The popular Achill Half Marathon, with a new 10K race added for 2013, was officially launched last Friday April 26, in Pieta House, Dublin. “Pieta House is our charity partner for this year,” explained Pauric Corrigan of Achill Events Management, the organisers of the event “and we are delighted to be able to raise awareness of the vital service the voluntary organisation provides for its clients.”
The races will take place on Achill Island on Saturday, July 6, and with the new 10k event a wider range of runners will get to enjoy the most beautiful course in Ireland, which following the recent announcement by Minister of State for Tourism Michael Ring, is now officially on the Wild Atlantic Way. Though it can be challenging, it is also one of the most rewarding on the AAI circuit, and a genuine welcome from local people will support runners around the course. The organisers have devised a unique way of making sure all the runners are in place when the klaxon sounds the start of the race. Siobhán Comerford, manager of Achill Tourism, described what will happen: “The local pipe band will lead the way to the start line, and award-winning Achill Island shepherds and their hard-working sheepdogs will ‘gather’ the runners and round up stragglers, just like they do on TV’s One Man and His Dog!”
A portion of the registration fees will be donated this year to Pieta House and there will be cash prizes for the first three males and three females past the finish line, Register now to avail of the lowest prices at www.achillmarathon.com The registration fee for the half-marathon is currently €45, and it will rise to €50 on May 6. The fee for the 10k is €20, rising to €25 on May 6.
