A global feel once again this week in terms of the action for Finn Valley AC athletes with medals for Catriona Devine and Kay Byrne in Poland, competition in the United States as well as a stormy outing closer to home in Ballyliffin.
In Torun, Poland, Catriona Devine continued her habit of collecting medals when she picked up a silver medal at the European Masters Indoor Championships.
The Finn Valley AC athlete finished second in the W50 1500m, going 4:59.86 in Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena Toruń for second spot.
The race was won by her fellow Irish athlete Mary Leech in 4:57.08 and Germany’s Tanja Saretzki was third in 5:07.37.
The silver for the Castlefin woman comes off the back of a successful few days for her Finn Valley AC colleague Kay Byrne, who last week won silver in the W60 8km cross country, helping Ireland to team bronze in that event, and bronze in the 5k road race.
Four medals returning in the pockets of two serial winners who never shirk competition – an example to all of our young athletes.
Around 1,000 people, including several Finn Valley AC athletes, braved Storm Dave for the 2026 Ballyliffin International Coastal Challenge on Saturday.
The stunning race lived up to its challenging name amid testing weather conditions.
Finn Valley AC’s John Joe Doherty won the 10 Mile race in 56:31 ahead of club-mate and Ballyliffin native Diarmait Keogh, who crossed the line in 57:11.
Well done to all organisers, officials and athletes – a real challenge against the backdrop of the angry waves crashing against Glashedy Island.
Others from Finn Valley AC who took part in the 7 Mile race were: Ramona Gallagher 70:46, Bosco Reid 79:20, Sinead McConnell 80:16 and Aine McElchar 81:14. In the 10 Mile race, Cathal Lafferty 81:27, Paddy Hannigan 87:36, Sonya O’Donnell 1:44.00, Joanne Campbell 1:44:01, Goretti Marley 1:44.02 and Deirdre Friel 2:05.00 all participated.
In the United States, Oisín Ó Gailín was in action over 5k in Stanford.
Oisin clocked 13:48.51 – his fifth time in the 13:40s over the distance – and finished 11th in the race at Stanford University in California. Oisín will go again over 5k in two weeks’ time.
Also at the Stanford Invitational, Eimear McCarroll ran a 1500m in 4:29.08. Finn Valley AC’s Eimear is a scholarship student at Bradley University and is looking forward to a busy track season.
A couple of Finn Valley AC groups were on a warm-weather training camp in recent days in Portugal – a great chance to punch in some hard work ahead of the summer track and field season.
While there, some of them caught up with Ukrainian star Yaroslava Mahuchikn, the Olympic and World high jump gold medallist who holds the women’s high jump world record (2.10m), and with Andrea Rooth, the Norwegian hurdler who has won gold at European U23s and U20.
This weekend, it’s back to the TUS Arena in Athlone for day 3 of the National Juvenile Indoor Championships. Best wishes to all Finn Valley AC athletes and coaches who are making the journey.