The cross country season is officially underway and Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club kicked off its preparations this past Saturday for its juvenile athletes.
On Saturday, 19th September, the Clubhouse doors opened for an incredibly special event. Two of the greatest distance runners in the club’s history, Mick Clohisey and Kevin Dooney, joined our young athletes for an highly informative talk to help the lads gear up for the Cross Country season ahead.
The inspiring session was proudly hosted by our dedicated juvenile coaching team: Dick Hooper and Elish Kelly (U17 to U20 Coach) and Phil Behan (U14 to U17 Coach).
What made Mick and Kevin’s talk so impactful was how relatable their stories were to every young runner sitting in the room.
They didn’t start at the top; their athletic journeys began exactly where our juvenile members are standing right now with all the high lows that running brings.
Both athletes joined Raheny Shamrock AC in their mid-teens and cut their teeth on underage cross country squads.
Through hard work, both climbed the ranks to become National Junior Cross Country Champions. As they grew, they chose different paths. One accepted a running scholarship to the USA, while the other chose to stay at home and progress his training in Ireland—proving there are multiple ways to reach the top.
They have proudly worn the Irish singlet on the global stage, competing at the European Cross Country Championships (at Junior, U23, and Senior levels) and the Senior World Cross Country Championships.
For years, Raheny Shamrock strove to capture the elusive National Senior Men’s Cross Country Club title. When history was finally made in 2016, both Mick and Kevin were foundational scoring members of that historic gold-medal team. They remained the absolute cornerstone of the legendary squad that went on to secure a stunning “3-in-a-row” of national titles.
During the talk, they didn’t just share a list of medals. They spoke honestly about the real highs and lows of athletics—the tough decisions they had to make as young athletes, navigating challenges, and the resilience needed to overcome setbacks.
Are you interested in running Middle Distance? If you would like to know more about joining this running group, please contact *juvenile@rahenyshamrock.ie*
