Profile of a Parkrunner: Meet Richie
Meet Richie Farrell, from Edenderry, who is a regular at Mountlucas parkrun since Summer 2025.
When did you complete your first parkrun?
I completed my first parkrun in July 2025. I was relatively new to running, having started a few months earlier. My wife, Edel, encouraged me to do a family 5km run in Kildare town called “wine on the line” which she and my 3 kids had done the previous year. I hemmed and hawed saying "oh I can’t run, my knee, my this, my that, yada yada…” but I succumbed and donned a pair of runners and shorts and started doing some jogging, and that was that!
We had a bet of €20 each for the craic, which my son Craig won as he was home first of the 5 of us - as he was the year before when I was an onlooker. Yours truly came last! But I had a great time. I’ve warned them I’ll be a different animal this year. Edel is a member of Edenderry Athletics Club and I also joined, and I did the Offaly 5km road race series last year which I loved. I’d heard of parkrun and my friend Finbar Redmond, who is a regular parkrunner, told me how good it was, so I rocked up one morning back in July and I'm hooked now.
What is your favourite thing about parkrun?
I love the freedom of running through the landscape of Mountlucas parkrun. It’s so unique and we are lucky to have it on our doorstep. I call it "The Land of the Giants". The friendly atmosphere is magic- running with everyone through the bog and turbines on gravel, it makes you feel so alive. Even though you may not know everyone there, there’s a great sense of togetherness, young and old and everyone gets to the finish line a hero .
What is your favourite parkrun memory?
My favourite memory is from January 1st this year when I walked Mountlucas parkrun with my niece Amanda. Unfortunately Amanda can’t run due to a heart condition and I'd been telling her about parkrun, and she said she would do it with me on the first day of the year to get off to a positive start for 2026. I also have my own health problems; I’m recovering from prostate cancer and I had a couple of rough years with treatment etc. which affected my mental health. Myself and Amanda walked and talked and laughed and left all the past behind us and it was a special day.
What words best describe Mountlucas parkrun?
For me , parkrun is my spiritual ground. It’s not just about the running, but the marvellous people you meet like Mary Dunne and Mairéad Scally for whom I have great respect. Also, all the other volunteers who make the parkrun tick. I haven't done a different parkrun to Mountlucas but I feel it's the place for me as it's so unique and I have no desire to run a different one unless I’m on holiday or something.
At 61 years old I've seen a lot in life, good and bad and it's the simple things like parkrun that make me happiest. With so much negative stuff going on in the world and people striving for material things, there’s nothing like the parkrun to bring us back to nature and the things that really matter AND IT'S ALL FREE !!!!.
What more could you ask for?! If there's anyone out there who was a doubter like me and thought they couldn't run or even walk 5km, I'd strongly advise them to give parkrun a try. It's a revelation. So rock up some Saturday morning at 9.30 and experience "The Land of the Giants”.
Mountlucas parkrun takes place at Bord na Móna Mountlucas windfarm every Saturday morning at 9.30am sharp. There's something for everyone at Mountlucas parkrun whether you want to walk, run, volunteer or just meet new people. For more information see
http://parkrun.ie/mountlucas