Finn Valley AC welcomes European Gold medal hero Mark English home

Donegal’s European Champion, Mark English, received a hero's welcome at his home club, Finn Valley Athletics Club, and told the packed gathering that “everyone from Donegal can achieve.”

Mark English was the guest of honour to celebrate his record run to win the 800 metres at the European Championships in Birmingham this year, becoming the first Irish man to win a European Athletics Championship Gold medal in the process.

Hosting the occasion was Finn Valley AC Public Relations Officer, Chris McNulty, and he was joined at the front stage by Finn Valley AC founder and record-BREAKING Irish Athletics team manager, Patsy McGonagle.

A video was played of English’s most famous race in Birmingham, alongside the commentary of RTÉ’s Greg Allen, to rapturous applause when English crossed the line in first place after his perfectly timed kick for home.

After the speeches were concluded, English signed autographs and posed in photos with numerous excitable youngsters, with a well-disciplined, orderly queue that took up space in the whole ceremony room.

Opening the evening, McNulty said: “We welcome home our European Champion, 800 metre Gold medallist, Mark English.

“A few weeks ago, on a magical night in Birmingham, Mark rewrote the history books.

“What a season it has been for Mark English. A piece of Irish sporting history: to become the first Irish man to win a European Championship Gold, running at 1.45.26 for Gold, and clocking a European Championship record in the semi-final at 1.43.49.

“Putting that into some context, he took out a 48-year-old record that was held by Olaf Beyer in 1978. That 800 metre European record stood until a few weeks ago in Birmingham, when this man broke it.

“He also finished sixth at the World Ultimates in Budapest, and there he recorded a new PB and Donegal record at 1.42.78.

“He has also won a Diamond League 800 metres in Shanghai, and had notable performances in Rome and London over 800 metres, not to mention breaking the Irish 1,000 metre, indoor 800 metre, and indoor 600 metre records, all in this calendar year.”

Cllr Ciaran Brogan spoke on behalf of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District and congratulated English, a Letterkenny native.

He commented: “I am delighted to be here because of the joy that Mark brought to so many people. We are very proud of you.

“The commentary that evening was unbelievable. I think I watched it 10 times the next morning.

“It is a very special evening for Mark, Patsy (McGonigle) and all of you at Finn Valley. We are very proud in Letterkenny of your success, and very proud of the contribution that you’ve made.”

Cllr Brogan also acknowledged Mark’s father, Joe English, describing him as a “real leader in athletics,” whose “contribution to athletics has been huge.”

Speaking next was Patsy McGonagle, of whom McNulty said: “Patsy McGonagle has been a close part of Mark’s journey for several years.

“Patsy, of course, managed the Irish team a record 72 times and was alongside Mark among those early championships that he competed in.”

McGonagle stated: “As much as it’s about Finn Valley, it’s about Donegal. It’s about that process that began with Mark as a young boy at Woodland National School.

“He was a Donegal man, and the nationals always referred to him as a Donegal man, and that is exactly what he is.

“We’re here to acknowledge this great achievement: European champion, the only Irish man ever to have won it. With all the great middle-distance athletes we have had in this country, only one has ever achieved the Gold medal position.

“This sport that we are in is a global sport. When you have a fella from Donegal who started in primary school, and he’s amongst the best in the world, and could arguably beat any of them on his day, you’ve got something special.

“We could have gathered here tonight with a big crowd to acknowledge a Diamond League victory.”

McGonagle continued: “You bring the preparation, the commitment, and the focus and all the jigsaw pieces that are necessary to get an athlete to this point, for Mark to get to this point. This young fella gets to this point.

“This jigsaw included his family, big time. It wasn’t all plain sailing. They were in Birmingham, at the Ultimate Championships, and they travelled, but sport isn’t always about happy stories. Sometimes it doesn’t work, and the family and athlete come home, and this athlete picks it up again.

“It says that an athlete who started at eight years of age at a National School in Donegal can go all the way. Mark English has shown that this road is possible; it can be done, it has been done, and that is a serious message.

“He is a special one-off, and we’ve got to hope that in these primary schools, one of these days, another athlete will come along.”

Taking to the podium, the star man, English took centre stage, thanking all who attended.

He said: “To all the people over the years, it has been a long journey to get to this point, but we are here with the Gold medal today.

“Since I wore the first Irish vest back in 2013 in Moscow, I have been to a lot of countries. I have been to the likes of Rome, Doha, Beijing, Tokyo, and this year, Birmingham and Budapest.

“Throughout all of that, one thing has always remained, and that is I always call Donegal home. It is a real pleasure to represent Finn Valley Athletics Club, Donegal athletics, and Irish athletics.

“Most people at a major 800 metre championship final, all they see is 90 seconds of speed chess. They see the podium, the victory, the lap of honour, etc., but what they don’t see is the thousands of hours of practice that goes in. It’s a long process.”

English then thanked his coach, sponsors, and Patsy McGonagle for helping him with high-altitude camps,

He continued: “I have a lot of people to thank who have helped me get there. When I was warming up in Birmingham, before the European final, obviously I was thinking about race tactics, but it was not the only thing that was in my head. I was carrying every kind of dark, pre-season, winter morning that I was out training.

“Back here in Donegal, I was carrying the wisdom and the guidance of every coach who has worked with me. Throughout the years, it was instilled in me that I can achieve at the European level; I can go out with the Gold medal, even before I ever believed that I could do it myself. So I give a big thanks to them.

“Winning this medal didn’t happen overnight. It was a 12-year journey, and over those 12 years, there were a lot of silvers and bronzes. A lot of injuries, setbacks, and a lot of seasons were disrupted when my body wouldn’t cooperate.

“It’s tough to manage this sport, especially when it is combined with becoming a doctor at the same time. There were times I was told that maybe I was just a solid championship performer, that I wouldn’t scale the top of any podium, but this club and Donegal athletics always taught me to never settle. To always strive for more, and that is what I did.

“To become the first Irish man to win a European Gold medal is an achievement that belongs to myself, but it is an achievement that belongs to Finn Valley Athletics Club, to Donegal athletics, and to Irish athletics. I hope that these guys recognise the work that they’ve put in and the work that has helped me over the years as well.”

English then delivered a personal message to the numerous young and aspiring athletes in the audience. He said: “I was standing right where you were when I was your age. I wasn’t exactly a child prodigy. I won a couple of races, but I also lost a lot of races.

“I think that shows you to believe in the process, which I would’ve done at a young age, because sport will test you.

“You will have hard days; you will have races where things don’t really go to plan, you get injuries, you get illnesses. If athletics taught me anything, it is that consistency and patience will always win out in the end.

“Trust your coaches. Every hard training session will be worth it. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are limited by where you come from.

“Everyone from Donegal can achieve. If a local lad from Letterkenny can achieve European Gold, then each and every one of you can achieve your dreams.”

In concluding the evening’s speeches, McNulty acknowledged the support of English’s family and called for more awards to be given to the star athlete.

He stated: “The English family are with us tonight, and it is so important to acknowledge and point to that firm, strong support and encouragement that you guys, Joe and Brigid and the extended family, have given to Mark, because that is a platform in its own right.

“We were delighted here at Finn Valley to see that the local councillors have asked that Mark be recognised by the local authority in honour of his achievements, both this year and going back over the last 12 years.

“The thought struck me that, given the level and the standing of what has been achieved, elected representatives would possibly consider that the top honour that can be bestowed upon an individual citizen of this county by the council could be considered when that discussion is happening. This is a guy who is really deserving of any honour that makes its way to him.”