Oisín Ó Gailín ready for Irish debut at European 10,000m Cup

Oisín Ó Gailín will fulfil a lifetime ambition on Saturday evening when he laces up the runners at the European 10,000m Cup in Pacé, France.

The Finn Valley AC athlete, who has clocked several notable times in the United States of late, will don the Irish vest for the first time.

The Ballybofey native has been domiciled across the Atlantic since taking up a scholarship at West Alabama in 2016.

In recent years, his graph has shot upwards; selection for the European Cup a result of his races turning some heads.

“This is real,” Ó Gailín told Donegal Live. “There is a very good standard in this. It’s the real deal, but it’s something that I have put in the work for. I’m absolutely delighted to get this chance.” 

Ireland’s Efrem Gidey, the national record holder (27:26.95) leads the charge in a field that also includes former European 5000m champion Ilias Fifa and Yohanes Chiappinelli from Italy.

Ó Gailín recently ran a Donegal record 14:02 over 5k in Boston having previously broke the Donegal 5000m record on the track when going 13:41.69 at the Stanford Invitational in California.

Last December, he ran a new Donegal indoor 3000m record of 7:52.14 and he holds the county indoor record over 5000m (13:49.61). Along with Stranorlar’s Gary Murray, he is one of only two Donegal men to run a sub-four-minute mile. In 2023, he crossed the line in 3:59.07 at the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University.

He said: “When I did the sub-4 mile, I didn’t think anything would top that, but wearing the Irish vest definitely will.

“I got in based off my 5k time and my current form. I have an idea in mind and time wise I’d love to under the 29-minute mark. Ideally, I want to get out and compete. I want to do myself, my family and everyone proud.

“It has been a lifetime goal of mine to represent Ireland. I did an interview in 2019 where I talked about aiming for an Irish vest. I was thinking about it way before then, but even that article was six years ago. 

“I felt that I was on the right trajectory and I’m glad to finally get it now.”

He is based now in Wyoming, where is recently engaged, but a return closer to home could be on the agenda at some point. He has never lost touch with Finn Valley AC and wears the blue and white singlet with pride wherever he runs, while he links up closely with Neil Martin when back on home soil.

The Donegal 1500m record - the 3:41.02 set by Murray in Sweden - has stood since July 2005 and Ó Gailín has that in his sights now.

He said: “I really want Gary Murray’s 3:41 record. I’ll have a couple of cracks at that and I’d love to do a sub-4 mile in Ireland.”

The school sports took place at Finn Valley AC this week. Ó Gailín has fond memories of his formative years at the club. He also trained in the Finn Valley Centre for a time with the Finn Valley Amateur Boxing Club.

Georgie Kelly, now at Carlisle United, and Jonny Carlin, who is on the Donegal senior football panel, were among his early training partners along with Matthew Carlin, Daire Bonner and Padhraic Patton.

“They really pushed me on,” Ó Gailín says. “They were good lads. I played for both Cappry and MacCumhaillls. The GAA training clashed one day and I went to MacCumhaills, but when we were driving past Finn Valley again I saw all the boys cooling down and I was like: ‘What are you doing?’ That got me back quickly.

Read next: Donegal boxers feature on bill against Americans in Ballyliffin

“I remember doing the 60m sprints on the old gravel track at Finn Valley. I have never been so nervous - ever - for a race than that day. The nerves I felt that day were unreal.”