More than 22,000 runners took part in the Irish Life Dublin Marathon on Sunday, with Hollywood actor Colin Farrell among the participants. Farrell, 48, completed the race in just over four hours, pushing his friend Emma Fogarty, 40, in a wheelchair for the final 2.5 miles.
Fogarty suffers from epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare genetic skin condition. Farrell, visibly moved by the experience, praised Fogarty’s strength and determination.
“I have known Emma for many years and she epitomises bravery, she is what courage and pure determination are all about,” Farrell said. “That run was nothing compared to the pain she is forced to endure every single day, even though she doesn’t show it. It was an honour to see her waiting for me with 4km to go, each of those representing a decade of her life, and to do the final stretch together. I’ll never forget it.”
Farrell’s participation raised more than €700,000 for Debra, the national charity supporting those living with EB.
This year’s marathon route featured a slightly altered path, starting on Leeson Street Lower, crossing the Liffey close to Station and going through Stoneybatter, the North Circular Rd and into Phoenix Park.
Runners then crossed the river again and headed down the South Circular Rd and Dolphin’s Barn and through the city’s suburbs before finishing line on Mount Street Upper.
Ger Copeland, 46, from Howth, who suffered three brain haemorrhages and a stroke earlier this year, was also among the participants. Copeland, who has run 300 marathons and finished with a time of 3 hours 6 minutes, said the race had been “emotional”.
I was told I would never eat, walk, see, hear again. I had to learn how to walk, how to swallow, to see. I’m constant pain. I have no feeling in my right side, I’m blind in one eye, my organs on my right side are only at 20 per cent.
I just wanted to get through it, whether it was 6 or 7 hours, or if I had to with a or poles, whatever way I could. I’ll never be who I was before, but I’m certainly better than anybody ever imagined,” he said.
Copeland was presented with the Lord Mayor’s medal at the start line this morning by Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan and said he planned to celebrate with “a batter burger and a Diet Coke – the same as always.
The best of Dublin, said. “There’s a good finish here at Mount, lots of noise. I think for this year it’s worked, everything has to stay under review but to my mind, it’s successful. This Dublin.
Kenya’s Moses Kemei won the Dublin marathon with a time of 2:08.47. Asmirach Nega was the first-placed woman in a course record time of 2:24.13.
