It was a weekend to remember for Drogheda & District Athletic Club, with members excelling at home, across Ireland and even abroad — from cross country championships in Kilkenny to the Dublin City Marathon and the Valencia Half Marathon.
Juveniles Shine at Leinster Championships
At the Leinster Juvenile Even Age Cross Country Championships in Kilkenny, the club’s young athletes put in standout performances.
Beatrice Cunningham claimed victory in the U15 category, and also impressed running out of age in the U16 girls’ race, placing 36th out of 75 in a strong field.
Hannah Cunningham was part of the winning County Louth U14 team, taking home a county gold team medal, while Dearbhla Johnston and Eve Russell (25th and 27th) earned county bronze team medals in the U12 category, helping secure team bronze for Louth.
There were also county medal wins for Eve and Beatrice Cunningham, both finishing strong in their respective races.
National Recognition for Juvenile Stars
Friday night brought even more pride for the club, as four of Drogheda & District’s juvenile athletes received National Recognition Certificates for their outstanding performances this season: Cian Bolton, Micheal Iloduba, Dearbhla Johnston, and Danielle Nolan.
The awards highlight the club’s exceptional coaching and the dedication of its young athletes — including the Cunningham family, who continue to make a huge mark at every level, supported by parents Allie and coach Ollie.
Strong Runs Abroad
There was great representation overseas too, with club members taking on the Valencia Half Marathon and all achieving personal best times. Congratulations to Dave Cooney (1:40:40), Margaret Carroll (1:58:01), and Olivia Reilly (2:00:49) on their fantastic performances.
21 Drogheda Runners Take on the Dublin Marathon
Back home, 21 Drogheda & District AC athletes took to the streets for the 2025 Dublin City Marathon, cheered on by a strong local support crew gathered at Phoenix Park, Leeson Street, and Mount Street.
Top finisher for the club was Ruaidhri Nolan, who completed the marathon in an impressive 2:41:47, followed by Barry Foley, who broke the three-hour mark with a perfectly paced race.
First lady home was Stephanie Mainguard, running a personal best of 3:17:40. Other notable performances included:
- Brian Berrill – 3:04:30
- John Reilly – 3:04:48
- Brian Carraig – 3:08:12 (PB)
- Dominick Branigan – 3:09:09
- John Cooper – 3:16:07
- Barry Stevenson – 3:19:10
- James Carton – 3:23:17
- John Perkins – 3:24:54
- Paul Woods – 3:29:13
- Roger Ashwood – 3:31:49
- Thady Lynch – 3:38:02
- Elma Martin – 3:39:13
- Robbie Farrell – 3:49:37
- Knut Nielsen – 3:54:09
- Michael Aylward – 3:56:18
- Emmet Steenson – 4:13:38
- Gavin Bruce – 4:30:18
- Eimear McArdle – 4:53:06
After the race, Gavin Bruce summed up the spirit of the day:
“To complete a marathon in any time is something I don’t take for granted. It’s a great honour to run with amazing people.”
It was a weekend full of personal bests, teamwork, and community pride — proof that Drogheda & District AC continues to make its mark on every stage.
