On Friday 24 July the Olympic Flame was due to complete its relay journey from Greece to the Japan Stadium in Tokyo for the opening of the XXXII Olympiad. Last month Robert Tobin hatched a plan to mark the occasion for a good cause. He delved into his memory bank and childhood memories of running the roads of county Meath behind a vintage CIE double decker for the opening of the Scurlogstown Olympiad and Fair popped up on the horizon. He decided to organise a torch run from the site of the ancient Tailteann games and ritual at Teltown across the heart of county Meath to the gates of Trim Castle. The concept of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay is “Hope Lights Our Way.” What better way to help the cause of the National Council for the Blind in Ireland than to raise funds by lighting the way with hope. He set up a GoFundMe page for this cause. Click here https://gf.me/u/ygts7y

Clubmates rallied to the cause and enlisted to carry the torch, work on support and contribute for the NCBI. On Friday night we met up with Gerry O’Brien on his farm in Teltown and he led us to the mound to light the torch.  A group of thirteen runners headed from Teltown on a 22km trip from ancient Celtic Ireland to the Norman barbican of Trim Castle. A lot of fun and laughs were had along the way and a nice spirit of companionship the hallmark of our club runs was evident.The runners were fed en route by Joe Cosgrove and son Charlie. Road support came in the form of Sean McKeown and Mark Ginnerty in the “sweeper bus” and Ann Tobin drove the lead car.

( photo by John Rowe )

The runners were joined along the way by cycling outriders and other runners nearer the town. Robert got support at Kilbride from his grandmother Nuala Tobin and aunt Nicola while Niall Mulligan and Celene Heffernan offered many words of encouragement to their pal Andrew Revington further along the route.

The entourage just made it back to Trim as dusk descended and John Rowe and Martin Brogan were on hand to welcome one and all back to the heritage capital. As the runners grabbed a bit of refreshment and sustenance on front of the castle the heavens opened and there was a hasty retreat to the warmth of waitng cars and home.

Thanks to Joe Conlon, Athboy, Gerry O’Brien, Teltown, Pat and Ciaran Farrelly, Joe and Charlie Cosgrove, Ann Tobin, Mark Ginnerty, Sean McKeown, Mairead Heffernan, Lorraine Heffernan, John Rowe, Martin Brogan, Don Mahon, Brian Cully, Barry Clarke, Trish Duffy, Senan Edward for their assistance and cooperation  

Well done to Robert Tobin, Mary Carr, Heather Carty, Susan Clancy, Laura Cotter, Petrina Kennedy Edwards, James Guiheen, James Kelly, Conrad McGonagle, Stephen Perry, Andrew Revington, Tony Ryan, Sinead Skerry who completed the course.