Drumshanbo all set for Tony McGowan Road Races 2024

It’s that time of year again!  Sunday February 18, sees the 2024 Tony McGowan run return to Drumshanbo. This post-Christmas three-race programme is ideal for runners at all levels and has proven extremely popular. 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. The route takes in Ireland's first and only floating boardwalk along our beautiful Blueway and is an overall flat course, ideal for getting a personal best! 

2024 Tony McGowan Road Races launched in Drumshanbo - GALLERY

The 2024 Tony McGowan Road Races, which takes place in Drumshanbo on Sunday February 18, was launched last Saturday morning at Acres Lake, and Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there to capture some shots of the sponsors and various local charities supported by the event

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. 

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 2024 race t-shirt.  The Half Marathon participants also receive our newly designed buff.

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 and a trophy for our first over 40 and over 50 male and female in each of these races.

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!

1st Male and 1st Female home from our Half Marathon will also pick up a fabulous voucher valued at €180, sponsored by RunPod, Sligo with a further two €180 vouchers from RunPod to be drawn from all entries on the day.

This year, the Tony McGowan run has chosen two charities to be the recipients of funds raised:

• North West Stop - a local charity that provides vital counselling services where individuals can safely talk about loss, stress confusion, conflicts and other pain in their life. 
• Carrick Rapid River Responders - another local organisation that was set up to improve the survival rate for people who enter the water in the Carrick on Shannon area in a distressed state

Limited places are available this year for the races and are selling out very quickly.  To avoid disappointment, online registration prior to race day for all races is a must. The link for registration is Tony McGowan 2024 (njuko.net)

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

• Drumshanbo: Westlink  Coaches Ltd; Drumshanbo Credit Union; Jinny’s Tearooms; Sign Warehouse; The Shed Distillery; Setia Construction; RJS Pharmacy; Scollan’s Gala; Keane Tiles; P McManus Construction & Ronan Tiernan Electrical.
• Carrick-on-Shannon: Carrick Self-Catering (Philip Coughlan), Bank of Ireland; Moran McNamara Accountants; TrailBlazers; Gerard Anthony Menswear; OBN Financial Service; Pat’s Carpets & Interiors, Carrick-on-Shannon
• Others: Feelystone Boyle; Run Pod Sligo; CorMc, Massachusetts; Layden Group Dublin; Biacon Ltd, Fenagh; BCi, Bay Contracting Massachusetts; Leitrim People's Association New York

Drumshanbo AC and the Tony McGowan Run committee would also like to thank all the local businesses and sponsors 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.