Mayor of Letterkenny, Dessie Larkin, has said that next weekend’s official opening of the Danny McDaid Athletics Track at the Aura Centre is an opportunity for the town to showcase the superb facilities it has to offer.
Details of the Four Minute Mile Challenge are announced
Letterkenny Town Council took the decision to name the tartan track after the double Olympian a few years back.
On Saturday, May 18th former Irish international runner, Jerry Kiernan, will perform the official opening of the track.
Around 120 athletes have been confirmed for the international track and field meeting which Letterkenny AC have organised to coincide with the opening. The organisers are hoping that the first sub-four minute mile will be recorded in Donegal at the meet.
“It’s going a huge weekend for Letterkenny AC, Danny and his family, and the town itself,” Cllr Larkin commented.
“It’s not very often that people here have an opportunity to see such a top quality event, so I would urge everyone to go along and support the event. Letterkenny Town Council has enjoyed a long and healthy relationship with Letterkenny AC. We were glad to be in a position to name the track after Danny McDaid, one of most famous sporting figures and a true legend who is respected all over the country and beyond. He was and continues to be one of Letterkenny’s and Donegal’s greatest ambassadors. It’s fitting that he should have the new track at our leisure centre named after him.” Cllr Larkin added.
“It’s been a busy time for Letterkenny in recent times. We’ve had the North West 10K last weekend which attracted 2,500 participants, the INMO annual conference is currently taking place here and the Ulster Community Games were also held in the town last month. The official opening of the Danny McDaid Athletics Track and the international track and field meeting is another opportunity for people to come and see first hand just how much Letterkenny has to offer,” the Mayor commented.
“From my years of dealing with Letterkenny AC and having kept a constant eye on how it continues to develop, I am very aware of how much importance is attached to making the club as family friendly as possible. Next weekend’s event, rightly being billed as a festival of athletics, is a chance for people from the area to go along and hopefully witness the first ever sub four minute mile. I have no doubt that it will be a huge success and Saturday, May 18th, 2013 is a date that will be talked about for many years to come,” Cllr Larkin added.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at 5.30 pm and a marble bust of Danny, made by local sculptor, Redmond Herrity, will also be unveiled. The full programme of events will be announced next week. Admission to the event, which begins with a juvenile programme from 3 pm to 4 pm, will be €5 per adult, with children being admitted free of charge. A souvenir programme which has been produced for the official opening will be on sale on the day at a cost of €4.
A five mile road race next Friday night (17th) will kick things off next weekend and Letterkenny AC’s 40th anniversary function in the Station House Hotel on the Saturday night will round off a busy few days in the life of the club. Tickets for this event are priced at €20.