup showdown with Galway

Fixtures

17th January – National Indoor T&F AAI Games – Abbottstown

17^th & 18^th January - National Indoor T&F Combined Events, Abbottstown.

18^th January 2026 - Athletics Leinster Cross Country Championships - Leinster Master & Intermediate & Juvenile Relay Cross Country Championships -Carlow GAA Training Grounds.

18th January - Leinster Juvenile U14-U16 Indoor Combined Events -NIA, Dublin

31st January – Leinster U20, Senior & Masters Indoor T&F Championships - TUS, Athlone

1st February - Leinster Juvenile Indoor T&F Relay Championships - TUS Athlone

14th February – Leinster Juvenile Indoor T&F Championships Day 3 - TUS Athlone

15th February - Leinster Juvenile Indoor T&F Championships Day 4 - TUS Athlone

15th February - National Intermediate & Master & Juvenile B Cross Country Championship, Abbottstown.

Condolences

The chairman, committee and members of Tullamore Harriers A.C. offer condolences to the family of the late Nuala Owens. May she Rest in Peace.

Senior Training

Training Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.40pm to 8.30pm.

For any enquiries contact club captains Glen 0868275228 or Rita 0868386687.