Get your runners on for Drumshanbo's Tony McGowan run on Sunday February 16

It’s that time of year again! Sunday February 16, sees the 2025 Tony McGowan run return to Drumshanbo. This post-Christmas three-race programme is ideal for runners at all levels.

The run is named after Tony McGowan (1940-2007) who co-founded Drumshanbo Athletics Club in 1980 and managed the club and schools teams competing at multiple local road races and All-Ireland Cross Country Finals. The eternal optimist, he was a person who would look at a far horizon while others looked at the ground. His ideas and optimism became goals for his club, parish and county.

Year after year, runners continue to return to participate in this scenic race that has been firmly locked into the racing calendar and this year we are expecting over 1400 participants which is the largest number we have had to date. The route takes in Ireland's first floating boardwalk along our beautiful Blueway and is an overall flat course, ideal for getting a personal best! 

Start the running season off with a 5km, 10km or Half Marathon in what has already been described as one of the “Best Road Running Races in Ireland” by www.Outsider.ie . The 5km, 10km and the Half Marathon races see all runners chipped and timed, with pacers running the 10km and Half Marathon. 

Members of the extended McGowan family pictured at the launch of the 2025 Tony McGowan Run Picture: Willie Donnellan 

All participants of the 5km, 10km and Half Marathon will receive one of our newly designed medals with the 10km and Half Marathon participants also receiving our 2025 race t-shirt.  The Half Marathon participants also receive our newly designed drawstring bag.

First Male and Female home in the half marathon will receive €100 cash prize, with a further €100 up for grabs if the race records are broken for the half marathon and 10k race. 

This year, there are also cash prizes for our second place male and females in the half marathon and 10k.

This year, we have teamed up with local wood crafting business, Artwood Ireland, who will be supplying us with Tony McGowan Run branded suncatchers to present to our race winners. First Male and Female home from our Half Marathon will also pick up a fabulous voucher sponsored by RunPod, Sligo.

Currently the record times for the half marathon race stands at 1:11:27 for the Men and 1:22:45 for the Ladies. The current record for the 10K is 32.33 for the Men and 36.54 for the Ladies. The fastest times that beat the course records will claim a cash prize of €100!

This year, the Tony McGowan Run has chosen the Baby Harrison fund to be the recipient of funds raised. Baby Harrison is the son of Eoin Smith and Abby Eogan. Eoin is from Drumshanbo where his parents Gareth and Alison still live along with his younger siblings. 

Harrison was born on November 21, 2024, just over 8 weeks premature. He was born with Spina Bifida and will require numerous vital surgeries over the next few months and further. These surgeries will require Harrison’s parents to take time away from their work and the Tony McGowan Run wants to support this young family, helping ensure that Harrison gets the best possible start in life and relieve some of the financial stress Harrison’s family may experience.

Finbarr Feely of Feelystone Boyle pictured with, from left, John McGarry, Phil McGowan, Fionan Feely and Shane McGovern at the 2025 launch of the Tony McGowan Run. The Tony McGowan Run will be held on Sunday February 16, in Drumshanbo Picture: Willie Donnellan 

We have already sold out of the 10k and Half Marathon; however, there are places still available for the 5k.  Online registration prior to race day for all races is a must. The link for registration is https://coreregistered.com.

Participants should note that the race schedule is changed compared to other years. The Half Marathon will start at 10am, the 10k at 10.30am and the 5k at 10.45am.

This event wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and support of our main sponsors:

• Carrick Self-Catering (Philip Coughlan), Carrick-on-Shannon
• Feelystone Boyle
• Drumshanbo Health Centre
• Hegarty’s Centra, Drumshanbo
• Jinny’s Tearooms, Drumshanbo
• Scollan’s Gala, Drumshanbo
• Run Pod, Sligo
• Bank of Ireland
• Westlink Coaches Ltd, Drumshanbo
• Drumshanbo Credit Union
• Moran McNamara Accountants, Carrick-on-Shannon
• Sign Warehouse, Drumshanbo
• The Shed Distillery, Drumshanbo
• Setia Construction, Drumshanbo
• RJS Pharmacy, Drumshanbo
• TrailBlazers Carrick-on-Shannon
• Gerard Anthony, Carrick-on-Shannon
• Keane Tiles, Drumshanbo
• CorMc, Massachusetts
• OBN Financial Service, Carrick-on-Shannon
• P McManus Construction, Drumshanbo
• Pat’s Carpets & Interiors, Carrick-on-Shannon
• Layden Group, Dublin
• Biacon Ltd, Fenagh
• Ronan Tiernan Electrical, Drumshanbo
• BCi, Bay Contracting, Massachusetts
• Conway’s Corner House, Drumshanbo
• Glenn McGowan Transport, Drumshanbo
• North West Tool Hire, Kilclare

Michelle Coughlan of Carrick Self Catering pictured with her children Amara, Brody and Savannah and Drumshanbo AC officials Ita Gray and Eilis McGowan Picture: Willie Donnellan  

The Tony McGowan Run committee would also like to thank all the local businesses and sponsors, Waterways Ireland and the community of Drumshanbo who continue to support this event year on year as their loyal and valuable support is crucial to the success of the event.

Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for more details.

Members of Drumshanbo Health Centre pictured at the launch. (From left) Tonita McKeon, Dr Declan Loftus, Dr Alan Loftus, Cian and Padraig Kenny, Eilis McGowan and Eabha Loftus Picture: Willie Donnellan

Committee members Martin McGowan and John McGarry, Pascal Gillard of Jinny's Bakery & Tearooms, Ronan Tiernan of RT Electrical, PJ O'Donnell of Scollan's Gala Supermarket, Roisin Rigney of The Shed Distillery and committee member Aine Shanley Picture: Willie Donnellan

Aine Shanley (Committee), Bernie Lynch (Allen Gaels), Donna McGrory and Liam Hegarty of Hegarty's Centra Drumshanbo, Wayne, Shay Gunning & Nina Irwin of Conway's Corner House, Eilish McGowan (Committee) pictured at the launch last Saturday Picture: Willie Donnellan

James Keane of Keane Tiles Drumshanbo, Caroline Rooney of Bay Contracting Boston, Conor & Glen McGowan of MG Transport, Grace & Niall Gormley of Pat's Carpets, committee member Enda McGloin and Shane McGovern of Setia Construction Picture: Willie Donnellan

Members of the organising committee pictured last Saturday at Acres Lake at the launch of the 2025 Tony McGowan Fun which will be held on Sunday February 16, in Drumshanbo. (From left) Eilis McGowan, Oisin McGovern, Mairead Doyle, Shane McGovern, Tonita McKeon, Enda McGloin, Ita Gray, John McGarry and Aine Shanley Picture: Willie Donnellan

Eamon McGowan (Committee), Ollie Honeyman (Biacon), Ryan & Sheila Moran (Moran McNamara Accountants), Sylvia Moran (RJs Pharmacy Drumshanbo), Angela Dowd (Bank of Ireland), committee members Enda McGloin & Martin McGowan pictured at the launch of the 2025 Tony McGowan Run last Saturday at Acres Lake Drumshanbo Picture: Willie Donnellan

Mairead Doyle, Darcy, Oliver and Gareth Smith, John McGarry and Phil McGowan pictured last Saturday at Acres Lake at the launch of the 2025 Tony McGowan Fun which will be held on Sunday February 16, in Drumshanbo Picture: Willie Donnellan