Large crowds expected for run in memory of adopted Clare man

Large crowds are expected in Barefield this Sunday to celebrate the life of an adopted Clare man with the staging of the ‘Pat Bogue 6k’.

It is now almost five months since the Kilkenny native and dad of two young boys collapsed at breakfast at his Larchill home outside Ennis and died.

The 49-year-old was the ‘Leader’ of the Clare Crusaders’ running group that has raised over €750,000 to fund the operation of the Clare Crusaders Clinic for children’s therapies in Barefield through running the Dublin City Marathon.

All proceeds from this Sunday’s fun run and walk – which promises to be a family centred event – will go to the Clare Crusaders Children’s Clinic.

Along with the run, there will be raffles on the day with prizes and vouchers up for grabs with all prizes donated by local businesses and friends of Pat.

Pat – who moved to Clare in 1993 – was the only Clare Crusader runner to run every Dublin marathon since 2007 and his long time friend, Padraig O’Sullivan recalled this week “Pat ran his first marathon crossing the line holding hands with myself and Mark Fitzharris”.

Padraig gave the eulogy for Pat at his funeral mass at Barefield Church last November and he said on Wednesday: “That year the bond of friendship between the three of us was unreal.”

He described Pat as ‘one of a kind’ and said that Pat loved, adored and cherished his wife, Maria Cosgrove and their two young boys, Conall and Colm; the two boys, he said, “were Pat’s pride and joy”

Padraig said that Pat was a person “you would admire, look up to and try to be like every day. Pat touched the hearts of so many people at home and abroad”.

Pat’s death, he added, “is a huge loss for everyone. Pat was a person everyone looked up to”.

Pat ran 23 marathons in all but the Dublin City marathon on the October bank holiday weekend was the focus for every year and Pat was an ever present since 2007. In a nod to Pat’s expertise in agricultural research where he earned a doctorate, Padraig said: “I lost a great friend in the ‘Doctor’ and I want to thank the Bogue and Cosgrove families for donating a defibrillator.”

Padraig said that the defibrillator will be located at the DNG O’ Sullivan Hurley car park in Ennis for all the public to use.

The Pat Bogue 6K starts at 1pm at Barefield village on Sunday.

To book visit eventmaster.ie/event/d2y4FnGSwV