Inis Iron Meáin 2012
Hello all,
We trust that you have all recovered from your trip to Inis Meáin and hope that you enjoyed the event as much as we all did here. Inis Iron Meáin was a huge success this year with the weather on our side and more people taking part than ever before! We, the pupils and teachers of Coláiste Naomh Eoin would like to extend our sincere thanks to you all for coming to the island to support our event. In particular, we were privileged to receive the Mayor of Galway City, Hildegarde Naughton, who opened the race, presented the prizes and spoke so eloquently about the island and the community spirit that was so evident on the day. For those of you that stayed, full marks to all of you who went all out for the ‘Australian themed fancy dress’. As usual, it was a ball with more than a few sore heads the following day! Though it was a difficult task in hand for the adjudicators, and a close shave between the Fosters Can, Ms. Down Under and the Summer Bay uniforms and lifeguards, the prize for best fancy dress went to Gráinne Conneely and Mairín Concannon who came as a pair of human sized UGG Boots!
Now to the serious stuff. A big congratulations to all the winners of the 10K and indeed to everybody who took part. The winners of the Senior/Cúrsa Fíor Chrua Course were John Ahern (45:32) who was the fastest runner on the day and Jennifer O’Connell (50:43) the fastest woman. The fastest islander of the Senior Course was Eoin de Blacam (53:40) and his younger brother Liam de Blacam took the Senior prize for fastest Coláiste Naomh Eoin pupil (01:09:51). Micheal Concannon took the senior race prize for the local primary school on the day (01:26:10).
The winners of the Novice/Cúrsa Crua Course were Ray O’Connor (39:16) and Catherine Hildyard (51:30). The fastest novice islander was Deirdre Megan (55:16). Coláiste Naomh Eoin’s fastest novice pupil was Rowan Austin (57:48) and Eoghan O’Domhnaill won the novice prize for the primary school (53:56).
(Please refer to the results page for a full listing of results. Unfortunately, as you will see we had a problem will our Cúrsa Fíor Chrua/Senior Course spreadsheets which ended in us be unable to match names correctly to race number and time. Please e-mail your name to your race number (if you can recall it) so we can update names to results).
A very special thanks to the people who helped make the event a great success. To all the sponsors on the mainland and island, in particular, ‘Cniotáil Inis Meáin Teo.’ who once again very generously donated the running prizes and knitwear. To the parents & Bean an Tí’s of Coláiste Naomh Eoin who helped all day in the hall and made some delicious deserts & cakes. To Séan Magnetti from Magnetti Foods who sponsored the lasagna. To Padraig from Teach Ósta who quenched our thirst and put up with the madness! To Noel & Martín who marked the course again this year and to all the water station attendants. To Aer Arann and Island Ferries who managed to get everybody on and off the island and to Tarlach from Spailpín Fánach for his inventive t-shirt design again this year. To the hotel, restaurants and B&B’s who opened especially for the event. To Seán Lydon the photographer who did a fantastic job. To all of you who contributed your time and enthusiasm (too many of you to mention), we thank-you for making Coláiste Naomh Eoin’s special annual event a great boost for the school and indeed for the island.
Owing to the success of this year’s 10K, we have decided that Inis Iron Meáin will take place in March from now onwards. Though not guaranteed on an island, it should give us a better chance of fairer weather than the months of deepest winter.
Therefore, next year’s Inis Iron Meáin will take place on Saturday the 16th of March 2013 which falls nicely on the day before St. Patrick’s Day on a bank holiday weekend!
Go mbeirimid beo ag an am seo arís!
The Mayor of Galway City, Hildegarde Naughton with the teachers of Coláiste Naomh Eoin, Inis Meáin
The Mayor of Galway City Hildegarde Naughton sounds the horn and they’re off!
Winner of the Cúrsa Fíor Chrua John Ahern with the Mayor of Galway City Hildegarde Naughton and Niamh Ní Cheannabháín Coláiste Naomh Eoin.
Winner of the Cúrsa Fíor Chrua Women’s Jennifer O’Connell (centre) with the Mayor of Galway City Hildegarde Naughton and Niamh Ní Cheannabháín Coláiste Naomh Eoin.
Winner of the Cúrsa Crua Ray O’Connor with the Mayor of Galway City Hildegarde Naughton and Niamh Ní Cheannabháín Coláiste Naomh Eoin.
Winner of the Cúrsa Fíor Chrua Islander Eoin de Blacam with the Mayor of Galway City Hildegarde Naughton and Niamh Ní Cheannabháín Coláiste Naomh Eoin.
Winner of the Cúrsa Crua Catherine Hildyard (centre) with the Mayor of Galway City Hildegarde Naughton and Niamh Ní Cheannabháín Coláiste Naomh Eoin.
Winner of the Cúrsa Crua Islander Deirdre Megan (centre) with the Mayor of Galway City Hildegarde Naughton and Niamh Ní Cheannabháín Coláiste Naomh Eoin.
Winner of the Cúrsa Crua Coláiste Naomh Eoin Rowan Austin with the Mayor of Galway City Hildegarde Naughton and Niamh Ní Cheannabháín Coláiste Naomh Eoin.
Brothers in arms! Left to right: Micheal Concannon winner Cúrsa Fíor Chrua Bunscoil, Eoghan O’Domhnaill winner Cúrsa Crua Bunscoil, Liam de Blacam winner Cúrsa Fíor Chrua Coláiste Naomh Eoin.
