Galway’s biggest road race hits an impressive milestone this weekend, as 2015 sees the 30th running of the iconic Streets of Galway 8k.
The Galway City Harriers-organised race takes place through the city on Saturday at 7pm. This year the race is expected to attract more than 3,000 participants with many top Irish athletes competing, including Olympian Maria McCambridge, as well as top local runners Matt Bidwell and Jane Ann Meehan.
Local businessman Martin Kearney of Kearney Cycles is taking on the role of race sponsor for the third year running. The race starts and finishes in the Claddagh area of Galway city, commencing at 7pm sharp.
The course winds a path on the roads and streets through the city-centre and out into the Salthill suburbs, before returning on the roads along the coast-line to South Park in the Claddagh where the finish-line is located.
This year’s event has a prize fund of more than €5,000, and there are also many category prizes open to masters athletes.
The longevity and success of the Streets of Galway race owes much to the hard work and dedication of its original founders, Jack Mahon, Philip Cribbin, Paddy Greaney, their committee, and Cospoir, whose work from 1986 onwards established the race as one of the must do events each year in the city.
Galway City Harriers took on the organisation of the burgeoning event in 1991, with Oliver and Teresa Geraghty, PJ Coyle, and others among the driving forces behind the famous city club’s involvement. Since they have taken the reins they have continued to develop the race in the same enthusiastic manner as their predecessors.
There have been many famous winners of the event down through the years, including Olympians Paul Donovan, Rosie Ryan, and Mark Kenneally, and joint men’s record holders Seamus Power and Josphat Boit (the race record is 22.49 ). Ryan has won the title six times, and Donovan has four wins, topping the men’s leaderboard.
The race attracts many Galwegians who take on the distance as a challenge or to try to beat previous years times. With top local and national athletes taking part, there will be a great atmosphere throughout the city on the evening of the event.
