The celebration of the club’s 10th anniversary provided a joyful remembrance of successful athletic participation for many on Friday last November 16th at the Ramble Inn, Mitchelstown. Former/current club athletes, coaches, families, pals and guests partied and reminisced on the night. Special guests present were wife Jean, son Fanahan Jnr and brother Pat McSweeney, Dan McCarthy vice chair and Padraigh Kelly secretary of Cork County Athletics Board. Club Secretary Seamus Fox as MC opened proceedings and introduced the speakers. 
WHO WAS FANAHAN McSWEENEY? Fanahan was a gifted and renowned international athlete. He broke the European 400 metre indoor record at the Houston Astrodome, Texas in February 1970 clocking 46.3 seconds shattering the world mark set by great Olympic champion Tommy Smith. The McNeese University graduate won 48 consecutive international 400m races. Of Fanahan’s four national records the 200 metres remained for 16 years and the 220 yards and 440 yards remain unsurpassed at the time of writing. In 1968 he beat the national 220 yard record with a scintillating 21.1 seconds on grass. What was even more remarkable was that he never used starting blocks, the universal aid to sprinting, because of fear that crouching might aggravate his back injury. He was national champion over eleven years and in 1972 represented Ireland at the Munich Olympics. 
Eamon Coughlan said that “Fanahan was a born motivator with great attitude and a rare ability to think, analyse, construct and project in a positive way”. High jumper Brendan O’Reilly described him as “a genius in everything he did”. He was regarded as “one of the greatest natural talents this country has ever produced” by Dr Pat O’Callaghan. Aged 44 he moved on to the next life, but in that short time with us he epitomised remarkable courage and dedication shown by all great sports persons. He is perceived as an excellent role model for aspiring athletes. 
WHO WAS FANAHAN McSWEENEY? Fanahan was a gifted and renowned international athlete. He broke the European 400 metre indoor record at the Houston Astrodome, Texas in February 1970 clocking 46.3 seconds shattering the world mark set by great Olympic champion Tommy Smith. The McNeese University graduate won 48 consecutive international 400m races. Of Fanahan’s four national records the 200 metres remained for 16 years and the 220 yards and 440 yards remain unsurpassed at the time of writing. In 1968 he beat the national 220 yard record with a scintillating 21.1 seconds on grass. What was even more remarkable was that he never used starting blocks, the universal aid to sprinting, because of fear that crouching might aggravate his back injury. He was national champion over eleven years and in 1972 represented Ireland at the Munich Olympics. Eamon Coughlan said that “Fanahan was a born motivator with great attitude and a rare ability to think, analyse, construct and project in a positive way”. High jumper Brendan O’Reilly described him as “a genius in everything he did”. He was regarded as “one of the greatest natural talents this country has ever produced” by Dr Pat O’Callaghan. Aged 44 he moved on to the next life, but in that short time with us he epitomised remarkable courage and dedication shown by all great sports persons. He is perceived as an excellent role model for aspiring athletes. 
