Karl Griffin receives elite athletics scholarship
As club members and activities move from a very successful summer season and plan and prepare for another year it’s a time to highlight recent achievements and wish all –athletes of all ages, coaches and administrators – a successful year ahead.
Karl Griffin has made remarkable progress since joining Tir Chonaill A.C. five years ago. From winning the Celtic U16 800m International in Wales in 2009, improving his 800m time from 2mins+ to 1min 49.63secs as a 17 year old in 2012 – a National U18 Youth Record. Karl’s list of achievements also includes numerous Irish club and school titles /records and International experience at International Schools/Glasgow -2nd 800m; European Youth Olympics in Turkey – where he won bronze in the 800m/2011 and World Junior/Barcelona 2012 and European Junior/Reiti 2013.
The recent exciting news that Karl was awarded an elite athletics scholarship to UCD recognises his progress to date and is another step towards realising his athletics potential. At U.C.D. he joins a group of the country’s top young athletes, including Letterkeny’s Mark English and Ruairi Finnegan and Limerick’s talented Sarah Lavin who many pundits reckon is set to fill the shoes of Derval O’Rourke. Karl represented and benefited from the Abbey Voc.Schools academic and athletics programmes, scored a remarkable 565 points in his Leaving Cert and will study Science in UCD.
The club would also like to congratulate the numerous members on recent successes in the Junior and Leaving Certificate examinations. Club Pole Vaulter Christopher Doherty, heads for Trinity to study medicine -also Joe Morris, medicine and Sean Kerrs, Primary teaching.
Club athletes’ success on the roads
Club athletes continue to compete on the road circuit with great success. At the recent Donegal 5k road c/ships the women’s team of Philomena Gallagher, Linda Ward, Vera Haughey, Sharon McGowan and Jackie Harvey finished 2nd masters team and to Richard McCarthy, Ollie Thomas, John Cannon Gregory O’loughlan and Christopher O’loughlan who were impressive in the Men’s masters and Junior races ,Well done also to Paul Ward, Gerry McManus, Julie McMullan, Brian McMullan and Loretta Cullen on fine performances in last Sundays Sligo 10miles Coast to Coast run and to Donal Haughey, on home soil, and Jackie Harvey category winners at the Ardara 5k , Congrats and well done to all
Tir Chonaill members at the recent Donegal 5k in Letterkenny
Sincere Sympathies
Tir Chonaill AC extends our sincere sympathy and condolences to club member Vinny Duffy, the Duffy family and to Aoife and Kelvin, on the sudden and untimely death of Kieran. May he rest in peace
Warm weather training camp 2013/14
Richard McCarthy, warm weather training camp organizer, is now accepting names and [expressions of interest] for the clubs annual warm weather training camp. The location again is Monte Gordo in the Eastern Algarve, dates 28th Dec to 5th Jan. The location provides 10k of forest trails, 2k of very good grass trails,8k of beach plus indoor/outdoor track and field facilities, S&C facilities plus sports science support services. Last year 32 club members availed of the opportunity and came from the clubs junior/senior and fit4life groups. Enquiries to Richard 087 375599
Donegal Cross Country
The opening round of the Donegal CC will take place this Sunday in Mullaghduff. The club will have Novice and age groups teams compete.
Upcoming events/training times
It’s the final training preparation phase for the Dublin City Marathon. Numerous club members have been preparing for this event over the past 6/12 months. Paddy Donoghue, reports that he will lead a group of 13 from the Ballyshannon/Bundoran area – all have realistic ambitions of achieving PB times .The Donegal Town club fit4life group also has a number of representatives. We wish all success
Club training times
Juvenile training for the primary school age group is up and running in Donegal Town on Thursday evenings 5.45-7pm. Over 80 young athletes attended last week. Junior and Senior group training also takes place on Thurs evenings from 6.30 -8pm and Sunday morning at 10.30.Many from this group-approx. 30 in number-also train of Tuesday evening -4-6pm as part of Michelle Harvey’s AVS athletics programme.
The Donegal Town fit4life/meet and train group had over 40 members train on Tuesday night of this under the guidance of Kevin McGlynn and Eamon Harvey. The 90 mins session incorporates a dynamic warm up, 30mins local S&C/ circuit training plus 40mins aerobic run on the track under the lights. This group also trains on Thursday evening — 30mins run and then join the clubs junior /senior athletes for a 30mins inclusive S&C/circuit session. It’s an 8am start for this group on Saturday mornings.
Bundoran/Ballyshannon training group
Paddy Donoghues group many in the final preparation stages for the DCM continue to train from the Mercy Hall, Ballyshannon, Alligham Arms Car Park Bundoran, Rossnowlagh and Murvagh. For updates visit Tir Chonaill or Paddy Donoghue face book sites