Boyle Athletic Club

💛🖤 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐀.𝐂. 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝟓𝐊 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 💛🖤

Building on the tremendous success of our inaugural event in 2025, Boyle Athletic Club proudly welcomed 300 athletes back to Boyle on Friday, 17th July 2026, for the 2nd Boyle AC 5K Road Race. Since the club was founded in 2018, hosting an annual road race has always been one of our greatest ambitions. What began as a vision shared by the club’s founders has, in just two short years, become one of Ireland’s fastest and most talked-about summer road races.

The event reached capacity once again, with entries selling out well in advance of race day, underlining the growing reputation and popularity of the Boyle AC 5K among runners from across Ireland.

This year’s event carried even greater significance as Boyle AC proudly partnered with the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, with funds raised throughout the evening helping to support families caring for children with profound medical needs at home. The generosity shown by runners, sponsors, volunteers and spectators ensured the event was about much more than fast times; it was about making a meaningful difference.

At 8:00pm sharp, a capacity field of 300 athletes lined up beneath the iconic backdrop of Boyle Abbey, creating a spectacular sight as competitors from clubs across Ireland gathered to race on one of the country’s fastest 5K courses. Hundreds of spectators lined the streets of Boyle, creating a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish and providing incredible encouragement to every athlete throughout the evening.

Under the direction of Race Director Melissa Doohan, supported by Club Chairman Noel Scally, the race committee and an outstanding team of volunteers, the event got underway with military precision. As the runners surged down the N61, spectators witnessed another unforgettable evening of road racing in Boyle.

The race quickly developed into a contest of exceptional quality.

Donore Harriers’ John Travers once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of Ireland’s finest distance runners. From the gun he stamped his authority on the race, setting a relentless pace that only a handful of athletes could match. Travers crossed the finish line to retain his Boyle AC title in a superb 14:33, further cementing the reputation of the Boyle AC 5K as one of the fastest races on the Irish calendar.

Behind him, Sligo AC’s Matthew McMeekin produced an outstanding run to secure second place in 15:10, while Swinford AC’s Alan Dunne completed an impressive podium in 15:31, ensuring another exceptionally high-quality men’s race.

The women’s race was equally impressive.

Sligo AC’s Caitlin Hughes delivered a commanding performance to claim the women’s title in an excellent 18:06. She was followed home by Roscommon Harriers AC’s Anna Dooner, who finished strongly in 18:30, while Sinead Fowley completed the podium in 18:48.

The standard of competition extended right through the field and across every age category.

In the Men’s Over 40 category, Clive Glancy of Carrick-on-Shannon AC continued his remarkable consistency to claim victory in 16:22, while Cora Regan of Drumshanbo AC won the Women’s Over 40 title in 19:24.

The ever-consistent Seamus Somers of Sligo AC secured first place in the Men’s Over 50 category with a superb 16:41, while Susan Gannon claimed the Women’s Over 50 honours in 21:54.

In the Men’s Over 60 category, John Fitzmaurice of Roscommon Harriers AC crossed the line first in 19:11, while Bernadette Morris claimed the Women’s Over 60 title in 24:42.

The junior categories also showcased the exciting talent emerging within Irish athletics. Karol Warnock Jnr of Tír Chonaill AC claimed the Junior Men’s title in an outstanding 16:43, while Sinead Evans of Sligo AC was the first Junior Female home in an excellent 19:03.

Congratulations also go to our own Boyle AC athletes who proudly represented the club on home roads. Diarmuid Boylan was the first Boyle AC man home, producing a superb run to finish in 18:15, while Jacci Conlon was the first Boyle AC woman across the finish line in 22:27. It was fantastic to see so many Boyle AC members proudly wearing the club colours, with numerous athletes recording personal best performances on a course that continues to earn national recognition for its speed.

The depth of quality throughout the field was truly remarkable. An incredible six athletes broke the 16-minute barrier, twenty-two runners finished inside 18 minutes, while sixty-three competitors dipped under the coveted 20-minute mark. Those figures speak for themselves and further reinforce the Boyle AC 5K’s reputation as one of Ireland’s fastest and most competitive road races. Combined with the scenic backdrop of Boyle Abbey, outstanding organisation and renowned post-race hospitality, it is easy to see why the Boyle AC 5K has become one of the most anticipated races on the Irish athletics calendar.

Organising an event of this scale takes months of planning, dedication and teamwork, and this year’s race was no exception. A heartfelt thank you goes to our dedicated Boyle AC 5K Race Committee—Melissa Doohan, Noel Scally, Cian Duffy, Trish Kane, Shane McCarthy, David Greene, Therese Killoran, Sean Ballantyne and Philip James. Together, they devoted countless hours over many months to planning every aspect of the event, from sponsorship, race administration and health and safety to course management and race-day operations. Their teamwork, professionalism and unwavering commitment laid the foundations for another hugely successful Boyle AC 5K Road Race.

Of course, no event of this scale could be delivered without the incredible support of our volunteers, and Boyle AC was once again fortunate to have an exceptional team of club members and supporters who gave so generously of their time. A sincere thank you goes to our lead cyclist, Aoife O’Connor, who expertly guided the race leaders throughout the course. Our course marshals, made up of members of Boyle AC and Lough Key Triathlon Club, under the coordination of Trish Kane, were outstanding. Their professionalism, enthusiasm and attention to detail ensured the safety of every participant and received widespread praise from visiting athletes.

We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to Roscommon County Council for their invaluable assistance in providing the barriers and traffic cones, which played a vital role in ensuring the safe and smooth running of the event. A special word of thanks also goes to Abbey Primary School for so generously allowing us the use of their facilities to host this year’s race. The school proved to be the perfect race headquarters, providing an ideal venue for registration, refreshments and the prize presentation, and we were truly delighted to have their support and cooperation.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the residents of Woodenbridge Road for their patience, understanding and support throughout race evening. Hosting a road race inevitably brings temporary disruption, and we are incredibly grateful for the goodwill shown by everyone in the area. A very special word of thanks goes to Jim O’Connor, whose kindness, assistance and cooperation were greatly appreciated and played an important part in helping the event run so smoothly. Their support is a wonderful example of the community spirit that makes the Boyle AC 5K such a special occasion.

Special thanks also go to Sergeant Bernard Kilroy and his colleagues in An Garda Síochána, together with the dedicated volunteers of the Order of Malta, whose professionalism and assistance were invaluable in ensuring another safe and successful Boyle AC 5K Road Race.

Once again, Boyle AC’s renowned hospitality was on full display. Following the race, competitors enjoyed an exceptional spread of homemade refreshments, thanks to Carmel Goldrick and the many club members who generously contributed their time. The post-race hospitality has quickly become a hallmark of the Boyle AC 5K and continues to receive glowing praise from runners travelling from all over Ireland.

A huge thank you also goes to this year’s official race photographer, Dónal Egan of North Sligo AC, for so generously giving his time and talent to capture every aspect of the evening. From the excitement at the start line to the determination on the course and the celebrations at the finish, Dónal’s photographs beautifully captured the atmosphere and spirit of the event. We are incredibly grateful for his professionalism, generosity and for providing Boyle AC with a lasting record of another memorable night.

The continued success of the Boyle AC 5K would not be possible without the incredible support of our sponsors. Our sincere thanks go to our Main Sponsor, Rock Civil Engineering Ltd, together with Nordson Corporation, O’Dowd Haulage, Corrib Oil Boyle, Running & Physical Therapy Clinic, Smith Auctioneers, Kelly’s Londis, D. Greene, and Murtagh’s Bar. Their generosity and continued commitment helped make this event possible, and we are sincerely grateful for their support of both Boyle AC and our partnership with the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation.

Finally, to the 300 athletes who travelled to Boyle, every volunteer who gave their time, every sponsor who supported us, every resident who accommodated the event, every spectator who lined the streets to cheer the runners home, and everyone who donated so generously to the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation thank you.

The success of the 2nd Boyle AC 5K Road Race belongs to everyone who played a part. Together, we not only delivered another outstanding evening of racing but also raised vital funds for the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, making a real difference to families who need it most.

As the curtain fell on another memorable evening in Boyle, one thing was abundantly clear the Boyle AC 5K Road Race has firmly established itself as one of Ireland’s premier summer road races. From elite athletes chasing fast times to first-time 5K runners achieving personal milestones, the event once again showcased everything that is great about our sport: community, camaraderie, competition and volunteering. Most importantly, through our partnership with the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation, the evening became about far more than running, with the generosity of everyone involved helping to make a meaningful difference to families across Ireland.

Melissa Doohan - Boyle AC Race Director

Connacht Athletics fans Sligo Athletic Club North Sligo Athletic Club Terry Fox Run Boyle Donore Harriers Roscommon Harriers A.C. Jack and Jill Children's Foundation Athletics Ireland South Sligo Athletic Club County Roscommon Athletics Roscommon Herald Irish Runner Magazine Irish Life Dublin Marathon Lough Key Triathlon Club Running & Physical Therapy Clinic Longford AC Mayo AC BoyleToday Boyle Community Hub Castlerea Crusaders Athletics Club Drumshanbo Athletics Club