Finn Valley AC welcome home Triple World Masters medallist Sinead McConnell

Triple World Masters medallist Sinead McConnell was welcomed back to Finn Valley AC on Thursday evening.

Sinead won two silvers and a bronze in Gothenburg, Sweden over the last couple of weeks. In both the 5k and 10k race walks, the Castlefin woman was beaten only by Michelle Rohl, the United States athlete who competed at three Olympics and who just missed out on a place at this year’s Olympic Games in Paris. 

Sinead followed up by winning bronze in the 20k on her first time ever to race over the distance. Her time, 1:59.38, is now in the top 20 on the Irish all-time list - 17th, in fact, on a list containing the likes of Gillian O’Sullivan, Olive Loughnane, Kate Veale and Yvonne Cassin, as well as former Finn Valley AC athlete Anne McGill.

After a long spell out of the sport, she has come back as a formidable Masters competitor. Her medal haul at the World and European Masters Championships since 2018 now stands at a whopping 16 medals. Finn Valley AC media officer Chris McNulty was MC for Thursday’s homecoming at which local independent Councillor Martin Scanlon hailed her impact in medalling while being a mother.

“We’re very lucky to have what we have,” he said. “When you put it all together, it’s a fantastic club, a fantastic environment.”

Former Irish athletics team manager Patsy McGonagle, who acts as Sinead’s coach, noted how the remarkable medal haul was won while managing an injury over recent months. 

Members of the McGranaghan family, including her parents Peadar and Sadie and sister Catriona Devine, were among the attendance.  Sinead thanked those who have supported her journey - and vowed that there are more medals to target in the not-too-distant future. 

“It was a big challenge to go through it,” she said. “There were days it was long and lonely. Patsy really helped me through it. I may not ever be an Olympian but I actually lived like a real athlete. It was nice. I’m very fortunate to be back up here with three medals. I really appreciate the work that Patsy has put into me. I might not be the easiest to deal with! He tells me now I’m going to be doing a bit of cross-country. 

“I look back and have regrets about leaving athletics at 17. I went off to America thinking I knew it all but now this is my life. Thanks to my parents and family and to everyone here.”