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06 Sept 2025

Popular Offaly parkrun sees double Ministerial attendance this Saturday

Storm Kathleen fails to deter Ministers Pippa Hackett and Andrew Muir

Popular Offaly parkrun sees double Ministerial attendance this Saturday

Parkrun organiser, Paschal Naughton, centre with Ministers Hackett and Muir

Reporter:

Tribune Reporter

06 Apr 2024 6:33 PM

Email:

editor@tullamoretribune.ie

Mountlucas Parkrun had a special parkrun visitor this weekend, with Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir taking part. 

The wind was blowing hard as Storm Kathleen made her presence felt - a good day for renewable energy production!
Minister Muir was also joined by Offaly's very own Minister Pippa Hackett, who is also an Agriculture Minister.  
She established Mountlucas parkrun in 2017, and Minister Muir established two parkruns in his native Bangor in Co. Down - one in 2014 and one in 2020. 
Speaking after his visit, Minister Muir said: "As founder of Bangor and Crawfordsburn parkrun events in North Down I’m a real fan of parkrun, conscious of the strong social and health benefits enjoyed by many of all abilities. When I found out Pippa was Event Director of Mountlucas parkrun I knew we had a lot in common and couldn’t resist the opportunity to run the popular County Offaly event.
"The great community atmosphere, beautiful surroundings and strong team of committed volunteers and participants make Mountlucas a shining example of a perfect parkrun. Mountlucas parkrun and their landlords Bord na Móna are an example for the rest of the country. Whilst it was a tad windy I am very grateful for such a warm welcome from everyone plus opportunity to enjoy a hearty breakfast after with Pippa.
"I look forward to working with Minister Hackett on many items of mutual benefit over time ahead, constructive engagement North / South and East / West can deliver many opportunities for us all. My home parkrun at Crawfordsburn maybe a little more hilly than Mountlucas but an open invite extends to Minister Hackett and fellow Mountlucas participants to enjoy the delights of Crawfordsburn Country Park in months ahead."
Minister Hackett commented: “I was delighted when Andrew contacted me last week to say he was going to come down to Offaly and visit Mountlucas parkrun. As politicians and park runners, we both understand the huge value these weekly 5k events have - not just for physical and mental health, but for instilling that strong sense of community in an area.”
Mountlucas parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5k event, that takes place every Saturday morning at 9:30am. Check out www.parkrun.ie/mountlucas for more information on how to register and how to get involved.

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