The annual Humphrey Murphy Memorial Fun Run takes place on the later date of Thursday, July 7th this year along with Castleisland Races on Saturday, July 9th as they have both been drawn in to add substance to the Castleisland Summerfest.
The Summerfest is the latest attempt to return the town to the glory days of summer-time fun in Castleisland. A collection of long established events – like those mentioned – have been added to the mix with this in mind.
“Due to demand, the committee, under the chairmanship of Charlie Farrelly, has added a 10k road run to the usual Humphrey Murphy Memorial 5K. The 10k runners will be first off from the starting point near Clonough Bridge on the Limerick Road,” according to Castleisland Race Committee PRO Pat Hartnett.
Routes for 5k and 10k Runs
The route will continue towards town and around the Tullig / Black Road circuit on its way. The runners will then turn left at Garvey’s SuperValu, right at Aldi and on up through Barrack Street, left at JK O’Connor’s and on to the Killarney Road / Eugene Leonard Roundabout, right for Tralee Road Roundabout, back in Tralee Road with the finish in front of the Ivy Leaf Art Centre.
A few minutes after the start of the 10k race, the 5k group will begin the Tullig circuit and they will also take the left at Garvey’s and right at Aldi up Barrack Street and around the Back-of-the-Forge up to the finish also at The Ivy Leaf Art Centre.
There will be prizes for the first and second ladies and gents and souvenir medals for all participants. All proceeds from this run will go to Glebe Lodge Residential Care facility on the Brosna Road.
Registration at 6-30pm
Registration time is 6-30pm at Limerick Road with the slightly staggered start for both groups on and close to 7pm.. Entry Fees €10 each with a €20 family fee.
On Friday July 8th there will be a children’s puppet show at 6pm at the Ivy Leaf Art Centre and this will be followed by the Castleisland Desmonds GAA Club organised Brawl in the Hall at Castleisland Community Centre at 8pm.
On Saturday, July 9th. the Castleisland race meeting now in its – 157th year – will get under way at 1.30pm on the Powell’s Road lands of Maurice Brosnan.
There is a 10 race card with over €5,000 in prizemoney. Main sponsor this year will be Mortimer Reidy and Patrick O’Leary of ROL Construction and the feature race will be the two-mile, Island Derby sponsored by the London based ROL construction company.
Vintage Car and Tractor Rally
On Sunday from 12noon, the Vintage Car and Tractor Rally / Family Fun Day / Car Boot Sale will take place on the grounds of Castleisland Co-Op Mart and details of this are being finalised at present.
Local charities to benefit this year will be the newly formed Castleisland Graveyard Committee. Contributions will also be made to St. Ita’s and St. Joseph’s School, Tralee and Castleisland Social Club Christmas Party.
“All of the above organisations have tickets for sale at €5 each and these tickets will entitle the holder entry to the races on July 9th. On the day the entry will be €7. Castleisland Graveyard Committee members have embarked on a clean-up of local graveyards and this will benefit everyone in the locality.
Delighted to Help
Castleisland Races Committee is delighted to be in position to help this very worthy cause. The races committee wishes to acknowledge the generosity of its sponsors and anyone who helped in any way,” said Mr. Hartnett.
To date, €119,200 has been raised and presented to local charities since the races reconvened after a lapse of many years. The committee raised and continues to fly the summer festival flag in Castleisland over the years. It fully deserves the support it so vocally acknowledges and appreciates.