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Thousands of runners take part in Cork city marathon

Thousands of runners take part in Cork city marathon

RTÉ News​5 days ago

Thousands of runners have taken part in the Cork city marathon.
The first runner across the line was Chris Jeuken from Co Clare. He finished the race in 2:18.
Evelyn Twomey was the first woman to finish the race with a time of 2:54.
Jake O'Regan and Niamh Allen won the half-marathon. Mr O'Regan finished the race in 1:06 and Ms Allen in 1:10. She finished third in the half-marathon overall.
The 10km race was won by Fearghal Curtin in a time of 29:46, with Hannah Steeds winning the women's 10km in a time of 34:51.
The marathon had 550 international participants from over 26 countries.
More than 1,000 volunteers helped organise and supervise the event.
A participant died at the race, according to Cork City Council.
In a statement, the council said it is "deeply saddened to confirm that a participant in the Cork City Marathon has tragically passed away.
"The person was attended to immediately by the emergency services on the scene.
"Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased."

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Athlete who died shortly after finishing Cork marathon ‘led with open arms', says father
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Athlete who died shortly after finishing Cork marathon ‘led with open arms', says father

A woman who died not long after reaching the finish line at the Cork City Marathon was generous with her 'attention, energy, love and affection', her requiem Mass has heard. Ellen Cassidy (24), of Carhoo, Old Mallow Road, Co Cork, became ill just after completing the race last Sunday. She died shortly afterwards in Cork University Hospital. Ms Cassidy's father, Tom Cassidy, told mourners at the Church of the Annunciation in Blackpool that his daughter acquired pockets of friends wherever she went. He said Ellen's wake in the family home lasted for nine hours, with friends arriving in large numbers to share their memories. READ MORE Ellen 'didn't lead with elbows, she led with open arms', he said. 'That made her stand out. That made her special. That made everyone that came in contact with her feel special.' Mr Cassidy said that he and his wife Vi, had found their daughter's diary in the days after her death. He said an entry on her 20th birthday summed up her approach to life. 'The entry for March 11th, 2021, her 20th birthday, reads: 'I am not a child anymore ... step out of your comfort zone. Don't follow the crowd. You never know the person you could be if you don't step up. You will never know what life will throw at you, but you must embrace it. Make choices and decisions – but don't look back. Follow your gut. Small things make a huge difference'.' Mr Cassidy said his daughter achieved so much in the fields of music, sport, academia and in her personal life. He asked that her friends continue to call to the family home as they embark on the long and painful road to 'some sort of normality'. Canon John O'Donovan noted that Ms Cassidy had written in her diary that she wanted her family to be happy. She had achieved a lot in her life, but her greatest legacy was the love she had for her family and friends, he added. Offertory gifts included a medal Ellen received when she completed the Milan marathon, swimming hats, sheet music and her music book, a seashell representing her favourite place (Alvor in Portugal) and a heart symbolising friendship. Ms Cassidy is survived by her parents, her siblings Mary and Charlie, her boyfriend Rob, her grandparents Joan, Billy and Tom, her extended family and her many friends.

Dad leads funeral tributes to woman who died after marathon collapse
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time17 hours ago

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Cork woman Ellen Cassidy has been remembered as a talented athlete and "truly special" young woman at her funeral Mass this afternoon. The 24-year-old, who died during the Cork City Marathon, was laid to rest today. Hundreds of mourners turned out to pay their final respects at her requiem mass at The Church of the Annunciation in Blackpool, followed by cremation at the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy. Many attended the funeral in their brightest, colourful clothes to pay tribute to Ellen. Flowers were laid on the coffin as it exited the church. In a touching tribute to his daughter, Tom Cassidy described Ellen as someone who had "many plates spinning at a time", highlighting her unwavering dedication to her studies, sports clubs and music - all while managing to make time for a wide circle of friends. "How she managed to give them all the time, attention, energy, love, and affection is beyond me," her father said, "But Ellen didn't lead with elbows, she led with open arms, that made her stand-out." He praised his daughter for making "everyone that came in contact with her feel special." The family thanked everyone who helped when Ellen on Sunday. Tom thanked first responders, paramedics, doctors and nurses "who did everything they possibly could to save Ellen" after she fell ill while running the half-marathon in Cork city. "Although the outcome was heartbreaking, their dedication brought comfort knowing she was in the hands of those who gave it their all on the day." On behalf of Ellen's heartbroken family, he also thanked all those who have come together to support them through such a difficult time, whose "love and support have helped us so much in a way that words cannot fully express." Ellen was a keen sportswoman, serving as club captain for a time at Cork's Dolphin Swimming Club. The club has since paid tributes to Ellen, describing her as a woman of great strength, grace and passion. Whether at the Cork School of Music or during her competitions, Tom said Ellen was always quick to make new friends. He described how Ellen's friend group grew steadily throughout her school years and only grew further as she began to attend university and compete in national sporting and music events. Mourners heard how Ellen's mother found her diary shortly after her passing, and the family read out small excerpts during the requiem mass. The loving young woman wrote in her journal how she was "so lucky" to have her family and that "I just want Mum, Dad, Charlie, Mary and myself to be happy." The funeral was accompanied by a guard of honour organised by Cork's running community. A large group of runners and swimmers dressed in their club colours lined the streets outside the church in tribute to Ellen. The popular young woman served as a swimming and water polo club captain at University College Cork before graduating last year. She was also a former student at St. Angela's College, Cork. She participated in the Mardyke Arena UCC's Emerging Talent Programme in 2018, competing in swimming at a national level. Tributes have poured in from across Cork as she was remembered as a truly special young woman, with a heart of gold.

Woman who died after Cork City Marathon made people feel special, father tells mourners
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Woman who died after Cork City Marathon made people feel special, father tells mourners

The young woman who died after running the Cork City Marathon at the weekend didn't lead with her elbows, but with open arms, her heartbroken father said. 'That made her stand out, that made her special and made everyone that came into contact with her feel special,' Ellen Cassidy's father, Tom, told mourners at her 'goodbye mass' in Blackpool on Thursday. 'The result of this approach to life was what we had last night - a nine-hour wake, a full church today. Honestly, we never expected what we have seen and experienced over the last 48 hours, but it's the result of putting others first.' An elite swimmer, Ellen, 24, from the Old Mallow Road, Cork, fell ill close to the half marathon finish line on St Patrick's Street on Sunday. She got immediate medical attention but was pronounced dead at Cork University Hospital later. As requested by her family, people came to her funeral mass in The Church of the Annunciation, Blackpool, on Thursday wearing colourful outfits, many clutching freshly cut sunflowers, roses, and carnations, to celebrate her life and say goodbye. Mourners were led by her devastated parents, Violet and Tom, her sister, Mary, her brother, Charlie, her boyfriend, Rob, her grandparents, Joan, Billy and Tom, her extended family and a wide circle of friends. Among the gifts brought to the altar symbolising her passions in life were her Milan marathon medal, her Irish swim caps, sheets of piano music, a seashell representing her love of Alvor, the sea, and travel, and a heart symbol representing her love for her friends. Ellen Cassidy had a love for music, piano, and especially swimming. In a moving eulogy, Mr Cassidy told mourners about her journey from Rathpeacon NS, through St Angela's College, Bruce College, UCD and then the switch to UCC during covid to study business information systems, and of her love for music, piano, but especially swimming. Ellen joined Dolphin Swimming Club in Mayfield aged nine, breaking several club records in her time there, and represented Ireland at the European Youth Olympics in 2015. She was part of the Mardyke Arena UCC's Emerging Talent Programme in 2018, and debuted that year at the European Junior Championships in the 200m backstroke in Helsinki. She was joint chairperson of the UCC Swimming Club and the organisation of the Inter Varsities Swimming Championship in Cork in 2024. She began working with PwC in cybersecurity last September. Mr Cassidy revealed how his wife found their daughter's diary on Tuesday in a place they would never think to look. 'It was as if she wanted us to find it after she passed away,' he said, before reading the entry from March 11, 2021 – Ellen's 20th birthday. The guard of honour by local running and swimming clubs after the funeral mass for Ellen Cassidy today. Picture: Larry Cummins 'Ramen, honestly, what more would you want? Chicken wings to die for, they will be gotten again, most definitely, whereas the Prosecco on the other hand, easy to drink, but by God I felt ill this morning," she wrote. 'Not ideal with my assignment due next week, which of course I still haven't started. I need to actually realise I am now 20. F**k, 20-years old now. No-one is going to do things for me anymore. 'I need to focus on myself, my body, my mind, my mental health, my physical health. It all needs to be looked after by me now. I'm not a child anymore. I have to stop acting as it everyone else is going to do it for me. They're not. 'Ellen it's all you, step up, be brave. If you fail, you fail. But step out of your comfort zone. Don't follow the crowd. I know it's easier said than done, but you will never know the person you could be if you don't try and step up. 'In the next 10 years, you'll be finished college. Working, maybe. In a relationship? Travelling? Swimming? Buying a house? Driving a car? You will never know what life will throw at you but you must embrace it. 'Make choices, make decisions, and don't look back. Follow your gut. Otherwise you will never learn. You won't grow into the person you were meant to be. Small things make a huge difference. All I want is for everything to be perfect. My family. That is what I want. 'But can it be? We need to try harder. No-one will love, accept or support you more than your mother, father, brother and sister. 'I am lucky. I am so lucky to have them. We are lucky to have each other. We need to realise that. I just want mum, dad, Charlie, Mary, and myself to be happy.' A mourner holding flowers in the guard of honour for Ellen Cassidy by local running and swimming clubs. Picture: Larry Cummins Mr Cassidy recalled too how on the day before she died, Ellen sent her mother a message saying she would choose her to be her mum in every lifetime, again and again and again, before he pleaded directly to Ellen's friends to call to their home in the difficult months ahead. 'We don't want this to be the end of the road with the friendships Ellen has forged, but rather it be the continuation,' she said. 'Please call in, have a coffee, share your amazing stories, the fun you had with Ellen, to help us through what we know will be a long road to some sort of normality in our lives.' After Bishop Emeritus John Buckley said final prayers, Ellen's family and friends placed flowers atop her wicker coffin, placed their hands on it gently, and then walked it from the church through a guard of honour outside formed by her long-term swimming club mates. As the hearse moved away, it passed a long guard of honour formed by dozens of runners from clubs across the city, all wearing their club colours, to the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy for a private ceremony.

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