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Back in 2006, we organised a great weekend away to the Edinburgh halfmarathon. It gave everyone an opportunity to tackle a run at achallenging but manageable distance, and left plenty of time for eating,drinking and exploring the city. So with the Christmas holidays over andeveryone back to the day job, thoughts are naturally turning to gettingout of work and Ireland again as soon as possible, and we’re proposingto organise a similar trip for 2008. Below is a list of half-marathons being run in Europe this spring. Theones in early March unfortunately clash with the National cross-countrychampionships, but any of the later ones are doable. If you’reinterested in coming along on this trip, please let me know yourpreferred destination, bearing in mind that the object of the expeditionis not exclusively (or even) athletic. Paris – Mar 2Barcelona – Mar 2Edinburgh – Mar 16Lisbon – Mar 16Prague – Mar 29Berlin – Apr 6Milan – Apr 6Vienna – Apr 27Gothenburg – May 17 Eanna Cunnane

Speech by John O’Donoghue, T.D.,Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourismat the official opening of the new Clubhouse forSportsworld Running Club, in Bushy Park, Terenureon Thursday 16th June, 2005 at 6.30pm Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great pleasure for me as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to be here this evening to witness the official opening of this clubhouse facility, the new home of Sportsworld Running Club. I welcome the opportunity to see what can be achieved through the hard work and commitment on the part of club members and I am delighted that the Government, through my Department, was in a position to assist the work here with a grant of €80,000 from the Sports Capital Programme. This Government has a very strong commitment to sport and one of our main policies in relation to the development of sport and recreation in Ireland is to increase participation, particularly in disadvantaged areas. The Sports Capital Programme is the main way in which we support the provision of sports facilities of all types throughout the country. The Programme assists voluntary and community organisations, such as Sportsworld Running Club, in developing sport and recreational facilities that will maximise participation in sport. This Government is committed to sport and believes in the contribution it can make to our society, both for individuals and for communities. The last six years have seen a dramatic increase in Government funding for Irish sport – over €610m spent on sport since 1997. Since 1998, almost €332m has been allocated under the Sports Capital Programme to almost 4,300 sports projects throughout the length and breadth of the country. I expect to be in a position to announce grant allocations under the 2005 [...]