Great turnout at Walls of Fethard 5k - fast becoming a 'must do' race in Tipperary

The Walls of Fethard 5k Road Race

Due to the generosity of the many businesses the club were able to attract a top class field of 204 athletes to our Walls of Fethard 5K on Friday evening, May 24, including club and fun runners, who are the backbone of any race.

The race began on the road just outside the Fethard Town Park and conditions were just perfect.

There were Prize Categories for 1st 3 Men, 1st 3 Women, 1st local Man, 1st local Woman, Wheelchair Category, 1st Juvenile Fethard A.C Male, 1st Juvenile Fethard A.C Female, 1st Junior Male,1st Junior Female.

The club also catered for all master category prizes equally for both Men and Women. We had spot prizes for down the line finishers and a few local prizes.

Refreshments were provided after the event in the Fethard Town Park and our members did not let us down. There was an array of delicious well deserved treats for the finishers and volunteers after the race. All our athletes brought treats, cakes and supported the committee.

Thank you to Willie, Tommy and Fethard Town Park team for the use of the wonderful facilities. The Fethard Athletic Club committee has done Trojan work and were delighted that so many athletes travelled to the town on such a glorious evening.

Fethard AC wish to extend our immense gratitude to everyone that made ‘The Walls’ such a great success this year. Thanks to all the many volunteers far too many to mention but every one was a star in their own right.

To all the participants, for making the atmosphere electric which brought our wonderful community out in force to support the 204 runners and walkers.

Dundrum AC’s Dymphna Ryan who was First Woman home at the Walls of Fethard 5k accepting her prize from Tony Hanrahan

A huge thanks to the ever dependable First Responders, Garda and to everyone who helped in any way keep the athletes safe on the road.

We have certainly cemented our footprint in the racing calendar and put The Walls of Fethard firmly back on the map as a ‘must do’ race.

We were delighted to welcome a top class field in both the men’s and women’s races with a very exciting finish to the men’s race. A fantastic battle for the finish between Mossy Bracken, Moycarkey Coolcroo AC in 15:15 and our own Fethard AC Emmett McNamara 15:17 with Dermot Gorman Carrick-on-Suir AC in 15:54 it was very exciting for the many local spectators gathered to see the race.

The women’s race saw Dymphna Ryan of Dundrum AC. taking the win two years in a row in 17:08, Sharon Kiely Thurles Crokes 18:14 and Ruby Carroll Clonmel AC in 19:43.

Great to have Jerry Ford win his category in the wheelchair section.

Big well done to all the category prize winners and to all who ran and walked in this year's race.

For our Fethard AC members the 1st athlete home was Emmett McNamara who’s finished in a time of 15:17 a great return for his hard work in training, he was followed home by James Maher 18:06, Joseph Morgan 18:18, Fintan Rice 18:26, Jack Spillane 18:54, Cathal Hurley 19:22, Edel Roche was our first Fethard AC lady home in 19:53, M.J. Croke 22:18, Abaigeal Maher 22:34, Carol Molloy 22:44, Kevin O’Meara 22:42, Gerard Ryan 22:53, Eddie Hayes 22:51, Billy Prout 23:32, P.J. O’ Halloran 23:34, Marie Carroll 24:13, Alison Connolly, 24:34, Louis Rice 24:41, Emma Roche 25:21, Deidre Royce 25:48, Siobhan Maher 26:30, Paula Hendriksen 26:48, Aine Doocey 26:42, Katie Ryan 30:51, Margo Vanbelle 31:06, Lorrainne Kennedy 31:30, Caolinn Kelly 32:47, Lily Mai Walsh 32:47, Barbara Gunn 33:36, Catherine Ryan 33:36 and Eimear Egan 39:13.

Thanks again to all who made it such a successful event. We are already looking forward to 2025 where we hope to grow this event further.