Profile of a Parkrunner: Meet Paschal
Meet Paschal Naughton, one of the Run Director team at Mountlucas parkrun.
When did you first complete a parkrun?
While I had heard of parkrun, I didn’t fully understand how it worked or where I could partake in one. Then I saw that Mountlucas parkrun was being established in July 2017, so I registered on the parkrun website, got my barcode and headed out, not knowing what to expect.
What I found was a very enjoyable, relaxed and well run 5k run/walk in the shadow of the wind turbines. I was hooked.
Mountlucas parkrun became my “go to” on a Saturday morning. Soon afterwards, to help with the running of the parkrun, I became a volunteer and eventually became one of the Run Directors.
What is your favourite thing about parkrun?
Mountlucas parkrun is a very friendly community-based parkrun, and I have made some great friends over the last seven years. The course is ideal, being a 5k loop, away from traffic and with a big area at the finish line where people can congregate and have a chat afterwards. There are also plenty of parking spaces close to the start and finish line.
How does it feel to have completed more than 170 parkruns?
While I don’t get to do parkrun every week, I hope to complete my 200th parkrun later this year, which will be 1,000 parkrun kilometres, so I am looking forward to that particular morning.
What is your favourite parkrun memory?
Mountlucas parkrun celebrated its 300th parkrun in November of last year. 123 people took part that morning, which was the highest number of participants at Mountlucas ever. It was a fantastic morning with goodies, coffee and a special commissioned 300th parkrun tee shirt for all participants; it summed up why Mountlucas parkrun considers itself the friendliest parkrun in the Midlands, if not Ireland.
Any final words?
I would encourage anyone who hasn’t experienced parkrun yet to come along to Mountlucas parkrun any Saturday morning at 9.30am and see what it is all about; you won’t be disappointed!
Mountlucas parkrun is a free weekly timed event held at Bord na Móna Mountlucas wind farm every Saturday morning at 9.30am sharp. There's something for everyone at Mountlucas parkrun whether you want to walk, run, volunteer or just meet new people. For more information see
http://parkrun.ie/mountlucas