About the Warriors Run

The history of the Warriors Run and Strandhill

The committee has its origins back in 1985, when a group of local businessmen got together to discuss ways of boosting tourism in the Strandhill area. The idea for a mid-summers festival was mooted and decided upon. But they needed one major event that had to be the climax of this festival and this was to be, The Warriors Run.

In 2004, the Warriors Festival Commmitee decided to honour two of those original founding members. The Tom Staunton & Pat Curley perpetual trophies are now presented to the first male and female local runners to cross the finish line and will be presented again this year.

In 1979 a group of locals were sitting in The Strandhill Bar (belonging to the late Sonny Bree R.I.P.). The bar boasts an excellent view of Knocknarea from its back window and they were discussing the best paths to climb to the top of the mountain from the front. A wager started as to which path was the fastest, the quickest time mentioned was 45mins.

A visiting German tourist who overheard the conversation got into the wager stating his son could climb the front of the mountain in half that time. With all deals done his son, a 17 year old member of a scouting troop, took off over the wall at the back of the pub and started to negotiate, bog, ditches, forestry and cliffs. Witnessed by those in the bar who could follow the majority of his journey he made it to the top (approx 1000 ft) in 19 minutes!

Strandhill is no stranger to road racing. From 1921 until the mid 20's a marathon race started from the Cannon Gun in Strandhill to just outside Gurteen, Co. Sligo. This race, just over 26 miles was known as the Morren Marathon and drew quite a number of competitors in its day.

Maeve, the fiery legendary Queen of Connaught reputedly rests on top of Knocknarea. Her battles with the King of Ulster over the brown bull of Cooley are well documented. In each, references to Maeves brave Warriors are made and were even praised by the Queen herself. After Maeve was assassinated by a nephew of the Ulster King she reputedly was brought back by her Warriors to the top of Knocknarea and was buried, standing upright facing the eastern sunrise.

Strandhill is steeped in legend, mythology and history. A combination of all of the above ideas and imagery were amalgamated in 1985 to produce the first Warriors Run. The initial races finished on top of Knocknarea at the Cairn but in order to facilitate the request of the runners themselves and improve on the race from a spectators point of view, it was extended to return to the beachfront again.

Since then the Warriors Run, and the subsequent progression into the Warriors Festival, has now become synonymous with Strandhill and is still growing from strength to strength each year. We hope you can come visit us and bask in the hospitality that Strandhill has to offer.

 

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