Our Illaunmanagh parkrun facebook page, like a few others recently, has been "unpublished" by facebook. We are currently working to get this resolved as we primarily use facebook to circulate information, encourage volunteers and post photos and news.
In the meantime, please contact us via our email: illaunmanagh@parkrun.com
After an somewhat anxious stormy rainy night in our tent with Ester the Terrier, we were delighted to be met with the sun as we arrived at Illaunmanagh parkrun and then our spirits were lifted even more by the warmth of the welcome we received from Niamh, Eavan and all the other volunteers setting up the event.
Illaunmanagh could be described as an enjoyable, reasonably flat, in and out course however, we don’t think this does the course justice. Wooded trail sections, opening up to fabulous views of the estuary and a couple of inclines to keep the runners on their toes this parkrun is really worth a visit. We certainly enjoyed ours.
Most of the time the focus is on the runners but events cannot happen without the volunteers who show up every week making this event run so smoothly. Event 62 was made possible by the following people.
Rob Bryan, Eavan Dempsey, John Hourigan, Karen Jane Hunter, Gerard McMahon, Ciara McCorley, Niamh O'Callaghan, Linda M O’Mara, Kevin Ryan, Rob Stephen, Sam Stephen.
This week, 51 people came along to run, jog and walk: with four of those and a dog attending Illaunmanagh for the first time. There were 11 PBs, with Jamie Kelly being the first runner home, Caoimhe Hourigan the first female home and Marella Lynch scoring the highest female age grading percentage.
We had the pleasure of meeting so many lovely people at Illaunmanagh, to name a few, the speedy Hourigan siblings, Denis Keane doing his second Parkrun ever and got a new PB, but one stood out for me, John Mooney, who told me he will be 82 next week and this week achieved a new PB.
Post run breakfast at Tea and Tones was very tasty the Irish breakfast club sandwiches Steven can highly recommended. Thank you Illaunmanagh for providing a parkrun with a warm welcome and a real community feel.
Many thanks to Karen Hunter, a visiting parkrun tourist, for providing this run report.
Unfortunately we have had to cancel today's parkrun at Illaunmanagh in Shannon at short notice. There was rain earlier this morning and conditions still sub zero so very icy and treacherous.
See you all next week. We are still seeking additional volunteers for 17th, 24th and 31st December so please email us if available.
Thank you.
llaunmanagh parkrun.. if I could actually pronounce it properly, I would be telling everyone you are one of my favourite parkruns. I might just have to settle for the parkrun at Shannon, so as not to offend the locals.
Firstly, thank you to the volunteers; you were amazing, warm and welcoming from the first email to the team to last bit of parkfaff at Tea & Tones. You have a brilliant team at Illaunmanagh, but few things make an RD happier than seeing some new names on the roster so do get involved if you can. Don’t worry about anything going wrong, everything can be resolved, and trust me.. as RD at Westmill I have managed to mess up and unpick every issue going. Last week, I managed to delete half the results before I uploaded them.. but it was soon sorted.
We were blessed with wonderful weather this morning, which gave stunning views along the estuary. Bird spotter Acer even spotted an oystercatcher on the mud flats.
It was great to participate in a flat event; our home parkrun of Westmill is “undulating”, so after a late arrival into Shannon last night we were relieved that the course was kind on our tired legs.
Another big difference to our home event was seeing how well integrated parkwalk already is within parkrun Ireland. While parkrun has always welcomed you to run, walk or jog, there has been a concerted effort to promote parkwalk with the new blue bibs. Hopefully this will serve to expand your numbers, although I have to admit, I was surprised to see a cow attempting to parkwalk just by the start.
Today saw 8 participants taking part for the very first time; congratulations! And welcome to the start of your new Saturday morning obsession.
There were a further ten First Timers who have already taken part in a parkrun, including fellow UK Tourist group member Elaine MONTGOMERY from Portrush, and I did hear a shout of someone from Galway too, but I think we may have won the “furthest travelled” this week.
So we’re just waiting for our flight home, and some final thoughts from Jake “The course was really fun and there were some amazing views on to the estuary” and Acer “The core team are all very nice and welcoming”. Please do come and visit us at Westmill, if you get chance but as Arnie said, “I’ll be back”.
Sharon THRELFALL
A1214897
An awesome morning was had by all at the Illaunmanagh 26th parkrun today, which saw 9 volunteers and 25 walkers, joggers and runners turn out.
Rob Stephen was out early doors opening up the toilets and carpark at the nearby St Senans Rugby Club. Meanwhile a cheery Eavan Dempsey (run director), supported by a very friendly bunch of volunteer heroes helped set up the course in advance of the 09:30 start.
The course itself is a well thought through - out and back course through beautiful woodlands, which opens up along the route offering amazing views of the Shannon Estuary.
What a hidden gem of a parkrun and I’m sure all of the alphabet collectors will be paying a visit to bag the ‘i’ in the near future.
Visitors today included an avid parkrunner and tourist legend - Nicola Tarrant, who has clocked up an impressive 553 parkruns, 454 of which are at different events!
Mary Meaney - a Vandeleur parkrunner who was on tour and had the T-Shirt to prove it was there. Annicea Madine visiting from Edinburgh and many more locals and nearby Lee’s Road parkrunners participated, not to mention some Ukranians who also joined in on the fun.
All of whom, kept the resident photographer volunteer Mark Roocroft (Spark of Memories) busy snapping.
Martin Cooney was on it this morning, rolling in first across the line and jumped in as volunteer handing out position tokens.
Another Martin, this time Reidy, had a bit of a long lie in, but managed to catch Gerard McMahon the tailwalker and crossed the line to notch up his 10th parkrun!
Whether, you are walking with a four legged furry friend on a short leash or rolling a buggy with a bambino or two, jogging, running or volunteering, make Saturdays your parkrun days and join the fun at 09:30. It’s free, you just have to register.
Delicious breakfasts and good coffee was served up at the ‘Tea and Tones’ cafe a short walk away which allowed the conversations to continue.
Thanks to Annicea Madine for submitting this run report.
Footnote: Some years ago, Annicea became the first female Time Travelling parkrunner when she completed two parkruns the same morning - the Kamay parkrun at Yarra beach (Australia) followed by the Richmond Olympic parkrun (Canada). Read about it here.