Countdown is on to the West of Irelands Premier Sporting Event for Women

Castlebar is getting all geared up to welcome women from all over Ireland and beyond to the Mayo capital for the 8th Western People West of Ireland Women’s Mini-Marathon on Sunday 30th April.

The Mini Marathon, one of the flagship events around Mayo Day 2017, is expected to attract large numbers of participants, supporters, family, friends etc. Taking place also on the day immediately after the start of the mini marathon will be the 4th Mini Mini Primary Schools Children’s Fun Run which will be French themed with a distance of 1798 metres to celebrate the “Races of Castlebar”. 

The 10-kilometre run / walk and the 1.798km Mini Mini event is being co-organised by the Western People and Mayo Sports Partnership. This year’s main sponsor is Mayo.ie, to celebrate Mayo Day 2017 Mayo.ie are giving a specially designed technical t-shirt to the first 1000 individual entrants of the Mini Marathon online or those who register offline by filling out the entry form in the Western People and posting to Mayo Sports Partnership, Mayo County Council, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.

In addition a special drive to get more teenage girls participating in the event is being promoted through the ‘It’s for Girls’ initiative for secondary schools. The school with highest percentage of girls from their school population aged 12 plus will win the ‘It’s for Girls Trophy’ and receive €1,000 towards a day out at Achill Outdoor Education Centre. 2nd and 3rd prizes, worth €500 and €250 respectively, are sponsored by the Castlebar based company, Mayo Adventure Experience.

Adding extra atmosphere to this years event is the 1798 Battle Re-enactment ‘The Races of Castlebar’ organised by the Tourism Office of Mayo County Council. Taking place immediately after the Mini Marathon watch the Irish Rebels and French soldiers chase the British Red Coats through the streets of Castlebar, hence the name, the Races of Castlebar. After the re-enactment there will be fun for all with a French and Irish street spectacle including games, mimes, stilt walkers, human statues and music.

With the mini-marathon a little under two weeks away the excitement is building. To capture the festival atmosphere, the Mall will incorporate a stage with music, refreshment zone, children’s activity area etc. The Mini Marathon will commence at 12 Noon followed by the Children’s Run at 12.05pm from the Courthouse with the Mall open to the public from 10.30am – 5pm. 

The organisers would like to ask participants and members of the public to be environmentally friendly and utilise recyclable waste bins on the Mall as well as the race route itself.  

Finally with an event of this nature some temporary road closures will be in operation on Sunday 30th April, and again the organisers would kindly ask the public to acknowledge these restrictions for the health and safety of all. Some closures are extended to facilitate the re enactment taking place immediately after the mini marathon. These are listed below:

•    9.30am Mall Closure- until 6pm 
•    Ellison Street Closure 9.30am – 6pm 
•    Lower Spencer St Closure 10.30am – 12.30am 
•    Duke St 12 Noon – 1pm 
•    Newport Rd to Pound Rd 12 Noon – 1pm 
•    Pound Rd 12 Noon – 1pm 
•    Gallows Hill 12 Noon – 1pm 
•    Newline 12 Noon – 1pm 
•    Pontoon Rd to Ballinacarriga 12 Noon – 2pm 
•    Ballinacarriga to Ballynew 12 Noon – 2pm 
•    Ballynew / Turlough Rd 12 Noon – 2.30pm 
•    Staball Hill / Thomas St 12.15 – 4pm 
•    Bridge St 12.15 – 6pm 
•    Main Street  12.15- 6pm
•    Tucker St 2pm – 6pm
•    Richard St 2pm – 6pm
•    Linenhall St 2pm -6pm
•    Shamble St 2pm – 6pm
•    Lucan St 2pm -6pm
•    Rush St 2pm – 6pm

Note that the road closures will be temporary in nature following the progress of the participants of the marathon, and delays may be expected. Please comply with instructions of the stewards for health and safety reasons. It is recommended that visitors to Castlebar Town arrive early and park in locations so as to best enjoy this event and other related events.

For more information on any of the above contact Mayo Sports Partnership at 094-9047025.