Humphrey Murphy 5K Road Race on Friday Evening in Brilliant Sunshine

John and Mary Murphy, Boherbue (left) with John’s sister Kathleen and her husband Jimmy O’Carroll, Tralee with the Humphrey Murphy commemorative / souvenir medals presented to them by the organisers of the late Humphrey Murphy 5k Road Race in Castleisland on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

The first three places in the annual Humphrey Murphy Memorial 5k Road Race in Castleisland on Friday evening were filled by from left: Tim Long, second; Martin Dineen, winner; Tadhg McGillicuddy and Daniel O’Connor, joint third. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Chilling on warm evening and watching the start of the annual Humphrey Murphy Memorial 5k Road Race in Castleisland on Friday evening were: Luke Regan (centre) with brothers Óisín (left) and Charlie Tarrant. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Siobhán Long won the 5k road race and the Humphrey Murphy Memorial Cup for the second successive year. The cup was presented to her by the late Humphrey’s brother John in Castleisland on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Vision impaired runner, Ross Gallagher, Scartaglen (centre) added to his career haul of medals and trophies with his guide, Colm Nix (right) pictured with their trophies and guest presenter, John Murphy after the race in honour of his late brother, the Humphrey Murphy Memorial 5k Road Race in Castleisland on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Tim Murphy, Castleisland (left) with Connie Murphy-Roberts and Marc Fowler, USA watching the start of the Humphrey Murphy 5K Road Race on Limerick Road on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Men’s race winner, Martin Dineen, Ballymacelligott is presented with his prize by John Murphy after the Humphrey Murphy Memorial 5k Road Race in Castleisland on Friday evening. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Almost ready for the off in the annual Humphrey Murphy Memorial 5k Road Race in Castleisland on Friday evening were : Cllr. Charlie Farrelly, Willie and Bill Reidy. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Co. Cork visitors, five year old Logan O’Sullivan and his little sister Alicia were the youngest recipients of trophies and medals after the race in honour of their late grand-uncle, the Humphrey Murphy Memorial 5k Road Race in Castleisland on Friday evening. With them are their parents, D.J. and Jackie O’Sullivan and their grand-dad, John Murphy who had the pleasure of making the presentations. ©Photograph: John Reidy

There was no ‘cool, cool of the evening’ for the athletes who took part in the 2023 Humphrey Murphy Memorial 5k Road Race at 7pm in Castleisland on Friday evening in brilliant and warm sunshine.

This was fine for spectators but energy sapping and tough on competitors.

Held to honour the memory of outstanding runner and fundraiser, the late Humphrey Murphy who died in a workplace accident in May 2011.

Humphrey’s father Leo died during the summer of 2021 and his mother Eileen also passed away last October.

Sympathies to the Murphy Family

Race organising committee chairman Cllr. Charlie Farrelly publicly sympathised with the family members at the race finish at the Ivy Leaf Corner on Friday evening and the committee presented souvenir medals to them all.

Leo had been the designated race starter since the event was founded in his son’s memory in June 2012 and up to 2020 and the Covid-19 era.

John Murphy, Humphrey’s brother has kept up the Boherbue family’s ties with the Castleisland road race and he and his wife Mary started the event on its post Covid revival last year and again on Friday evening.

Ivy Leaf Corner

The race finished at the Ivy Leaf Corner at Lower Main Street and the prize-giving was conducted there and then.

In the 2022 event, Siobhán Daly won the women’s race and she took home the fine Humphrey Murphy Memorial Cup for her efforts and she repeated the scenario on Friday evening and accepted the cup from John Murphy.

The proceeds from the race have always gone to a charity for which Humphrey ran many a mile on local roads in training and on roads elsewhere on which he earned the sponsorship cash for Glebe Lodge Residential Centre on the Brosna Road side of Kilbanivane.

Bucket Collection

The event is organised by the Castleisland Races Committee Ltd and its members were on the streets of the town on Saturday from 10am to 4pm on bucket collection duty for the 2023 nominated charities, Glebe Lodge and Recovery Haven.

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