Oisín Ó Gailín hits record-breaking notes on memorable Irish debut in France

Oisín Ó Gailín had an Irish debut to remember on Saturday night - taking out two records that stood for 47 and 35 years.

The Finn Valley AC athlete donned the Irish singlet for the first time at the European 10,000m Cup in Pacé, France and clocked new Donegal and club records over the distance. 

In the ‘B’ race around the French town, Ó Gailín finished seventh in 29:02.05.

The Ballybofey man, based now in Wyoming in the United States, jetted home for his international debut off the back of some record-breaking runs across the Atlantic. 

Ó Gailín’s Irish team-mate Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers AC) won gold in the ‘A’ race, as he clocked a time of 27:40.47.

For Ó Gailín, getting the chance to compete at this stage was a serious elevation - but  the 28-year-old made it one to savour.

His time goes in as a new Donegal record, taking out Danny McDaid’s long-standing 29:10, clocked in Liverpool in 1978.

The mark is also a new Finn Valley AC club record, eclipsing Pat Hegarty’s 30:31 from 1990. 

Finn Valley AC stalwart Neil Martin and the athlete’s parents were among those cheering him on.

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.

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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.