Road into new estate to be named after Mark Carroll
Builder Paul Duggan, of Northside Developments, who is building a 271-house estate in Knocknaheeny on Cork’s northside, has agreed to name the road leading into the estate after Carroll.
He is working on a plaque to name it Mark Carroll Road. It is hoped an unveiling ceremony will be arranged within the next few days so Carroll can attend.
Carroll, who arrived in Cork yesterday from his Rhode Island home in America ahead of this weekend’s Cork City Sports, was raised on nearby Harbour View Road. His parents, John and Ann, live there. He won bronze in the 1998 European Outdoor Championships 5,000m race but went on to win gold in the 3,000m race at the European Indoor championships in 2000.
During visits home afterwards, he would train on the roads. Locals would stand and cheer him on, said city councillor and long-time Carroll family friend Dave McCarthy. Mr McCarthy, who proposed the road naming honour, said it would be a fitting tribute to a great sports star. “He is a fantastic ambassador for the area and for his sport and this will be a nice honour for him.”
The 34-year-old holds the national records at 3,000m, 5,000m and 10,000m. He is competing in the 55th Cork City Sports at the Mardyke on Saturday. It will be his final track race before reverting to road racing.
World Indoor gold medallist, Derval O’Rourke, from Douglas, will race in the 100m hurdles, her first track race since winning gold with a blistering 60m sprint over hurdles at the World Indoors Championship in Moscow last March.
Derval’s return to the track has been delayed by a groin injury, but treatment from renowned physio Gerard Hartmann has worked.
