Limerick in hot pursuit of Boston marathon

LIMERICK is on track to link up with one of the world’s biggest marathons.

Moves are under way to create a massive international sports weekend in the city in the first link-up of its kind with the famous Boston Marathon, which attracts 40,000 competitors annually.

Limerick businessman Neil Cusack, a former Irish Olympic runner who won the Boston Marathon in 1974, has entered talks with the organisers of the US event to promote a Celtic Boston Marathon in his native city.

Mr Cusack, 58, said: “As a former winner, I am invited over to Boston every year and they are very anxious to extend the Boston Marathon brand to other countries.

“The Boston Marathon is organised by a committee of governors which is headed by Dr Vinnie Coyle, a Mayoman. I know he would be fully behind getting a Celtic Boston Marathon started here in Ireland. Limerick is the ideal venue given its proximity to Shannon.

“Such is the international appeal of the Boston Marathon that the 40,000 cut-off point is reached nine months before the event so there are tens of thousands of would-be Boston Marathon runners who would be very interested in another event which would carry the Boston brand.”

Mr Cusack, who also won the Dublin marathon in 1981 and competed in a record 13 world cross-country championships, said a Celtic Boston marathon in Limerick would generate millions of euro for tourism in the region.

He said: “I have had preliminary talks with people in Shannon Development and they also see the potential for this event. I will be in contact with Dr Vinnie Coyle in the coming days and we may be able to get some people over from Boston next weekend to see the Great Limerick Run and how it is organised.

“Next weekend’s event in Limerick would be a very strong calling card to the Boston Marathon organisers.”

Mr Cusack said Boston also attracts hundreds of companies who manufacture and supply athletics gear.

“Boston is just massive and I am very confident from talks I have had there, Limerick is now very well positioned to be the first non-US venue to link up with it. If we had a marathon in Limerick with the Boston brand it would attract huge international attention. The Limerick event would have international status with the Boston brand. Just think of the Boston/Irish connection and the opportunities that alone opens with a Celtic Boston Marathon in Limerick,” said Mr Cusack.

When studying in the US, Mr Cusack also won the Lousiana Marathon as a collegiate athlete.

He ran in the 10,000 metres for Ireland at theMunich Olympics in 1972 and also competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.