Cork-born Diana flexes her muscles in quest for Ironman title

A Cork-born pharmacist has qualified for one of the toughest endurance events on the planet: the World Ironman Championships in Hawaii.

Diana Hogan-Murphy, 37, from St Luke’s in Cork but based in Cavan, admitted it was “the biggest surprise of my life” to qualify for the event in Kona, Hawaii, in October after finishing second in her age group at the Ironman UK qualifying event in Bolton last weekend. Just 50 out of the 2,000 competitors (2.5%) made the grade.

While for most people, even finishing a marathon or a triathlon is a lifetime achievement, Diana operates at an altogether different level.