The streets of Ireland were buzzing with races in Dublin, Monaghan, Galway, Cork, Ballyhoran, Co Meath and Mallusk, with the National Half Marathon featuring some classy times.

David Flynn of Clonliffe Harriers and Letterkenny’s Caitriona Jennings were the winners of the National Half Marathon held over a tough course from the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin on Sunday (August 12).

Flynn, who was ninth last year, finished in 68:51. His ex-clubmate David Mansfield, now with Clonmel AC, just out-sprinted Chris Madden of City of Lisburn AC for second place in 69 minutes exactly – Madden finished in 69:01.

Adding to his vast collection of national titles was Pauric McKinney of Inishowen AC who finished first M50 in 77:03.

Caitriona Jennings, winner in 2009, finished in a time of 82:24 to take her second title. Two of the winners from the past three years – Gladys Ganiel and Lizzie Lee – were on marathon duty in Berlin.

Finishing a close second was Sally Forristal of St Joseph’s AC in 82:54, who knocked over two minutes off the time she had run last year for fifth place. Tara Kennedy of Raheny Shamrock AC, eighth last year, finished third and first W40 in 86:12.

The race was run in conjunction with the American Rock ‘n’ Roll franchise.

Winning the Rock’n’Roll 5km a day earlier from DIT Grangegorman were Jack England in 18 mins 33 secs and Lucy Neimz in 19:06.

First home at the Monaghan Town 10M on Sunday (August 12) was Freddy Sittuk of Raheny Shamrock.

In the sprint for the line, Sittuk was pushed hard by locally-based Isku Ousman of Monaghan Town Runners with the pair given times of 54:47 and 54:48. Third was Andy Nevin of Mullingar Harriers in 56:38.

First woman was Nicola Flanagan of Blayney Rockets in 65:40. Barbara Murray of Donore Harriers was second in 70:12 and Una Campbell of Newry City Runners third in 72:13.

Winners of the Monaghan Town 5M race were Shane Larkin of Drogheda and District in 28:25 and Bernadette Cashman in 33:42.

John Travers of Donore Harriers and Siobhan O’Doherty of Borriskane AC were the winners of the 33^rd annual Streets of Galway 8km on Saturday evening (August 11).

Travers, the pre-race favourite,  was a comfortable winner of the race, leading home over 2,500 finishers in a time of 23:56. Second in 24:29 was Damien Landers while third in 24:45 was Rory Chesser of Ennis TC.

O’Doherty, winner for the past two years, made it a hat-trick when she finished in 27:51. Regina Casey of host club Galway City Harriers was second in 28:40 and Jane Ann Meehan of Athenry AC third in 29.57.

On Saturday, the day before the marathon at the European Athletics Championships in Berlin, Catherina McKiernan, whose Irish women’s marathon record is unlikely to be broken any time soon, finished third overall at the East Cork Harbour 10km in 36:32.

Finishing ahead of her were Kevin O’Leary of East Cork AC in 33:49 and Chris Murnan in 36:09. Over 500 finished the race.

The 10km was run in conjunction with a marathon and half marathon. Winning the East Cork Harbour half marathon was Mark Smith of Eagle AC in 77:52. First woman was Julie Kenneally of Youghal AC in 98:54. David Ryan of Clonmel AC won the East Cork Harbour marathon by a margin of over 12 minutes in 2:41.21. Rachel Stokes of Kerry Crusaders was first woman in 3:21.38.

Northern Ireland international mountain runners Jonny Steede from host club Glens Runners and Gillian Wasson of Ballymena Runners  were the winners at the Lurig Challenge Mountain Race in Ballyhoran, Co Down on Saturday (August 11).

Steede complete the 3.5 mile course up and down the steep slope of Lurgethan in a time of 29:09 to retain the title he won last year. Timothy Johnson of  Mourne Runners and Conor Reid of Ballymena Runners were second and third.

Wasson, who was also first woman in 2016, made it to the finish in 34:57, with Catherine McLaughlin and Lucy O’Dell, both of Glens Runners, second and third.

Dunleer’s Darragh Greene of Dunleer AC and Una Britton of Kilcoole AC were the winners of the Streets of Athboy 5km in Co Meath on Friday evening (August 10).

Green was a clear winner in 15:14, with Richard Owens of Clonliffe Harriers second in 15:32 and Sean Doran, also Clonliffe third in 15.56.

Britton was seventh overall and first woman in 16:50. Laura McDonnell of Tallaght AC was second in 17:59 and Sheila O’Byrne of Sli Cualann AC third in 18.30.

Oisin Gallen of Finn Valley AC was the emphatic winner of the men’s race at the annual Mallusk Harriers 5M on Friday (August 10). Gallen’s time of 26:35 saw him finish almost a minute clear of Mark McKinstry from North Belfast Harriers in 27:27. Winning the battle for third place was Tom Magee of East Antrim Harriers who edged out his club mate Matthew Hewitt, finishing in 28:58.

First of the women was Cathy McCourt in 32:43. She was followed home by Gillian McCrory of St Peter’s AC in 33:27 and Orangegrove’s Lynsey Tyro in 33:36 .