A Laois athlete who won a medal at the European Cross Country Championships will receive a Civic Reception on Thursday, June 1.
This is the highest honour that Laois County Council can bestow upon someone in the county.
In December of last year, Portlaoise’s Mary Mulhare was the crucial runner as Ireland claimed a stunning bronze medal at the European Cross Country Championships.
Ireland claimed a silver medal in this event in 2021 but were without the talented Ciara Mageean and Fionnuala McCormack.
Therefore, many pundits didn’t give Ireland a chance of repeating a medal winning feat.
However, the team timed their run to perfection as they improved their individual standings lap by lap.
Sisters Eilish and Roisin Flanagan led the team home side-by-side in 11th and 12th place as individuals.
The battle for bronze was down between Ireland and Spain with Portlaoise’s Mary Mulhare set to be Ireland’s final scorer.
The Portlaoise CBS teacher crossed the line in 27th position and that was enough to secure the medal.
A week later, Mary Mulhare returned to action where she won the Laois Cross Country Championships.
The motion for the Civic Reception was made at the January meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District by Fianna Fail’s Catherine Fitzgerald.
It was seconded by Fine Gael’s Willie Aird and will get underway next week at 7.30pm.
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