DHM Committee presents €2,000 to charity groups
The Donegal Half Marathon Committee presented two charity organisations with a total of €2,000 from the proceeds from last year’s event.
We Care Foodbank Letterkenny and The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust were each presented with a cheque for €1,000 at a hand-over ceremony at Kernan’s Bistro in Letterkenny.
Speaking on behalf of the Donegal Half Marathon Committee, Paddy Hannigan said: “The Donegal Half Marathon is able to make donations to charities that actually go out of the way to help other people, and we are delighted to be in a position to present cheques to two charity groups who do such wonderful work.”
“We Care Letterkenny Foodbank and the Kevin Bell Repatriation Fund both provide vital help and assistance to families in times of real need. When people are desperate, they reach out to others and it’s fantastic to see ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Keep up the good work,” he added.
Thanking the committee for their donation, Fintan McGrath, We Care Foodbank Letterkenny PRO, said the organisation has been operating since 2014.
“Ten years ago, we were delivering ten to 15 parcels per week. These days we are handing out over 100 and last year we handed out over 4,500. We rely on the help and support of the local community,” Mr McGrath commented.
“Without the great support we get, we just couldn’t do what we do. Thanks to the support from organisations like the Donegal Half Marathon, we can continue to operate. Hopefully, we are doing some good for the community. Thank you very much for a very generous donation,” he added.
The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, which provides financial assistance and guidance to families seeking to repatriate the remains of loved ones back to the Island of Ireland, was established following the death of Newry man, Kevin Bell, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident in New York in June 2013.
Accepting the cheque on behalf of the trust, Kevin’s father, Colin, said that within a week of his son’s death, €150,000 had been raised. However, after Kevin's American employers agreed to pay to transport his body home, the Bell family decided to use the money to help other families who faced the same situation.
In 2015, the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust became a registered charity in the north and south of Ireland.
“Since Kevin’s death, 2,150 Irish people who have died abroad have been repatriated through the Trust. We don’t get money from the governments north or south. But the truth is we don’t need it because people are so good,” Mr Bell commented.
“We are Ireland’s charity in Kevin’s name and the support we get from the community is just amazing. I extend a big thank you to the Donegal Half Marathon Committee for your donation and I’m delighted to be in the presence of your race ambassador, Danny McDaid. I really appreciate your generosity,” he added.
Since 2020, the Donegal Half Marathon Committee has presented a total of €16,000 to seven charity organisations.
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#HalfMarathon2025

​2025 Donegal Half Marathon launched
The 2025 Donegal Half Marathon, which will be held in association with Kernan's, will take place on Sunday, August 24th in Letterkenny.
First held in 2014, the race has grown in popularity and attracted almost 600 entries last year. Speaking at the launch of the event, Donegal Half Marathon Chairman, Myles Sweeney, said the ability of the organising committee to attract participants of all abilities and backgrounds is the main reason for the success of the race.
"Retaining the ethos of the Donegal Half Marathon has been important - the model is all about encouraging participation, while it's also about bringing the elite into the event," he added.
"Many groups and individuals play a part in the Donegal Half Marathon. Letterkenny CDP who help us out with the family event and Letterkenny Century Cinemas who are involved in the children's events are key cogs in the Donegal Half Marathon.
"I want to recognise our main sponsors, Kernan's, who have been with us now since 2019. Donegal County Council make a huge contribution every year to the event, and we're delighted with the support we got through the DFI grant. It's great to see Mayor Gerry McMonagle and Cllr Donal Mandy Kelly here and we appreciate your support," Mr Sweeney said.
"We also get support from Optum, Failte Ireland, Irish Red Cross and Donegal Sports Partnership. Thanks, also to John Watson of Watson Hire who gives us great support and it's nice to see Garda Fintan Smith here representing An Garda Siochana whose help and support is crucial in the staging of the race. We extend our good wishes to Garda Sergeant Eunan Walsh and wish him a speedy recovery. Eunan has been a real support to us since the race first began," he added.
Speaking on behalf of Kernan's, Damian Daly said: "It's a great privilege for us to be involved with the Donegal Half Marathon. This is our seventh year to be involved after getting a call from the late Dessie Larkin. It's a Donegal event and it's great for us to be associated with a county event. I thank the committee for all the work you do and thank Cathal Curran from Kernan's for all the work he does for the event every year."
In his address, Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, Cllr Gerry McMonagle said: "I'm delighted to be here and thank you for the invite. On the way here this evening, I was just thinking back to the night Dessie brought in the motion to start this event, and it got the full support of the members. He outlined what it would mean, how it would get people involved and how it would help to promote healthy lifestyles and athletics, while also putting Donegal in the map.
"It has gone from strength to strength and it's great to see the buy-in from the community and the businesses who support the event as well year on year. With my other hat on with Letterkenny CDP, we are delighted to be part of the Donegal Half Marathon and helping out with the family fun aspect of the day.”
"The one thing about athletics is that it is all about family and it is all about community and it’s great that we have projects like the CDP to help out and be part of things. The Donegal Half Marathon is good for the town as it puts it on the map and it's also good for athletics. My own family in Derry is very much into athletics. They very much look forward to the race and hear of other clubs in Derry talking about it. Let's hope this year's event is as successful as those in previous years and grows from strength to strength,” Mayor McMonagle added.
To register for the 2025 Donegal Half Marathon, follow the link below:
https://eventmaster.ie/event/Bk4EH23c8j
To access the QR code, follow the link below:
https://eventmaster.ie/event/Bk4EH23c8j/qrcode

Relay section to return to Donegal Half Marathon
The relay is set to make a return in this year's Donegal Half Marathon on Sunday, August 24th.
After several years without the relay section, organisers of the Letterkenny-based event, which will once again be held in association with Kernan's, have opted to reintroduce it.
Speaking about the decision, race director, Brendan McDaid said: "We incorporated a relay section for a few years, but due to drop in interest before Covid, we decided to discontinue it."
"We've had a number of running groups approach us to bring it back again, so we are going with it again this year. Hopefully, the relay section will attract a good number of teams, and it will certainly add to the overall event. The relay section opens the Donegal Half Marathon up to another group of runners and walkers, so we're looking forward to the return of the relay race," he added.
The relay section will see teams of three coming together to complete the 13.1-mile (21k) distance, with each member completing a 7K leg. The first changeover point will be at Crievesmith, with the second point at Rashedog.
In 2024, the Donegal Half Marathon, first held in 2014, attracted an entry of almost 600. The race director is expecting another big field for this year's race.
"Since Covid, the numbers in the Donegal Half Marathon have been growing steadily which we are delighted about. Entries are coming in much earlier than in previous years which suggests there is a big interest out there in the race. It offers a good course that is safe and well marshalled, and everyone is always well looked after on the day. The children's races also add to the occasion," Brendan commented.
"Only the first 500 entries will be guaranteed a specially commissioned long-sleeved top, so my advice to those thinking about taking part is to get entered online as early as possible," he added.
To register for the full distance and the relay section, follow the link below:
https://eventmaster.ie/event/Bk4EH23c8j
QR code: https://eventmaster.ie/event/Bk4EH23c8j/qrcode

Errigal Mountain is centrepiece of 2025 Donegal Half Marathon medal
Participants in the 2025 Donegal Half Marathon, which is being held in association with Kernan’s, will be presented with a medal containing an image of Errigal Mountain.
In previous years, the medal centrepiece had images of Fanad Lighthouse, Sliabh Liag, New Mills Corn and Flax Mill and Malin Head.
“After Covid, the Donegal Half Marathon Committee joined forces with Fáilte Ireland in an effort to promote the Wild Atlantic Way through the event,” commented race director, Brendan McDaid.
This will be the fifth year that one of the 39 discovery points along the Wild Atlantic Way will be used in the finishers’ medals which are proving to be something of a collector’s item.
“Adopting a different signature point from different parts of the county every year to include in the marathon medal has given the event a real Donegal feel,” the race director added.
This year’s Donegal Half Marathon takes place in Letterkenny on Sunday, August 24th in Letterkenny and the event has a 9.20 am start.
“Entries have been coming in at a steady rate since we launched the race back in March and there’s also a good interest in the relay section which we decided to bring back and that’s another positive,” Brendan said.
“We are three months out from this year’s Donegal Half Marathon and preparations are going well. Last year we had almost 600 entries and 500 finishers. We are expecting a similar entry this year and hopefully we will have an even bigger entry. There’s certainly a growing demand for long distance races.
“The Bundoran and Ballyliffen 10 Milers were both sold out, as was the Strabane-Lifford Half Marathon on Sunday which sold out after attracting a maximum entry of 1,500,” he added.
To register for the full distance or the relay section, follow the link below:
https://eventmaster.ie/event/Bk4EH23c8j
QR code: https://eventmaster.ie/event/Bk4EH23c8j/qrcode

Donegal Half Marathon director recalls work and vision of the late Dessie Larkin
The work of the late Dessie Larkin in helping to establish the Donegal Half Marathon in 2014 was recalled this week by race director, Brendan McDaid.
“Originally, it was Dessie who came up with the idea of the Donegal Marathon along with Paddy Hannigan. After the first couple of years, it was decided to go with the half marathon only and ten years on, we are delighted that the half is still going strong,” the race director commented.
“Dessie said he wanted the event to be known as ‘the people’s race’ and we have done our best to hold true to that aspiration,” he added.
“Dessie and Paddy had great vision – that’s how it all started. Dessie then approached Damien Daly from the Kernan Retal Group to see if they would be interested in getting involved and lending some support. They kindly agreed and have been the main sponsor for the last number of years. Dessie also got Donegal County Council and Donegal Sports Partnership involved. Having the backing of those organisations made it much easier to pull the race together and gave us at Letterkenny Athletics Club the confidence to get involved and be part of it,” Brendan commented.
“We have a hardworking committee which is made up of individuals from different backgrounds who bring different views – having that mix on the committee is crucial to having different views and perspectives.
“We cater for the fun runner, the social runner, the club runner and the elite and that is why the race continues to attract large numbers. The buzz for us as a committee is seeing hundreds of people coming to Letterkenny and taking their place on the start line on race day. The success of one year gives us the get-up-and-go approach to get ready and prepare for the following year,” he added.
This year’s Donegal Half Marathon takes place on Sunday, August 25th, in Letterkenny. The event will have a 9.20 am start and race headquarters will be based at the Aura Leisure Centre. to edit.

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The organisers of the 2024 Donegal Half Marathon are expecting a large entry for this year’s event that takes place on Sunday, August 25th.
Looking ahead to the Letterkenny-based race, which is being held in association with the Kernans Retail Group, Donegal Half Marathon race director, Brendan McDaid, said: “We are just over 12 weeks out from the 2024 event, and we are gearing up for another big crowd. This race was first held in 2014 and is now well established on the racing calendar. It’s great to be celebrating ten years of the Donegal Half Marathon. Even during Covid, we managed to keep the race going – we had 220 who did it virtually in 2020.”
“Last year, the Donegal Half Marathon was established as a Donegal Athletics Board County championship race, and this is generating a big interest among clubs. The organising committee is always looking at ways to improve the race. In 2022 we made a few changes to the route which resulted in a flatter and faster course and that was well received by the runners and walkers. Our aim is to pull together an event that will give the participants a good experience. We’ve had people travel from all over and we are looking forward to welcoming runner from near and far to Letterkenny on the last Sunday in August,” he added.
Pointing out that it’s a busy time on the local road racing circuit, Brendan continued: “There are plenty of races taking place around the region. For those planning to take on the challenge of the Donegal Half Marathon in three months, now is the ideal time to start preparing. Almost 400 completed the Donegal Half Marathon in 2023 and we are planning for a similar field this year. We have the signs up around Letterkenny and the entries are coming in at steady rate.”
The Donegal Half Marathon is headquartered at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny and has a 9.20 am start.
To enter, follow the link below:
https://eventmaster.ie/event/9qPqhw5HWJ
To access the QR code, follow the link below:
https://eventmaster.ie/event/9qPqhw5HWJ/qrcode

This year’s Donegal Half Marathon, which will be held in association with the Kernan Retail Group, will take place on Sunday, August 25th in Letterkenny.
The 2024 event was launched in Kernan’s Bistro at Letterkenny Retail Park on Friday, March 8th.
In his welcoming address, Donegal Half Marathon Chairman, Myles Sweeney, said it was fitting that the launch was being held on International Women’s Day and during Women In Sport Week.
“We have been coordinating a lot of women’s events over the past week across Donegal and we are trying to get even more women involved in this year’s Donegal Half Marathon,” the Donegal Sports Partnership Coordinator commented.
“The Donegal Half Marathon is a longstanding event and the brainchild of the late Dessie Larkin. We’re delighted to have Mary here with us who is on the organising committee and representing the Larkin family. Dessie was a great friend of the marathon and a great friend of sport. He was really committed to sport in Donegal and his legacy lives on now through the Donegal Half Marathon. We have kept it a community marathon and it has really blossomed over the last ten years. It is very much the people’s marathon as Dessie rightly called it at the time,” the chairman said.
Pointing out that many groups and organisations contribute to the success of the Donegal Half Marathon, he continued: “Kernan’s, Optum, Letterkenny CDP, Red Cross, the Gardai, Century Cinemas, Donegal Volunteer Centre, Red Cross, Donegal County Council, Fáilte Ireland, Watson Hire and Highland Bakery all play their part in making it such a great spectacle. We are grateful for the support we get from everyone and are also very appreciative of the DFI grant from Donegal County Council. We thank the members for their ongoing support.”
“Without the volunteers we wouldn’t have a half marathon. John Curran and his team at the Donegal Volunteer Centre provide us with a lot of support. It’s also good to see Neily McDaid here. Neily is the chief steward and along with Gerard McGinley they look after the marshalling end of things which is so important. A lot of work goes into the event every year. We have a good and hardworking committee, and we never seem to fall out which is good,” he added.
“Over the last few years, we have been working closely with Fáilte Ireland to highlight iconic sites in Donegal along the Wild Atlantic Way. Over the last three years, we’ve used Malin Head, Sliabh Liag and Fanad Lighthouse on our t-shirts and on our medals. This year we are staying local, and the point selected is the New Mills Corn and Flax Mills located next to the home of our ambassador, Danny McDaid,” Mr. Sweeney said.
Speaking at the launch, Danny McDaid said: “I suppose we don’t shout enough about the history we have on our doorstep like the flax mills at New Mills. I don’t think it’s being pushed enough and it’s up to people like us to promote it more. There will be up to 500 medals with the image of the flax mills at New Mills as its centrepiece handed out on race day and I think they will be a collector’s item and invaluable in the years to come.”
“Dessie always referred to the race as the people’s marathon and I’m sure he would have been excited about New Mills being part of the event, given that he lived out there and that his family roots are in the Glenswilly and New Mills area,” the race ambassador added.
Mayor of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District, Cllr Kevin Bradley, who started the 2023 Donegal Half Marathon, described the event as brilliant.
“It’s a very, very good event and everyone competing were excited to be part of it all last year,” he commented.
Urging people to visit the flax mills at New Mills, Cllr Bradley added: “It’s a fantastic tourist attraction and it’s free to visit. It’s great to see the Donegal Half Marathon going from strength to strength, and it’s nice that Mary is here and carrying on the good work started by Dessie.”
Speaking on behalf of Kernan’s, Damien Daly said: “It’s a privilege to be involved. It’s six years now since we got the phone call from Dessie and we couldn’t say ‘no’. It has grown from then. It’s a community event we can all look forward to over the next six months. We help the Finn Harps Academy and a number of GAA clubs around the county, and this type of community event is the perfect fit for us. On a personal note, I want to thank Cathal Curran on behalf of Kernan’s for what he does for this event and other events outside of his working day. Thanks also to the committee for their ongoing efforts.”
Helen McCready, winner of the Donegal Half Marathon in 2022 and 2023, told the launch that she ran the marathon when the event was first held ten years ago in conjunction with the half marathon.
“That was such a memorable day,” the Rosses AC runner said.
This year’s race will have a 9.20 am start.
To enter, follow the link below:
https://eventmaster.ie/event/9qPqhw5HWJ
To access the QR code, follow the link below:
https://eventmaster.ie/event/9qPqhw5HWJ/qrcode

​
Yared Derese set a new course record in today's Donegal Half Marathon in Letterkenny when he cruised to victory in a time of 1:07:22.
The Carrick Aces AC runner, who won the National Half Marathon last year in 1:03:44, took two and a half minutes off the previous course record of 1:09:51 that was set by Raheny's Freddy Keron Sittuk in 2015.
Second in the event, which attracted a field of around 400, was Shane O'Donnell from Rosses AC in 1:13:38, with Letterkenny AC's Philip McHugh third in 1:15:28.
Helen McCready from Rosses AC, winner of the senior women's title in 2022, made a successful defence of her crown when taking the victory in 1:21:54. Runner-up was Finn Valley's Natasha Kelly in 1:24:32, with Ciara Cunningham of Tir Chonaill AC third in 1:24:36.
Giving his reaction to the day's proceedings, race director, Brendan McDaid, said he was delighted at how well everything went.
"We were extremely happy to have around 400 taking part which is up significantly on last year. Our aim is to keep building on the numbers and we will be aiming to have 500 on the road in the 2024 event," he commented.
After the 2021 Donegal Half Marathon, the race organisers made a few alterations to the course.
"We looked at things again after the event two years ago and removing the Port Road seems to have been a factor in attracting bigger numbers. The first four miles in around the town are flat, and apart from the climb up Rashedog just after the half way point, the course is flat and fast," he said.
"That the race is now recognised as a Donegal championship event meant there was an increase in the number of club runners competing and that also boosted the numbers."
"We've had entries from all over Ireland and quite a few from over seas which was really pleasing when you take into account that there were half marathons held in other parts of the country over the weekend," he added.
"The children's races, that are sponsored by Letterkenny Century Cinemas, were introduced a few years ago. These were once again coordinated by our friends from Donegal Sports Partnership. Those who ran today got the opportunity to race over the final kilometre of the Donegal Half Marathon, with the finish line on the Danny McDaid Track.
"It takes up to 100 volunteers to make sure out event is run smoothly and this year we had a great response from people coming forward to help. The Donegal Half Marathon is rightly known as the people's race and we are grateful to the Donegal Volunteer Centre and Letterkenny Athletic Club, along with our experienced team of marshals headed up by Neily McDaid and Gerard McGinley who have given up their time to ensure that we staged another enjoyable event," he said.
"When one takes into account the half marathon participants, the children's races and the volunteers who help out, around 600 people were involved in some way in making the 2023 Donegal Half Marathon happen today. So, we can say with certainty that community spirit is certainly alive and well in Letterkenny and among the running fraternity.
"We are also extremely grateful for the help and support we get from our main sponsors, Kernans, Optum - United Health Group, Letterkenny CDP, Donegal County Council, Failte Ireland, Century Cinemas Letterkenny, Watson Hire and An Garda Síochána.
Without their contribution, the race wouldn't happen," the race director added.

​Milford AC's Marty Lynch was the winner of today's Donegal Half Marathon in Letterkenny in a time of 73 minutes and 34 seconds. Second was Finn Valley's John McElhill in 74:13, with his Finn Valley club mate, Dermot McElchar, third in 74:19.
Helen McCready of Rosses AC took victory in the senior women's race in a time of 83:38, from the Tir Conaill AC pair of Ciara Cunningham who clocked 92:31, and Julie McNamee who finished in 94:27.
In calm and humid conditions, over 300 took part in the annual event which was again sponsored by the Kernan Retail Group.
Marty Lynch made a break from the leading pack on the race's only climb at Rashedog around the eight-mile mark and consolidated his lead to win by 40 seconds.
Speaking after his victory, Marty said he was delighted to be back on the winner's podium.
"Training has been going well over the last number of weeks and I decided to come and give it a go here today. I've been having good days and bad days in terms of races over the last while and I didn't really know how what was going to happen today. I made a move up Rashedog and managed to hold the pace of 3:25 to 3:27 per k throughout," he commented.
"My next aim is the Dublin Marathon at the end of October. I'll run a few races between now and then," the Milford AC man added.
Sunday saw Helen McCready running her first half marathon for three years.
"It was tough out there today and the conditions were very humid. I liked the new course - I didn't have a good relationship with the previous course. I haven't run a half marathon since 2019 and I felt I was a bit on my own at times, just like it is in training," she said.
"Ultimately, today is a stepping stone to the Berlin Marathon at the end of September. There have been a lot of miles lately, so I have to keep going for the next four weeks."
There was a great community feel to today's race, with people of all ages and abilities competing, and people from various local groups and organisations helping out.
Almost 100 children took part in the 1k fun races that were held in conjunction with Donegal Sports Partnership, just after the start of the main event.
Caption for photo: 2022 Donegal Half Marathon winner, Marty Lynch of Milford AC, being presented with the Dessie Larkin Perpetual Shield by Matthew Larkin, son of the late Dessie Larkin.

​The amazing Nikki Bradley, pictured with her cousin Michelle Rainey moments after they crossed the finish line at the Donegal Half Marathon today. Also included is Committee Member Mary Larkin. What a fantastic woman and inspiration to us all
Congratulations Nikki