On Christmas Day last year, the weather, Covid restrictions and the absence of the now traditional hot port all conspired against a good showing at the annual GOAL Mile charity gathering at An Ríocht AC.
Even so, there was a great turnout on the morning and though donations were a bit lower than usual the event still managed to raise almost €2,000 – according to event founder, Denis Brosnan.
22 Years On the GOAL Mile
Denis rang during the week to make sure the event, which he pioneered in Castleisland 22 years ago this Christmas, would get its due publicity.
“Like everything else in the world we were badly hampered by the pandemic over the last couple of years – but we’re back in our stride this year and our main man Pats Broderick has been invited to provide our supporters / walkers / joggers with the traditional drop of hot port in the clubhouse after the event,” said Denis.
First Ríocht GOAL Mile in 1999
The first GOAL mile in Castleisland was held at An Ríocht AC on Christmas morning 1999. The red tartan track was ‘down’ but there was no sign of a clubhouse or pavilion and Pats was boiling water and turning out hot ports as fast as the participants could drink them. And that was in the builders’ cold, steel lorry container.
An Ríocht will open its doors and track to the Christmas morning GOAL Mile participants at 10:30am and will close at 12:30pm.
This year the proceeds will go to the Orphans in Ukraine charity with a donation to Castleisland Day Care Centre.
Set up in Dublin by the late Olympian and civil servant Noel Carroll in 1982, the Goal Mile will mark its 40th anniversary on Christmas Day 2022 and its 24th outing in Castleisland.
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