Eamonn Foley
A man who finally settled in Co. Wexford after travelling around a bit one of our male Masters athletes is next up, have already a meet Eamonn....
Name : Eamonn Foley
Age : 42
Work/School/College : Civil servant, Dept. Of Housing, Local Government and Heritage since 2020, Dept. Of Justice for about 15 years before that.
How long have you been a member of Menapians AC : About 1.5 years. I was with Balbriggan and District Athletics Club for about 4 years before moving to Wexford. Great to see the Menapians numbers growing in the time I’ve been with the Club.
Interests & achievements outside athletics : Swimming indoors and in the sea, hiking, kayaking, windsurfing, guitar, keyboard etc. I enjoy going to concerts/shows/hurling and soccer matches when I can too. I get roped into playing Fortnite with the kids so in terms of achievements Battle Royale wins I guess.
Events you have competed at : I’ve done every distance up to and including marathon.
Favourite event : I enjoy the Wexford parkrun for the craic, the cuppa and to try get that PB. A nod to Ardgillan parkrun too where the view and craic is worth the tough hills. The atmosphere at the Dublin marathon is also brilliant.
Least favourite event : None specific come to mind but like many i don’t like cross country.
Biggest athletics achievement : Completing the Dublin (2019) and Belfast (2023) marathons. Also finished second place twice at a 5km run in the wife’s home parish in Kilkenny and at a 10km run in Meath.
Other athletics achievements : Got under 20 mins for 5km once before (19:59 to be exact!) and hope to get there again. Should get to 100 parkruns soon, two to go.
Do you hold any records : I am probably one of few men to hold a women’s medal. The organisers at the race I placed second in Meath made two sets of women’s medals by mistake! And no I didn’t run it in drag!
Favourite moment of your athletic career : My first marathon in Dublin. Did it in 3hr 37mins.
Favourite track you have competed on : I generally do the road races.
Least favourite track : I don’t really have one but I did a half marathon around the Spa Francorchamps F1 track in Belgium and it was really tough. Bit of a novelty run.
Who has been your inspiration both in athletics & outside athletics : I admire anyone who gets to represent their country at athletics. Outside of athletics, Roy Keane, Alex Ferguson, Rory Gallagher (the guitarist).
Favourite food/drink : Fruit, especially berries, love the strawberries here! Also pasta. A cup of tea always goes down well.
Post training snack : Something light and plenty of water.
Some unusual facts about yourself : I have lived in Moscow, Brussels, Dublin and Wexford in the past 10 years. I think we have found our forever home in Wexford. My grand uncle Art was a decent goalkeeper for Wexford in his day, kept Christy Ring quiet a few times.