2019 News

In light of the increasing number of refugees coming to Ireland from Ukraine we wish to issue a reminder that all refugees to Ireland from any country are very welcome to take up complimentary membership to train and race with Rathfarnham WSAF AC. This is in conjunction with Athletics Ireland offering complimentary membership and we would appreciate if this notice was shared around.

Our contact is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

2022 Fit4Life

Rathfarnham WSAF AC

Do you want to get back running?

Have you been running and are interested in learning about club running?

Ever wanted to know what Intervals are or what a Tempo run is?

Then you need to come and join us for our Fit4Life Programme. It starts on Tuesday 1^st March 2022 at 7.30pm in Loreto Park, Nutgrove and runs for 8 consecutive weeks. There will be a Park Run on April 2^nd.

It is only €40.00 which is payable online at:

https://www.athleticsrathfarnham.ie/membership/fit-for-life-membership.html

Fit4Life is suitable for anyone who has run before whether it is a little bit or more. All you need is a pair of runners and lots of enthusiasm. We will teach you the rest!

Big congratulations to Rathfarnham WSAF AC's Adam Jones on being presented with the Tadgh Lynch Memorial Award. The presentation was by Sean McMullan, President of Irish Masters Athletic association 2020/2021 at the National Masters Track& Field Championships in Santry on September 5th. For thoes who are unfamiliar with this award it is for services to masters athletics both on and of the field over the years! Previous recipients make up a who's who of Irish athletics. With some gentle persuasion Adam will allow you to have a close look at it! Well done Adam, you are a deserving recipient!!

Please note from this Saturday 31st July our track training session in Tallaght will be from 10.00AM until 11.00AM and not from 11.00AM till 12.00PM as before.

Many thanks to our own coach Adam Jones who rounded out our series of lectures at Rathfarnham WSAF AC this week. Everyone came away with wonderful nuggets of information from Adam's seemingly endless knowledge. Stretching, wellness, running style, body posture and aging were the topics covered in remarkable detail in one evening!

Many thanks to Brendan Hackett for a wonderful talk onMay 19th to all of us in Rathfarnham WSAF AC. The topic, 'Sports Psychology', is of interest to everyone who competes in any sport but everybody seemed to come away with at least a few nuggets of information to help drive our running performances to the next level. Thanks to Brendan we will all be working on our 4 c's in the coming months: Committment, confidence, control and concentration!

Performance nutrition was the title of the May 12th Rathfarnham WSAF AC lecture delivered by Daniel Davey. Daniel is the senior performance nutritionist for the Dublin Senior football team and Leinster rugby. He also works as a performance nutritionist with a host of elite athletes in a range of sports such as hockey, golf and athletics. We only seemed to scrape the surface of his knowledge in what proved to be a very informative evening with heaps of detailed running nutrition questions answered.

Our May 5th Rathfarnham WSAF AC talk was by double olympic 50k racewalker, strength and conditioning coach, sports scientist and researcher Colin Griffin. It was an evening packed with gems of training information and science that has motivated us all to push on with our S&C! Many thanks again to Colin for his wonderful presentation.

We had a super online presentation on Wednesday 27th April from Paul Stephenson to Rathfarnham WSAF AC members. Plenty of thoughts on the science and practicalities of endurance training with some great comments from some of our experienced members!

This is lecture 1 of a planned series to hopefully lead into a summer racing season.

We are delighted that Juvenile training is re-starting this week. This is for existing members only.

Please note that we are FULLY BOOKED FOR JUVENILES (8-12 year olds) FOR 2021. Please email our juvenile co-ordinator, Jackie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you wouild like your child to be added to our waiting list.

With the continuing high levels of Covid-19 in the community all members are asked to continue to remind themselves to not ease up on any of the rules regarding training.

All club training sessions have ceased but continued individual exercise is recommended.

Exercise may be taken with no more than one other household group.

Maintain 2m distance from others at all times. This is very important on pavements and in parks now that there are more people out and about exercising.

Wear a mask indoors or if meeting someone.

Sanitise your hands regularly.

Stay safe everybody!

We regret to have to say that all athletics club training sessions, including underage training, have been cancelled because of the rising numbers of Covid-19 infections in the country. This, and all other restrictions, was announced by the government on 30th December and will remain in place until at least 1st February. Please adhere strictly to all the guidlines and stay safe until we get this virus under control.

The decision has been made to cancel this year's St.Stephen's day mince pie run. This follows the government's announcement that the country is to return to level 5 restrictions. Training is allowed to continue in pods of 15 following the previous rules but as the Mince Pie run is a social event holding it would not follow the spirit of the restrictions.
We all hope for more racing in 2021!

The management committee
Owen McLoughlin
Sue Ryan
John McCabe
Beth Neal
PJ Claffey
Denis Daly

An Taoiseach addressed the nation last night to announce that the country would be moving to level 5 restrictions in the Living with Covid plan. This will come into effect from midnight on Wednesday 21st October for 6 weeks. Club adult training sessions are no longer allowed under level 5 so the club has suspended all regular sessions starting with Thursday 22nd October. Training individually is permitted within a 5km radius of your home and you can meet outdoors with one other household for excercise purposes. We would encourage all our members to continue training but to stay within the rules in the guidelines. If we all do our bit we can lower the virus level to a point that our normal group training can re-commence. 

Juvenile/Junior training is permitted to continue with attendance allowed if the session is within 5km of your home. It is very important that strict adherence to social distancing rules is maintained to permit continuance of these sessions. The track in Tallaght is closed this weekend for the Bank Holiday. We have to wait for confirmation that Juveniles/Juniors will be allowed to continue to use the track. 

Stay safe everybody.

The management committee

THE FOLLOWING NOTE HAS BEEN SENT TO ALL CLUBS USING LORETO PARK SO WE ARE URGING OUR OWN MEMBERS TO THINK ABOUT SAFETY WHEN PARKING.

I am contacting you in relation to members who train in Loreto Park.

I am sure you have seen the recent traffic congestion on Barton Road East extension which has been caused by cars parking on cycle track. 

I have contacted both Ballinteer St. Johns and Leicester Celtic FC requesting that members are emailed and asked to refrain from parking on both sides of the road where one side is a cycle track.

There have been a few close calls with doors opening roadside and children crossing between parked cars.  Also the congestion hinders access to local estates by residents.  It also poses a threat for access by an emergency vehicles should the need arise.

Residents support the local clubs and amenities but we would like some consideration when members are parking in the area in the future in order to maintain good community relations.

We would be grateful for your cooperation in this matter.

Regards 

Kathleen Kelly 

Grange manor residents Association 

Following a meeting of the clubs management committee, it has been decided that the general area of the Loreto clubhouse and the clubhouse in Rathfarnham village will remain closed for official club training, for the Winter 2020 and the early part of 2021. With the current social distancing rules very likely to remain during this period,  we would only be able to have 6 persons at any one time in the general areas of each clubhouse. In respect of Thursday circuit training, this low number would render the session impractical. On Tuesday nights, it would be very difficult to control and manage social distancing.
It has been decided to hold the circuit training sessions outdoors on Thursday nights in Loreto. We will ask the DLR to cut and maintain the grass in a suitable area and we will reposition the lights.
On both Tuesday and Thursday nights, only the Ladies/Mens changing rooms and toilets in the Loreto clubhouse will remain open. It will be important that social distancing protocols are followed and that members do not congregate in the kitchen/hallway area.
We are aware that these restrictions are difficult for coaches and members but in light of Covid-19, the safety and well-being of our members and club officials/coaches is of paramount importance.
We will duly inform all members of this decision.

The Management Committee:

John Mc Cabe
Owen Mc Loughlin
Beth Neal
Denis Daly
Suzanne Ryan
PJ Claffey

The national masters track and field championships are going ahead on the 6th of September. Entries are now open . Each athlete can do  only one event. If  anyone wants to complete email Adam before 8pm this Thursday 27th August.

Training Times for Adult sessions at our various locations (subject to change)

For Juvenile sessions go to the ''Juvenile/Junior" page.

Tuesday Adult Session - Loreto Park, Nutgrove

Time of Sessions: 18:00 onwards 

Location specific rules: There will be separate start points and pods of 6.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Thursday Circuits Session - St. Enda's Park

Time of session: 18:30

Location specific rules: There will be one session of 15 people to start with.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK 

Saturday Adult Session - Tymon Park

Time of Session: 10am

Meet near the playground

CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Saturday Adult Session- Tallaght Track Session

Time of Sessions: 11am 

Location specific rules: Places will be allocated by coaches.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Please read and strictly abide by the Covid training rules below

Most people know by now that because of the Covid-19 pandemic there are strict rules that apply to all athletic club sessions which must be complied with to ensure the safety of all our members and the general public. The nature of the rules is dictated by the HSE/government guidelines and the AAI Covid-19 guidance documents, and are subject to constant change. This document does not override any of this national guidance but applies them to our club.

The most important points are that all sessions must now, without exception, be pre-booked, have a check for Covid symptoms and have everybody strictly adhering to the booked training time. We will try to keep athletes updated regularly on the club website and social media. The following guidelines must be read by all club members before booking a session and must be adhered to.

• At present a maximum of 15 people can gather for a training session (including athletes and coaches). Multiple sessions can be held but must be separated.

• A local rule by DLR requires us to limit our pod size to 6 people in Loreto Park on Tuesdays and Marlay Park on Sundays. This is irrespective of Government allowing 15 per pod but we can have multiple separate 6 people pods.

• Training is strictly restricted for now to senior and masters athletes who are fully paid up 2021 members of Rathfarnham WSAF AC and who agree completely with the AAI guidance.
• Club training is only open to those residing within the country.
• Training can only take place where full social distancing is possible.
• All Coaches and athletes must agree to comply with all aspects of the training protocols. Anyone who breaches the protocols will be asked to leave the session immediately.
• A record of all who attend training must be kept by the club for tracing. It is now mandatory to book into a training session beforehand. We have set up a booking system on the Eventbrite App and links will be organised for the sessions. Please ensure that your contact details are always up to date.
• Booking will only be allowed a week in advance. There will be limited places initially so you are asked to book no more than two sessions a week.
• Athletes cannot turn up ad hoc without booking or arrive instead of someone else. If they do they will be turned away because it is mandatory to keep records for contact tracing.
• Swapping groups at a training session is strictly forbidden
• If you book a session it is taken that you agree to be compliant with all Covid-19 prevention checks and protocols.
• Athletes should arrive on time, warmed up and ready to start their training session. Timekeeping is important to ensure there is no overlapping of groups where there are multiple sessions.
• Try and warm up away from the training area and also maintain social distancing rules.
• Do not attend the session if you have had any of the symptoms of Covid-19 in the previous 14 days. These symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, malaise, diarrhoea or loss of sense of taste and smell. If you have these symptoms please contact your GP for advice.
• Do not attend the session if you or any of your close contacts were suspected of having or tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 14 days.
• Do not attend the session if you have been recommended to cocoon.
• If athletes are bringing their own hand sanitiser, face masks, towels or any equipment to training please do not share them.
• Make sure your water bottle is carefully labelled or identifiable and do not share it.
• Hands should be washed before leaving for training

• Athletes should arrive changed or change in their own car. Athletes should travel to the training session alone, or only with a member of the same household.

• Toilet facilities will be open in the Loreto clubhouse on Tuesday evenings but for emergency use only. Please visit the toilet before leaving home.
• Social distancing of 2 meters must be strictly observed at all times between individual members of the training group and between members of the training group and the general public. It has been asked that there be no spitting. There can be no physical contact between the members of the training group and hands should be sanitised if there is any contact with objects.
• Care must be taken of other park users. Run on the left and pass on the right. Use the grass when necessary to maintain social distancing. Please ensure that you give other users adequate space.
• Everyone must be sure to use the now widely publicised correct cough and sneeze etiquette at all times.
• If an individual is injured or becomes ill only one person should attend to them and they should be isolated. The Coaches have access to First Aid kits which contain face masks and disposable gloves. These must be worn by the attending person and any assisting person if that is necessary.
• The post of Rathfarnham WSAF AC’s appointed Covid Safety Officer has very kindly been taken up by PJ Claffey. The Covid Safety Officer has responsibility for managing issues and queries relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. He can be contacted by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if there are any issues, concerns or protocol breaches to be reported by email.
• Covid compliance officers will also be appointed to assist the Covid safety officer at individual sessions to ensure adherence to protocols and address breaches immediately.
• You must follow the instructions of the coach or compliance officer at all times.
• The Coaches/Covid officers inform people about compliance protocols but it is the individual’s personal responsibility to be aware of and to comply with these protocols.
• There will be a roll call, briefing and Covid screening questioning before each session. This is why punctuality is essential.
• If any equipment or objects are used during training they must be cleaned with disinfectant wipes. Use of training equipment is restricted for now.
• When training finishes athletes must leave promptly and not hang around in groups.
• Check the club website for all updates

Before each training session you will be asked the following screening questions:

• Have you had Covid-19 in the last 14 days?
• Have you been in contact with anybody diagnosed with Covid-19 or who is suspected of having Covid-19 in the last 14 days?
• Have you had any of the symptoms of Covid-19 in the last 14 days? These include fever, cough, shortness of breath, feeling unwell with flu like symptoms, diarrhoea or loss of sense of taste and smell.
• Are you cocooning or are you in a high risk health category for Covid-19.

If you answer yes to any of these questions please do not attend the session or leave immediately if you are present.

Covid Update regarding Juvenile training

Juvenile training for ages 8-12 years old will hopefully restart in September dependent on the Government and AAI advice

It is hoped that Junior athletes ages 13-17 will restart some training at the end of June/start of July. Coaches will inform athletes when a restart is possible and it is again dependent on our ability to comply with Government and AAI advice.

We are all delighted that mandatory covid rules and restrictions were removed. Indoor training activities are permitted to take place. Covid is however still around and still poses a threat which thankfully is currently a small one.

As recommended by Sports Ireland we are maintaining overarching basic protective measures. These include the use of COVID 19 Officers, recommending symptomatic individuals do not participate in or attend sporting activities, the ongoing promotion of good respiratory & hand hygiene along with the wearing a face coverings in relevant settings.

A local rule by DLR continues to require runners to limit training group sizes to 6 people in Loreto Park and Marlay Park. This is irrespective of Government rules.

Please check the club website for all updates.

Enjoy the new freedoms!

The Management Committee

Rathfarnham WSAF AC

As many of you are aware the Government published its “Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business” last night. This is the first indicator of when we could possibly get back to some athletics club activity. Well done to all our club members who quickly adopted the social distancing advice since club training ceased in March and let us all continue to do so.  As you all know, the Taoiseach has cautioned that progress and timing of re-opening various aspects of society is dependent on controlling the numbers of Covid 19 cases and will only be done under the expert guidance of CMO, Dr. Tony Holohan, and the Covid 19 National Public Health Emergency Team.

The first exciting news from the roadmap for us is that from Tuesday 5^th May the distance we can exercise from our homes has been extended from a 2km to a 5km radius. The mathematicians amongst you will work that out to be a 6.25 times bigger area to run in!

The next positive thing is that phase 2 of the plan, scheduled for June 8^th, should allow small numbers to train together provided social distancing is maintained.

And finally, though not yet confirmed, it looks like the wearing of facemasks outdoors will be advised for all for the foreseeable future from May 18^th. In athletics we will take the tongue in cheek positive view that this is a form of altitude training that may on the long term result in many PB’s and records set later in the year!

The Rathfarnham 5k is still planned for Sunday September 27^th. If it goes ahead it could be in huge demand after a summer of no racing! The AAI will publish any necessary guidance on protocols they receive from the HSE or NPHET.

In the meantime the excitement of our club virtual racing relays, which has re-invigorated many club members, will continue over the summer.

Take care everybody and keep distancing and handwashing.

In light of the continuing development of the Covi-19 outbreak all Rathfarnham WSAF AC training sessions that have not already been cancelled are to cease until the 29th March. Continued training is encouraged but only under the condition of maintaining the recommended social isolation. Good luck to everybody in this difficult time.

Do you want to get back running?

Have you been running and are interested in learning about club running?

Ever wanted to know what Intervals are or what a Tempo run is?

Then you need to come and join us for our Fit4Life Programme. It starts on Tuesday 11th February 2020 at 7.30pm in Loreto Park, Nutgrove and runs for 8 consecutive weeks.

It is only €40.00 which is payable online by Clicking on the link HERE

Fit4Life is suitable for anyone who has run before whether it is a little bit or more.

All you need is a pair of runners and lots of enthusiasm. We will teach you the rest!

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Rathfarnham WSAF AC is to be held on Thursday 24th October 2019 at 8.30 p.m. in the Clubhouse, The old courthouse, Main Street, Rathfarnham Village. All members are encouraged to attend.

Brian Rankin

Club Secretary

For copy of Club Constitution and Rules click here

Training for juveniles aged 8-12 resumes on Monday 9th and Wednesday 11th September 6:30-7:30pm in the grounds of Rathfarnham Castle. 

Welcome back everybody!

Congratulations to Rathfarnham WSAF AC’s Stephen Gaffney on being selected to represent Ireland at the European Team Championships on the 4x100m relay team. The championships are being held in Sadnes, Norway from 9-11 August 2019. Best of Luck Stephen!

Please note that online entries are now open for this year's Rathfarnham 5k on Sunday 28th April at 10.00. Enter now on the Rathfarnham 5k website and reserver your place in a high quality race on one of the fastest 5k routes in Ireland. To be ready for race day please use the 8 week training programme on the site or join us at the Club at any of our training sessions. A series of Juvenile races (8 - 14) take place before the main 5k. Please contact our Juvenile Coaching Manager John McHugh for details. Enter today at www.rathfarnham5krun.ie.