Cork club Bandon AC recorded 724 registered members in 2025, making it the largest athletics club in Cork and Munster. This growth is driven by a large juvenile section of 605 athletes.
It’s a big year for the club with a new track and a busy schedule that includes Bandon AC Road race, summer camps and a host of senior athletes performing well.
Track Development
The completion of Bandon AC’s new track marks a transformative milestone in the club’s development and in the wider athletics landscape of West Cork. The state-of-the-art facility provides athletes of all ages with access to a high-quality Conica surface training and competition environment, significantly enhancing opportunities for both participation and performance.
This facility has been developed and delivered entirely by the club itself. In contrast to many facilities delivered through local authorities or third-level institutions, this project stands as a testament to what can be achieved through community-driven initiative and long-term planning.
Backed by Athletics Ireland, this ambition was made possible through the combined support of the Sports Capital Programme, Cork County Council, valued club sponsors, and the ongoing backing of the local community, whose contributions have been instrumental in bringing the project to fruition.
The track now serves as a vital regional hub for schools, clubs and events, ensuring a lasting legacy for athletics in the area.
The facility is due to be officially opened on 11 April 2026, with ambitious plans in place to develop a complementary indoor training facility on the same site, subject to funding.
Bandon AC bumped into Karsten Warholm on Erasmus coaching shadowing in Norway
Erasmus+ Combined Events Shadow Coaching
In December 2025, Bandon AC conducted an Erasmus+ Shadow Coaching exchange with the IK Tjalve Athletics club in Oslo, Norway, who have an excellent coaching system to produce world class athletes.
The focus was on multi-events, heptathlon & decathlon, athlete development from juvenile grassroots to senior elite level. A Bandon AC team of coaches Frank Stam and Deirdre Donovan, and upcoming coaches Diarmuid O’Connor and Eoin O’Callaghan, were invited to follow top decathlete Sander Skotheim with his coach Eric Røe over a full training week (during which all 10 events were trained in 4 different venues), while learning about coaching methodologies, training scheduling, facilities/ equipment used, and also being introduced to other coaches and athletes and experience how they collaborate and meet up/ train in their club house with a fully equipped gym.
The European Union’s Erasmus+ programme managed by Léargas, supports learning opportunities in education, training, youth and sport development within Europe trying to create a more level playing field.
Our plan is to gradually implement the learnings into a more streamlined club coaching structure from entry age to senior level, and elevate coaching standards while creating a multi-skills athlete development environment not only within the club but also within its region and further abode.
Nicola Tuthill began her career at Bandon AC and has close ties with the club
Senior Athletes at their Best
This period has coincided with sustained national and international success. Laura Nicholson has emerged as one of Ireland’s leading middle-distance athletes, claiming the Irish Senior 1500m title and representing Ireland at the World Athletics Championships (2025), European Team Championships, and World University Games.
Fiona Everard continues to excel as a multiple national cross country champion and consistent Irish international, while Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC & Bandon AC) has established herself among Europe’s leading hammer throwers. Her outstanding 2025–2026 season included European Throwing Cup (U23) gold, European Throwing Cup silver (2026), World University Games silver, and a World Athletics Championships final appearance, alongside multiple national titles and an Irish U23 record.
Diarmuid O’Connor enjoyed a record-breaking period in combined events, twice improving the Irish senior indoor heptathlon record to 5,690 points, breaking a long-standing 23-year-old national mark while competing in the United States. Meanwhile, Phil Healy, Olympian and European relay medallist, continues to perform at the highest level of international athletics and remains one of Ireland’s most accomplished sprinters.
Fiona Everard competed in the European and World Cross Country
Club Events & Community Engagement
Bandon AC Road Race
The annual Bandon AC Road Race remains a cornerstone of the Cork road racing calendar, attracting strong participation from competitive athletes and recreational runners alike. The next edition, scheduled for 30 April 2026, is expected to draw another large and competitive field, reflecting the club’s strong community engagement and organisational excellence.
Catherine Duggan Open Sports
The Catherine Duggan Open Sports is one of the club’s flagship events, honouring the legacy of a hugely influential figure in Bandon athletics. The meet attracts athletes from across Munster and beyond, providing high-quality competition across track and field disciplines. It serves as both a celebration of the club’s heritage and a key competitive opportunity within the regional calendar.
Summer Camp
The Bandon AC Summer Camp remains a key entry point for young athletes, introducing children to athletics in a structured and enjoyable environment and supporting long-term participation and development.
