Sean Lowry memorial 5k race brings series to fitting end

The Sean Lowry Memorial 5K, hosted by Birr Athletic Club, marked a fantastic conclusion to the Healthy Offaly 5K Series, attracting 356 athletes on Friday last, August 2.

This event also served as an exciting kick-off to the Birr Vintage Week celebrations, drawing many participants and spectators to the town.

The Healthy Offaly 5K Series, which began back in March with the Tullamore Harriers AC 5K, featured eight well-organised races over the past few months, averaging around 340 participants per race.

Birr AC did a commendable job hosting the final race, which featured an undulating route through the town, capped off with a downhill finish that encouraged fast times.

The race saw a competitive field with Peter Somba from Ratoath AC clinching the victory with a time of 15:14. Kevin Moore of Mullingar Harriers AC came in second at 15:26, while Mick Fogarty from Ferbane AC secured third place with a time of 15:49.

In the women's category, Lauren Dermody of Castlecomer AC was the first to cross the finish line, clocking in at 18:01. Denise Egan from Ferbane AC took second place with a time of 18:19, and Caroline Donnellan of Edenderry AC completed the podium in 18:34.

In the team competition, Ferbane AC Ladies triumphed in Division 1, while Birr AC claimed the top spot in Division 2. For the men's teams, Tullamore Harriers AC were victorious in Division 1, and Clara AC took the win in Division 2.

Offaly Athletics extends huge gratitude to the Garda Síochána, Offaly Civil Defence and to all the marshals and supporters and especially to Healthy Offaly for sponsorship the series.

Age group winners

1st Junior: Rachel Donegan (Tullamore Harriers AC) and Darragh Hynes (Ferbane AC).

1st O40: Caroline Hassett (Castlecomer AC) and Oliver Galvin (Clara AC).

1st O45: Evelyn Herlihy and Barry Minnock (both Tullamore Harriers).

1st O50: Annemarie O'Dowd (Athlone AC) and Brendan Donagher (Naomh Mhuire AC).

1st O60: Mary Galvin (Tullamore Harriers) and Eddie Newman (Mullingar Harriers AC).

1st O70: Eileen Kenny (Tullamore Harriers) and Ger Woods (Banagher AC).

Top 100 finishers

Peter Somba (Ratoath AC) 15:14; Kevin Moore (Mullingar Harriers) 15:26; Mick Fogarty (Ferbane AC) 15:49; Peter Melarkey (City of Derry Spartans) 16:03; Matthew Holland (Gowran AC) 16:15; Barry Minnock (Tullamore Harriers) 16:15; Barry Mooney (Tullamore Harriers) 16:30; Oliver Galvin (Clara AC) 16:50; Darragh Hynes (Ferbane AC) 16:51; Frank King (Castlegar AC) 17:00; Ronan Hoare (Birr AC) 17:03; Jimmy Coughlan (Naomh Mhuire AC) 17:05; Dylan McLaughlin (Moyne AC) 17:07; Kevin Looby (Naomh Mhuire AC) 17:25; Padraig Berry (Tullamore Harriers) 17:31; Brendan Donagher (Naomh Mhuire AC) 17:39; Gerard Cleary (Naomh Mhuire AC) 17:48; Nick McGowan 17:50; Daniel Molloy (Tullamore Harriers) 17:54; Brian Hogan (Oughaval AC) 17:55; Lauren Dermody (Castlecomer AC) 18:01; Patrick O'Brien 18:02; Michael Holland (Gowran AC) 18:04; Micheál O'Brien (Templemore AC) 18:05; Declan Murphy (Naomh Mhuire AC) 18:09; Eddie Newman (Mullingar Harriers) 18:13; David Staunton (Clara AC) 18:15; Mark Conneely (Birr AC) 18:14; Peter Maguire (Edenderry AC) 18:16; Patrick McCarthy (Ballyskenach AC) 18:17; Paddy Meehan 18:16; Enda Dowling (Athlone AC) 18:16; Denise Egan (Ferbane AC) 18:19; Ken Hume (Clara AC) 18:20; Eddie Lynch (Athlone AC) 18:28; Caroline Donnellan (Edenderry AC) 18:34; Darren Bermingham (Naomh Mhuire AC) 18:36; Dean Carroll 18:35; Caroline Hassett (Templemore AC) 18:40; Dervish Bartlett (Birr AC) 18:43; Grace Reilly 18:49; Ian Martin (Templemore AC) 18:48; Sharon Cantwell (Moyne AC) 18:53; Glen Finlay (Tullamore Harriers) 18:53; David Dwyer 18:54; Fred Web 18:53; Jody O'Reilly (Tullamore Harriers) 18:55; John Donegan (Tullamore Harriers) 19:02; Dermot Egan (Ferbane AC) 19:02; Donal Heagney (Portlaoise AC) 19:12; Daniel McGee (Birr AC) 19:17; Keith Quinn (Naomh Mhuire AC) 19:20; Craig Hynes 0:19:22; Liam Murphy (Naomh Mhuire AC) 19:21; Mikie Horan (Banagher AC) 19:22; Paddy Ryan (Templemore AC) 19:24; Martin Delaney (Kilcormac Killoughey AC) 19:27; Evelyn Herlihy (Tullamore Harriers) 19:33; Maria Maher (Ballyskenach AC) 19:35; JP McLoughlin (Rhode AC) 19:34; Ronan Daly (Birr AC) 19:35; Stephen Gallagher (Clara AC) 19:37; Jeffrey Richardson (Galway City Harriers AC) 19:37; Tim Camon (Ferbane AC) 19:41; Kieran Corrigan (Kinnitty AC) 19:43; Sarah McNamee (Rhode AC) 19:40; Rachel Donegan (Tullamore Harriers) 19:46; Stephan Mahon 19:49; David King (Birr AC) 19:48; John Lowry (Tullamore Harriers) 19:55; Alan Mitchell (Tullamore Harriers) 19:58; Orla Tooher (Birr AC) 19:57; John Gleeson 19:56; Shaun Bull (Edenderry AC) 20:00; Orlaith Flanagan (Mullingar Harriers) 20:00; Sean Spollen (Tullamore Harriers) 20:02; Darragh Hoyne (Ballyskenach AC) 20:01; Michael Connolly (Birr AC) 20:11; Nick Gover (Rhode AC) 20:19; Oran Buckley (Ferbane AC) 20:18; Lorcan Scally (Tullamore Harriers) 20:22; Dermot Brereton 20:22; Liam Coughlan (Banagher AC) 20:36; Luke Ryan (Newport AC) 20:31; Paul Molloy 20:34; Dermot Harnett (Rhode AC) 20:34; Liam Spain (Birr AC) 20:45; Edel Waldron (Ferbane AC) 20:50; Annemarie O'Dowd (Athlone AC) 20:53; Liam Dunne (Tullamore Harriers) 20:59; Adrian Delaney (Naomh Mhuire AC) 21:01; Lisa Murphy (Naomh Mhuire AC) 21:04; Kevin Brazil (Ferbane AC) 21:04; Carmel Murray (Birr AC) 21:07; Jonathan Geraghty (Rhode AC) 21:03; Conleth Mullen (Mullingar Harriers) 21:11; Paddy Mellsop (Birr AC) 21:13; Thomas O'Rourke (Naomh Mhuire AC) 21:18; Clara Kavanagh 21:21; Patrick Claffey (Kilcormac Killoughey AC) 21:31.