Women's Mini-Marathon to be launched in Mayo town this week

The official launch of the 2025 Mayo.ie Western People Women’s Mini Marathon will take place in Castlebar this week. 

Now in its 16th year, the event co-organised by the Mayo Sports Partnership, returns once again to the streets of Castlebar on Sunday, May 4.

Other partners in this year’s event include Castlebar Municipal District, Moy Valley Resources, The Movement Gym and Castlebar Chamber of Commerce.

The launch event will be officially held in Davitt College on Thursday, February 27, with a 2pm start time.

The school said they are “very happy” to host the launch with panelists and speakers also confirmed.

Speakers on the day include Angelina Nugent as MC, Maria Sweeney Kalif - a Mindset and Performance Coach who also represents Mayo Volunteer Centre, Lianne McManamon - who is speaking on behalf of the Sports Partnership Committee, and Mary Cronin - the oldest participant to date.

Irish underage soccer player Emma Duffy and boxing star Grace Bailey will also be guest speakers on the day, while Sandra McFadden, who guided a visually impaired participant around the Ballina route in 2024, will also be in attendance.

The mini-marathon was held in Castlebar from 2010 to 2022, apart from 2020 and 2021 when it had to be held virtually due to the Covid-19 lockdown. It moved to Ballina in 2023 as part of the town’s 300th-anniversary celebrations and remained in the North Mayo capital last May. It will now return to Castlebar this year.

More than 1,900 women and 800 children took part in the 2024 event, with three Mayo women also finishing in the podium places.

The early bird registration for this year’s women’s mini-marathon opens this week with lots of great prizes to be won, including dinner for two and show tickets for the TF Royal Theatre Castlebar.

Coverage of this Thursday’s launch will be in next week’s edition of The Western People.