The countdown is on for the second RTÉ Dublin City Marathon.
In 1980, two thousand people participated in the first RTÉ Dublin City Marathon. The second event will be held on 26 October 1981 and the official entry is 8,198 participants. Participants from 10 other countries will be taking part in the largest single sporting event ever held in Ireland.
The course route will take runners from St Stephen's Green, through Ballyfermot, Phoenix Park, Killester, Raheny and back again to St Stephen’s Green.
Controller of programmes (Radio 2) Billy Wall says the organisation of the marathon is a huge undertaking for the Business Houses Athletic Association committee. The success of the Dublin City Marahon is due to the work of many bodies including the Irish Army, An Garda Síochána, Dublin Fire Brigade, Civil Defence, Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ), Electricity Supply Board (ESB), Dublin Corporation and Board of Works.
The list of voluntary and public bodies is enormous, so it’s a very big organisation job and Radio 2 is proud to be part of it.
Neil Cusack won the 1981 RTÉ Dublin City Marathon with a time of 2 hours 13 minutes and 58 seconds.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 1 October 1981. The reporter is Colm Connolly.
