Friendly Rivalries in IMRA’s Knocknarea Run

10 June, 2023 - Derek Hunter

On Saturday (3rd June) 63 runners assembled at Knocknarea car park to participate in the second race in North West Mountain Running Series. There were experienced mountain runners as well as many who had never done a mountain race before and the odd bewildered tourist. As the temperatures soared, last minute hydration became a priority for most. Many had done the first race in Union Wood and were reigniting friendly rivalries from that day.

At 11 o’clock the runners headed off up, a less used but perhaps the most scenic way up to Queen Maeve’s tomb. They then ran a two-kilometre loop around less explored parts of the mountain before descending again to the finish the 6.5k course beside the car park.

A family rivalry was evident from the off as Aidan McMoreland quickly established a lead over his brother Donal McMoreland and neither of them weakened or exchanged places over the challenging course. Pavlo Naumenko clearly relishes climbing taking the third position. Mari Johnson took the honours in Union Wood race but on Saturday, Rosy Temple, an experienced mountain runner, proved too strong with Sarah Patton not far behind in third. There were many other friendly rivalries evident on the day. Good friends Bill Carty and Rory Conor rarely had more than a metre or two between them until they hit the decent when Rory made his decisive move. Friends and training partners Roseanne Mitchell and Martin Feeney ran the on each other’s heels for the entire race, crossing the line within seconds of each other.

Afterwards the runners basked in the sunshine and shared banter and stories of their mountain pursuits with their alleged rivals. Enjoying the post-race refreshments were also many of the hard-working volunteers along with members of local trail running groups and representatives from the Sligo Sports & Reaction Partnership. The local sports gear specialists Run Pod sponsored the main prizes. When chatting after the race at Martina’s coffee hut, Roseanne admitted she had second thoughts before the race but said she’s definitely signing for the next race. That will take place on 25th June as is another unique race. It’s a rare opportunity to run 10k amongst the Carrowkeel Megalithic Cairns. Full details can be found at www.imra.ie/events/view/id/2381

Knocknarea

05 June, 2023 - David Rouse

Red Hanrahan's Song About Ireland
(William Butler Yeats)

The old brown thorn-trees break in two high over Cummen Strand,
Under a bitter black wind that blows from the left hand;
Our courage breaks like an old tree in a black wind and dies,
But we have hidden in our hearts the flame out of the eyes
Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

The wind has bundled up the clouds high over Knocknarea,
And thrown the thunder on the stones for all that Maeve can say.
Angers that are like noisy clouds have set our hearts abeat;
But we have all bent low and low and kissed the quiet feet
Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

The yellow pool has overflowed high up on Clooth-na-Bare,
For the wet winds are blowing out of the clinging air;
Like heavy flooded waters our bodies and our blood;
But purer than a tall candle before the Holy Rood
Is Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

So many of Yeats's works from which to choose to celebrate IMRA's inaugural spin on Knocknarea.
What a spin, and what a day.
No bitter black winds, bundled clouds, nor thunder troubled runners.
Only baking heat, humidity, and 300m climbing to Queen Maeve’s Cairn (Miosgán Meadhbha) to set our hearts abeat.

Given the right conditions and imagination, 11 counties are visible from the summit.
No time to count them.
Reward enough were the striking views over Donegal Bay, Slieve League’s dramatic cliffs visible through Atlantic haze.

As a less than fit youngster growing up in Sligo Town (and perhaps prone to exaggeration) this reporter considered Knocknarea a local Everest.
Now the Warriors Run, 16km out and back from Strandhill, over Knocknarea, is an annual fixture in the late Summer running calendar.
Staged entirely on the hill, IMRA’s race made for a considerably shorter, though no less interesting route.
New tracks (the gully) revealed to many who thought they knew this storied hill.

Through hawthorn groves, gorse, and heather we weaved our way twice to visit the Queen of Connacht, said to be buried standing upright, facing her enemies in the east.
Kissing gates navigated, ancient rocks leapt.
Speed aside, calm on the camber was key: vindicated by the sight of at least one rolled ankle.
200m from home a hairpin bend designed to temper sprint finishes caught some by surprise.

Sligo champions in the Men’s were the first and second placed McMoreland brothers, Aidan and Donal, followed in third by Pavlo Naumenko.
Sligo AC’s Mari Johnson in second place separated Donegal women Rosy Temple (1st) and Sarah Patton (3rd).

In a reverse Táin, among the Leinster raiders were veterans Vivian O'Gorman and Tom Galvin.
Emphatic were the denials of a stumble over Maeve's cairn.

Comhghairdeas RD Turlough Conway and team for a superbly organised morning.
Five-a-day fruit at the finish line. Biscuits and buns for the less virtuous.

Still to come in the NW League are Carrowkeel, Benbulben, and Sliabh Daeane.
What secrets will these hills reveal, of the Sligo landscape, and of ourselves?