O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Today, Wednesday October 7th was supposed to be the running of the annual Brother Schools Cross Country in Santry Demesne. Unfortunately that event cannot proceed having been called off several months ago. Today, however, we want to look back on this event which commenced in October 2009, reviving the old Clonliffe Schools Cross Country which goes back to 1978.

Brother came on board in 2009 and have been loyal supporters of the event since. That first Brother Cross Country was a toe into the water affair as we looked to see whether local schools fancied a cross country race at the start of the year. We were bowled over by the 750 or so athletes attended that first event. It has then snowballed to a stage where last year there were some 1,800 athletes taking part.

These ten years have simply flown past. Brother Schools XC has seen the cream of Irish schools athletes taking part many of whom have gone on to bigger and better things with several winners of the schools cross country representing their country at the highest level including athletes such as Siofra Clerigh-Buttner (DSD), Kevin Dooney (Raheny Shamrocks) and of course our own Efrem Gidey.

The Brother Schools XC has proved to be one of the most popular events on the Clonliffe calendar. It is an event which is enjoyed thoroughly by all involved, the people who come out on the day thoroughly enjoy the event and in particular the spectacle of those minor and junior races where it is like the charge of the light brigade with the “thundering hooves” down the straight to make the turn at the tree and then head out into the country. A spectacular and invigorating day. We will be back, October 6th 2021.

Sometimes pictures are better than words. Enjoy:  https://youtu.be/O2yeHYN44Ho