Ireland’s Record in European Athletics Championships
From the inaugural European Athletics Championships in Turin 1934 it took 60 years before the Irish flag was hoisted in Helsinki 1994 when Sonia O’Sullivan won gold in the 3000 metres in 8.31.84. Four years later in Budapest Sonia had a remarkable double in the 5000 metres ( 15.06.50 ) and 10,000 metres (31.29.33 ) .At the last championships in Munich 2002 Sonia added further to her successes in winning silver medals in the 5000 metres ( 15.14.85 ) and 10,000 metres ( 30.47.59 ). Thus of Ireland’s total medal haul of 9 from these championships Sonia holds 5-a truly phenomenal achievement.
Ireland’s other medal winners from these championships were:
| Year | Name | Position | Event | Performance | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Ronnie Delany | 3rd | 1500 metres | 3.42.3 | Stockholm |
| 1969 | Frank Murphy | 2nd | 1500 metres | 3.39.51 | Athens |
| 1978 | Eamonn Coghlan | 2nd | 1500 metres | 3.36.57 | Prague |
| 1998 | Mark Carroll | 3rd | 5000 metres | 13.38.15 | Budapest |
Detailed below are the full list of Irish finalists ( top 6 to 1962: top 8 later ) from these championships :
| Year | Name | Position | Event | Performance | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Eamon Kinsella | 5th | 110 metres hurdles | 14.7 | Berne |
| 1958 | Ronnie Delany | 3rd | 1500 metres | 3.42.3 | Stockholm |
| 1962 | Derek McCleane | 5th | 800 metres | 1.51.3 | Belgrade |
| Maeve Kyle | 6th | 400 metres | 57.5 | Belgrade | |
| 1966 | Noel Carroll | 8th | 800 metres | 1.47.9 | Budapest |
| 1969 | Frank Murphy | 2nd | 1500 metres | 3.39.51 | Athens |
| Noel Carroll | 7th | 800 metres | 1.49.1 | Athens | |
| 1971 | Claire Walsh | 6th | 800 metres | 2.08.6 | Helsinki |
| 1974 | Neil Cusack | 8th | Marathon | 2.22.05 | Rome |
| 1978 | Eamonn Coghlan | 2nd | 1500 metres | 3.36.57 | Prague |
| John Treacy | 4th | 5000 metres | 13.28.8 | Prague | |
| 1982 | Ray Flynn | 8th | 1500 metres | 3.40.44 | Athens |
| 1986 | Marcus O’Sullivan | 6th | 1500 metres | 3.42.60 | Stuttgart |
| Frank O’Mara | 8th | 1500 metres | 3.42.90 | Stuttgart | |
| John Treacy | 6th | 10,000 metres | 28.04.10 | Stuttgart | |
| 1994 | Sonia O’Sullivan | 1st | 3000 metres | 8.31.84 | Helsinki |
| Nick Sweeney | 4th | Discus | 63.76 | Helsinki | |
| Terry McHugh | 7th | Javelin | 80.46 | Helsinki | |
| 1998 | Sonia O’Sullivan | 1st | 5000 metres | 15.06.50 | Budapest |
| Sonia O’Sullivan | 1st | 10,000 metres | 31.29.33 | Budapest | |
| James McIlroy | 4th | 800 metres | 1.45.46 | Budapest | |
| Mark Carroll | 3rd | 5000 metres | 13.38.15 | Budapest | |
| Valerie Vaughan | 7th | 5000 metres | 15.39.99 | Budapest | |
| Susan Smith | 8th | 400 metres hurdles | 55.61 | Budapest | |
| 2002 | Sonia O’Sullivan | 2nd | 5000 metres | 15.14.85 | Munich |
| Sonia O’Sullivan | 2nd | 10,000 metres | 30.47.59 | Munich | |
| Gillian O’Sullivan | 4th | 2oK Walk | 1.28.46 | Munich | |
| Mark Carroll | 6th | 5000 metres | 13.42.87 | Munich | |
| Rob Heffernan | 8th | 20K Walk | 1.21.10 | Munich | |
| Ireland | 5th | 4×400 relay | 3.04.13 | Munich | |
| (Rob Daly,Paul McKee,Antoine Burke,David McCarthy) | |||||
An analysis of the foregoing clearly shows that the recent editions of these championships have been by far the most successful for Ireland. The nadir was Split in 1990 with no finalist.
2002 in Munich was particularly successful. Can Gothenburg replicate that success story in the absence of Sonia O’Sullivan, Mark Carroll and Gillian O’Sullivan three of the all-time greats of the sport.
Let’s wait and see.
Athletics Ireland wishes all its athletes every success in Gothenburg in what is truly expected to be a wonderful edition of these championships.
