Carrigaline Lions Club

Carrigaline Road Runner Club members Anita Reidy, Maria Gleeson, Mark McGarry and Catherine O’Callaghan with Munster Rugby star James Coughlan, sponsor Conor Phelan and Colm O’Rourke, President of Carrigaline Lions Club in Kent Station , Cork last night for the launch of the First Great Railway Run to be held on Sunday 11th November. Photo: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

Cork’s historic old railway line linking the city with the lower harbour will form the route for a charity run to raise funds for vital local services.

Organised by Carrigaline and District Lions Club, supported by Carrigaline Road Runners AC and sponsored by Phelans Pharmacies, the Great Railway Run will raise monies for the Heart Safe Project which will deliver and maintain a multiplicity of defibrillators in locations in and around the town. The town’s Youth Centre Project will also be a beneficiary.

The first Great Railway Run will take place on Sunday, 11th November 2012 and will follow the scenic old railway line along the shores of Cork Harbour passing through Blackrock, Mahon, Rochestown, Passage, Monkstown, Raffeen and finishing in Carrigaline.

Carrigaline and District Lions Club President Colm O’Rourke, said he was confident that the event would generate support from across the local community and beyond. “The event features 10K, 15K and 25K distances and relay/walk to accommodate a wide range of participants. It’s going to be a well organised, enjoyable day out for everyone taking part, from the serious and not-so-serious runners to those who simply want to walk on a lovely route to support important community projects”.

Pharmacist, Conor Phelan, whose company, Phelans Pharmacies, is the event sponsor, said the event was a very important public health initiative. Supporting an event that keeps people fit and healthy is in line with our policy of not only helping people who are ill but in helping to prevent illness- physical fitness is a most effective way of preventing the onset of many illnesses including diabetes, blood pressure, heart disease and cancers. We also strongly support the beneficiary of the event, Carrigaline Lions club, who will use the funds to help develop a youth centre and to maintain the defribillators in Carrigaline. “Everyone knows how important defibrillators can be in responding to cardiac emergencies including Sudden Adult Death Syndrome . There are six locations in Carragaline, including the GAA club and several hundred people have been trained in their use. Our intention is that no-one in Carrigaline will be more than a few minutes away from this life-saving equipment.”

The run will start at 12:30pm from the Albert Road area of Cork city which was the site of the original railway terminus. For a large part of the run, the route will follow the old railway line that skirts the shores of Cork Harbour. The total distance is 25 km and it can be run by an individual or a relay team of two; one doing 15K and one doing 10K. The relay handover point will be in Monkstown. The race will finish at Carrigaline GAA Club. Water stations will be provided en route at intervals of approximately 5K. Shower facilities and refreshments will be available in the GAA Club after the race.

A 10K run/walk will be held on the same day along the latter part of the same route with a separate start in Monkstown at 1pm and also finishing at Carrigaline GAA Club.

Entries will be limited for safety reasons so make sure to register early. As an extra incentive to register early, the first 500 entrants will receive a technical T-shirt and a medal on completion of the race. The entry fee is €45 for the 25K (individual or relay) and €15 for the 10K. Transport will be provided for runners from Carrigaline to Cork before and after the race. Further information from thegreatrailwayrun.com.