Our Hall of Fame was launched in November 2007 as part of the Annual National Athletics Awards. This award is presented to an athlete who has achieved to the highest level and is considered world class. The recipients have transcended the sport and are sporting legends.
The inaugural winner was Olympic Gold medallist Ronnie Delany. In Melbourne in 1956, Delany fulfilled his ultimate ambition winning the 1500m at the Olympic Games. His Olympic victory remains one of the greatest of Irish sporting achievements.
In 2008 Eamonn Coghlan was inducted into the Hall of Fame. It came 25 years after Eamonn Coghlan’s finest hour that in Helsinki when he took the IAAF World Championship 5,000 metres title - a landmark achievement in Irish athletics.
In 2009 John Treacy was inducted into the Hall of Fame on the 25th anniversary of his Marathon silver medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics’ Marathon and the 30th anniversary of him retaining his World Cross Country title in 1979.
2014 saw Frank Murphy (RIP) admitted into the Hall of Fame. This came on the 45th anniversary of his greatest International success winning the silver medal in the 1500m Final at the 1969 European Athletics Championships in Athens in a time of 3.39.51, a new Irish Record.
In 2015 Frank O'Mara was honored in the Hall of Fame. O'Mara made his name as a top class middle distance runner specialising in the 1500m, 3000m and 5,000m. He became World Indoor Champion over 3000m twice, in Indianapolis in 1987 and Seville in 1991.
In 2016 Marcus O'Sullivan as inducted into the Hall of Fame. Marcus is three time World Indoor 1500m Indoor Champion, winning these titles in 1987, 1989 and 1993. In his victories in 1987 and 1989, Marcus set championship records and qualified for four Olympic Games.
In 2017 two-time Irish record holder Ray Flynn was honoured with the Hall of Fame award. Flynn ran an impressive 89 sub 4 minute miles throughout his career and held the Irish record for the 1500m & mile. Flynn enjoyed a brilliant athletics career which included representing Ireland at two Olympic Games – 1980 & 1984.
2018 saw Mary Purcell inducted into the Hall of Fame . She was the dominant figure in women's athletics in Ireland throughout the 1970's. Over her 12-year career she ran in two Olympics (Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976) plus two European Championships, five World Cross Country championships, and won 13 Irish titles – nine on the track, three on the country, one on the road, plus three British titles; she also broke 12 Irish records, made 20 international appearances, and went unbeaten in Ireland from 1972 to 1976.
In 2019 Sonia O'Sullivan was inducted into the Hall of Fame. She more than achieved that ambition making four Olympic Games with a famous silver medal in the 5,000m in Sydney in 2000. Among her achievements are three world titles (5,000m on the track in Gothenburg in 1995, double world cross gold in Marrakech in 1998), and three European gold medals on the track. Her star was truly global having also won the IAAF World Athlete of the Year and the Golden League (now known as the Diamond League).
In 2022 Catherina McKiernan, regarded as one of the world’s best ever cross country athletes entered the Hall of Fame. The county Cavan native enjoyed her first major cross country success in 1988 when she won the Irish schools cross country title. From there, her career as a cross country runner blossomed, winning silver at the World Cross Country Championships four years in succession from 1992 to 1995. In 1994, Catherina won gold at the inaugural European Cross Country Championships in Alnwick, England. Catherina represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in 1992 and 1996. In 1997, she moved up to the marathon and ran the fastest debut ever by a woman at the time, when she won the Berlin Marathon in a new Irish record of 2.23.44. Catherina would go on to win the London marathon in 1998, while also bettering her Irish record at the Amsterdam Marathon in a time of 2.22.23NR which still ranks top of the Irish all-time list.
Born in 1972 Mark grew up in Knocknaheeney in County Cork and started his athletic education at the North Monastery under the guidance of athletics coach Brother John Dooley.
Carroll enjoyed a glittering career, announcing his arrival on the international scene by taking the European Junior Men’s 5,000m title in 1991 before going on to claim bronze in the 5,000m at the European Championships in Budapest (1998). Carroll would fulfil a lifelong ambition in the year 2000 when he won gold in the 3,000m at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Ghent.
Carroll also boasts a win in the prestigious Wanamaker Mile (2000), but arguably the greatest race of Carroll’s career was in Monaco in 1999, when he set the Irish 3,000m record of 7.30.36 which still stands today.
The Kerry native began a glittering career in 1994 which would see her represent Ireland at European Championships, World Championships, and an Olympic Games in the 20km Race Walk.
Arguably O’Sullivan’s best performance came in 2003 when she took silver in the 20km Walk at the World Championships in Paris, the first time since 1995 that an Irish athlete had won a World Championship medal. The feat sees O’Sullivan remain part of an exclusive club of only five Irish athletes – Eamonn Coghlan, Sonia O’Sullivan, Olive Loughnane, and Rob Heffernan – who have podiumed at a World Athletics Outdoor Championship.
Other career highlights included a top ten finish at the Olympic Games in Sydney back in 2000, a World Record 5,000m walk in Dublin back in 2002 (20:02.60), as well a world best time at nationals over 3000m (11.35.34) at the Odyssey Arena Belfast the following year.
Our Hall of Fame was launched in November 2007 as part of the Annual National Athletics Awards. This award is presented to an athlete who has achieved to the highest level and is considered world class. The recipients have transcended the sport and are sporting legends.
The inaugural winner was Olympic Gold medallist Ronnie Delany. In Melbourne in 1956, Delany fulfilled his ultimate ambition winning the 1500m at the Olympic Games. His Olympic victory remains one of the greatest of Irish sporting achievements.
In 2008 Eamonn Coghlan was inducted into the Hall of Fame. It came 25 years after Eamonn Coghlan’s finest hour that in Helsinki when he took the IAAF World Championship 5,000 metres title - a landmark achievement in Irish athletics.
In 2009 John Treacy was inducted into the Hall of Fame on the 25th anniversary of his Marathon silver medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics’ Marathon and the 30th anniversary of him retaining his World Cross Country title in 1979.
2014 saw Frank Murphy (RIP) admitted into the Hall of Fame. This came on the 45th anniversary of his greatest International success winning the silver medal in the 1500m Final at the 1969 European Athletics Championships in Athens in a time of 3.39.51, a new Irish Record.
In 2015 Frank O'Mara was honored in the Hall of Fame. O'Mara made his name as a top class middle distance runner specialising in the 1500m, 3000m and 5,000m. He became World Indoor Champion over 3000m twice, in Indianapolis in 1987 and Seville in 1991.
In 2016 Marcus O'Sullivan as inducted into the Hall of Fame. Marcus is three time World Indoor 1500m Indoor Champion, winning these titles in 1987, 1989 and 1993. In his victories in 1987 and 1989, Marcus set championship records and qualified for four Olympic Games.
In 2017 two-time Irish record holder Ray Flynn was honoured with the Hall of Fame award. Flynn ran an impressive 89 sub 4 minute miles throughout his career and held the Irish record for the 1500m & mile. Flynn enjoyed a brilliant athletics career which included representing Ireland at two Olympic Games – 1980 & 1984.
2018 saw Mary Purcell inducted into the Hall of Fame . She was the dominant figure in women's athletics in Ireland throughout the 1970's. Over her 12-year career she ran in two Olympics (Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976) plus two European Championships, five World Cross Country championships, and won 13 Irish titles – nine on the track, three on the country, one on the road, plus three British titles; she also broke 12 Irish records, made 20 international appearances, and went unbeaten in Ireland from 1972 to 1976.
In 2019 Sonia O'Sullivan was inducted into the Hall of Fame. She more than achieved that ambition making four Olympic Games with a famous silver medal in the 5,000m in Sydney in 2000. Among her achievements are three world titles (5,000m on the track in Gothenburg in 1995, double world cross gold in Marrakech in 1998), and three European gold medals on the track. Her star was truly global having also won the IAAF World Athlete of the Year and the Golden League (now known as the Diamond League).
In 2022 Catherina McKiernan, regarded as one of the world’s best ever cross country athletes entered the Hall of Fame. The county Cavan native enjoyed her first major cross country success in 1988 when she won the Irish schools cross country title. From there, her career as a cross country runner blossomed, winning silver at the World Cross Country Championships four years in succession from 1992 to 1995. In 1994, Catherina won gold at the inaugural European Cross Country Championships in Alnwick, England. Catherina represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in 1992 and 1996. In 1997, she moved up to the marathon and ran the fastest debut ever by a woman at the time, when she won the Berlin Marathon in a new Irish record of 2.23.44. Catherina would go on to win the London marathon in 1998, while also bettering her Irish record at the Amsterdam Marathon in a time of 2.22.23NR which still ranks top of the Irish all-time list.
Born in 1972 Mark grew up in Knocknaheeney in County Cork and started his athletic education at the North Monastery under the guidance of athletics coach Brother John Dooley.
Carroll enjoyed a glittering career, announcing his arrival on the international scene by taking the European Junior Men’s 5,000m title in 1991 before going on to claim bronze in the 5,000m at the European Championships in Budapest (1998). Carroll would fulfil a lifelong ambition in the year 2000 when he won gold in the 3,000m at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Ghent.
Carroll also boasts a win in the prestigious Wanamaker Mile (2000), but arguably the greatest race of Carroll’s career was in Monaco in 1999, when he set the Irish 3,000m record of 7.30.36 which still stands today.
The Kerry native began a glittering career in 1994 which would see her represent Ireland at European Championships, World Championships, and an Olympic Games in the 20km Race Walk.
Arguably O’Sullivan’s best performance came in 2003 when she took silver in the 20km Walk at the World Championships in Paris, the first time since 1995 that an Irish athlete had won a World Championship medal. The feat sees O’Sullivan remain part of an exclusive club of only five Irish athletes – Eamonn Coghlan, Sonia O’Sullivan, Olive Loughnane, and Rob Heffernan – who have podiumed at a World Athletics Outdoor Championship.
Other career highlights included a top ten finish at the Olympic Games in Sydney back in 2000, a World Record 5,000m walk in Dublin back in 2002 (20:02.60), as well a world best time at nationals over 3000m (11.35.34) at the Odyssey Arena Belfast the following year.