A member of An Garda Síochána is running all the way from ‘The Spire’, in Dublin City Centre, to ‘Eyre Square’, in Galway City On Tuesday 14th June 2011 a member of An Garda Síochána is going to run all the way from ‘The Spire’, in Dublin City Centre, to ‘Eyre Square’, in Galway City. The distance, some 130 odd miles of secondary roads, means that when this Garda reaches Eyre Square on Saturday 18th June 2011 at around 5pm; he will have covered 5 full marathons of 26.2 miles each over the 5 days. The Garda is Ian Redican, and he is a Crime Scene Investigation Photographer at the Garda Technical Bureau in Garda H.Q. in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. In 2009, at the Marathon in Barcelona, Ian and his colleague ran in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA). An uncle of one of Ian’s colleagues, Detective Garda Tom Power, had been diagnosed at the time with the disease, prompting a small Garda team to enter and run the race to promote awareness of the illness. Tom’s uncle passed away in the months that followed. Tom, himself hopes to run as much of this event as possible. Motor Neurone Disease (MND), in the majority of cases, is a rapidly progressive, fatal disease that can affect any adult at any time. The cause of MND is unknown and there is no known cure. In Ireland, one person dies every five days from Motor Neurone Disease. Life expectancy for most people with MND is just two to five years.
In May 2010, Ian decided that he would do something more than just enter and run a race to promote awareness of the illness. Inspired by the feat of UK Comedian Eddie Izzard, who ran multiple marathons in as many days, Ian decided upon a feat of his own. He decided he’d cross the country from East to West running from and to the centres of both Dublin and Galway. He is supported by the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA), the Garda Athletic Club, of which he is a member; and his Garda colleagues.
The route will take in back roads and non-motorway roads. The first day’s marathon stops in Enfield on the 14th of June, the second in Tyrellspass on the 15th. Athlone on the 16th, New Inn (Galway) on the 17th, and finishing in Eyre Square on the 18th June 2011. And if his timings are correct, he should be arriving in each location at around 5pm each day.
Before he heads off on his adventure, there will be a fundraising night on the 20th April 2011 in Kenny’s Pub of Lucan. And if you want to keep track of Ian’s progress, either in the lead up to the run or with ‘LIVE UPDATES’ on each of the 5 Days; you can follow the event on ‘Facebook’ at www.facebook.com/dublintogalway