Fun Run 2011 - Thank you

Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham AC wins the 2011 St. James's Hospital Liberties Fun Run with a time of 00:18:47
(Photo Marc O'Sullivan)

Results (PDF 134Kb)

St. James’s Hospital Foundation thanks most sincerely all those who entered and supported the third St. James’s Hospital Liberties Fun Run on Thursday, July 21st. The annual 6.5k tour of the Liberties was held to benefit the development of a new Heart Support Unit at St. James’s Hospital and it turned out to be a wonderful night for St. James’s. There were 741 entries this year – an actual increase of 215 over the first race held in the summer of 2009 that implies a significant increase in the event’s net proceeds.

The organisers were particularly pleased that there were so many repeat customers and all feedback indicates participants enjoyed the evening. This year’s course was exactly the same as the 2010 course and a course record was made by Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham AC who completed the course in a time of 18 minutes and 48 seconds – narrowly beating Dave Flynn, from Clonliffe Harriers and last year’s winner, into second place. John Eves of Dundrum South Dublin came a very worthy third.

Kate O’Neill, from Metro St Brigid’s AC, was the very impressive winner of the women’s race and has been a winner in all three races so far – the winner in 2009 and second to Patrycja Wlodarczyk in 2010. Annette Kealy of Raheny Shamrock AC, competing for the first time in this race, came second, and her clubmate, Patrycja Wlodarczyk – like Kate, three times placed in this race – came home in third place.

The race started and finished, courtesy of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, within the beautiful grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and its route as last year took in a tour of the Liberties that included the Guinness Storehouse, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Christ Church, St. James's Gate and St. James’s Hospital. Runners recorded exceptional times and please see the top of the page for full results.

The Fun Run was the result of generous contributions and co-operation from many organisations. It would have been impossible without the following four in particular: the Irish Museum of Modern Art at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham who hosted the event, sponsors Diageo and Momentum Support who provided the necessary funding and An Garda Síochána who helped to plan and who managed the race so graciously on the night. 

We are most grateful to the following also who were so generous: FM104 who came and painted faces and gave out treats at the start and finish lines, Ash at Runways who gave the third prizes, Seamus Griffin of Griffin’s Londis who provided the refreshments for the participants at the finish, the Natural Medicine Company who gave the essential oil for the essential massages, The Evening Herald who made the kilometre markings and Pfizer for their course sponsorship.

The hospital is most grateful to the following statutory and voluntary agencies for their support in the planning and execution of this event: Dublin Bus, Dublin City Council – who also loaned us so much equipment needed – the HSE Ambulance Service, the HSE Emergency Service, Luas and the St John Ambulance Brigade.

And thanks to the generosity of major sponsors, local companies Diageo and Momentum Support, all entry fees and all sponsorship raised will benefit the development of the Heart Support Unit at St. James’s Hospital.

Until next year’s race – July 19th 2012 – thank you all again.

Contact Us

St. James’s Hospital Foundation
St. James’s Hospital
James’s Street
Dublin 8

Telephone 01 428 4086
Email foundation@stjames.ie