Over eight days, from 23 to 30 March 2025, Ireland claimed 24 medals at the global Masters Athletics event, making them the 15th most successful team at the championship out of 98 nations attending.
Michael Kiely (Mallow AC) made headlines across Ireland for his double gold exploits in the M80 1500m and 800m. The 80-year-old put in a dominant display in the four-lap event, winning by over four seconds from Robert O’Rourke of the USA. The Cork man won by over four seconds again in the 1500m, this time from Emilio de la Camara Perona of Spain. Kiely’s work wasn’t done there; he also competed in the preliminary round of the 400m, finishing seventh in the preliminary round.
There were also golds for Edel Maguire (Clonliffe Harriers), Eileen Kenny (Tullamore Harriers) and Joe Gough (West Waterford AC).
Maguire from Clonliffe Harriers had a particularly successful championship, claiming a second Irish double gold and setting a new W65 400m world record, while also claiming a silver medal in the W65 200m in a new European Record.
Joe Gough (West Waterford AC) continued his winning ways, adding the M70 800m title to his collection. The 72-year-old won, just shy of two seconds from Uruguay’s Omar Clok in 2:31.73. Clok then got the better of Gough in the 1500m event. In a fast finish, the Irishman left himself with too much to do, closing in 34.86 seconds for the last lap, he had to settle for second, finishing in 5:15.60.
The Masters Championships was also a family affair with mother-daughter duo, Eileen and Michelle Kenny (Leevale AC) claiming individual medals in the cross country and 10K events respectively, before joining forces with Rachel Murphy to win team bronze in the 10K, where Eileen dropped down seven age groups to contribute to the team tally.
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