Castlebar councillors demand return of mini marathon to county town

CASTLEBAR councillors have called for the West of Ireland Women's Mini Marathon to return to the county town in light of speculation it will remain in Ballina.

The West of Ireland Women's Mini Marathon was held annually in Castlebar over the May Bank Holiday weekend since its first run in 2010 but moved to Ballina last year as part of the north Mayo town's 300 anniversary celebrations.

There has been no confirmation that the race which attracts hundreds of runners onto the streets each year will return to Castlebar and this has angered local councillors.

Fine Gael councillor Donna Sheridan told this afternoon's monthly meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District that Castlebar will not be an incubator for other towns to take its festivals.

“This event's history is rooted in Castlebar and is a significant date in the calendar of the county town and took place successfully in Castlebar since 2010 other than last year when it moved to Ballina. I am hearing that there is talk of it moving to Ballina this year and I am saying we in the Castlebar district are saying no.

“We are not an incubator here for festivals. Events which were meant to go for one year are gone indefinitely. Mayo Day went last year to Ballina for Ballina 300 which was fantastic and I wish them well. But that was a festival of this county town and now it is in Belmullet next year. The mini marathon has been here since 2010 and given to Ballina for their big year but to hear it is staying there is not good enough. It is a Castlebar event,” she said.

Cllr Sheridan said that she is putting forward a motion at the next meeting of Mayo County Council calling for the mini marathon to remain in Castlebar and called on her Castlebar colleagues to support her.

Her party colleague, Cllr Cyril Burke said he was in complete support of her motion and said that Mayo Day was alway set in Castlebar.

“When it was first announced, a lot of people did not want to hear about it but now that it has developed into what it is, everyone wants it. I will be supporting that motion at the main meeting,” he said.

The event is organised by Mayo Sports Partnership and Cllr Sheridan said they will be letting them know that 'it is coming back to Castlebar'.

“We developed them and now it is sent off to everywhere else...no more,” she said.