Offaly woman celebrates retention of national title at Dublin Marathon

Irish long distance runner and Offaly native, Ann Marie McGlynn, was in jubliant mood at the finish line of the Irish Life Dublin Marathon over the weekend when she not only retained her national title as being the first Irish woman to cross the line, but ran nine seconds faster than last year!

Although she was representing Letterkenny Athletic Club in county Donegal, having made her home in nearby Strabane in county Tyrone, Ann Marie (née Larkin) is a proud Offaly woman who hails from Mucklagh originally. She finished sixth in the women's race overall this year.

A seasoned long distance runner who has represented Ireland on numerous occasions and has won several Irish titles, Ann Marie McGlynn was also the first Irish woman home in last year's Dublin Marathon and the second Irish woman to cross the finish line in 2022.

Her achievement over the weekend, when she ran the full 26 mile marathon course in a time of 2:34:05 was particularly sweet for the Mucklagh runner as she ran a full nine seconds faster than last year.

Her time was over a minute clear of second-placed finisher for the national women's title, Aoife Kilgallon of Sligo Athletic Club, who finished 8th overall in a time of 2:35:56