RUNNING 10KM AT 2,000 feet with 40,000 other people through the streets of Addis Abeba in Ethiopia is not something many GAA players will be doing next week but Paul Durcan certainly will as ambassador and fundraiser with the Vincentian Lay Missionaries (VLM).
Attracting over 400 elite athletes the 14th edition of The Great Ethiopian Run will take place on Sunday 23rd November.
The Donegal goalkeeper and current Allstar says it was the priest who says mass for the Donegal team that got him interested.
“Fr Michael said mass for the team and I got to know him. It came about that he had a mutual friend in Donagh Kelly from KN networks and he asked Donagh would I get be interested in getting involved. And when I found out more about it I was very interested.”
While in Ethiopia Durcan will visit some of the 26 projects in which VLM and its 250 volunteers have been involved in since it began in 2002. He will be accompanied by Fr. Stephen Monaghan of VLM, former national chaplain to the Deaf in Ireland, and now closely associated with the first new school for Deaf Children in Ambo, south of Addis Abeba.
The All-Ireland winning 30-year-old is well aware that the hardest part of the challenge will be the altitude, making oxygen intake more difficult.
“It’s a 10k run and maybe 40,000 people. And its up at big altitude maybe 4/5000 foot so that’s the big challenge. I wouldn’t be too good on the big runs. At this time of year… If I get it done inside the hour I’ll be happy enough.
The trip itself will only last between three and four days but in that time Durcan will take in much of the work that the missionaries do in Ethiopia as well as meeting the renowned long distance and marathon record breaker and former world record holder, Ghebre Hailie Selassie at a social night before the run.
The two-time Allstar admits that he hasn’t done too much training for the even in the last while.
“To be honest I haven’t done a lot of training in the last seven or eight weeks. It’s been quiet enough time. In the last couple of weeks I’ve done a bit of running but nothing too serious.”
For more information and to donate you can visit http://www.vlm.ie/
Thanks for everything, you owe Dublin football nothing. Enjoy the break and best wishes going forward.
Seven all-ireland medals is some haul, Ciarán kilkenny at 27 years of age already has seven, he could end up with twelve, enjoy your retirement paddy
@Ronny Phelan: the poor old Mayo boys have none. Sad really.
@Sean: the only thing that’s sad is your obsession to bring up Mayo, even though this article has nothing to do with them.
@Sean: There happens to be an awful lot more than the Mayo boys without a single medal… Why single out the Mayo boys?
@Sean: it’s not about mayo, it’s about Paddy Andrews man. Jesus leave them alone. Great people and resilient.
Paddy is a dublin legend and a total gentleman in the flesh. As are all the lads.
Have a great and fulfilling life paddy!
@Ronny Phelan: 12 medals at 1.6 million a medal
@Ronny Phelan: 12 medals at 1.66 million a medal
@Jim Beatty: jesus you’re good at maths aren’t you. Wow man impressive
@Jim Beatty: well done Jim.
@Jim Beatty: paddy age means funding has had zero impact on his ability Jim. But once again don’t let facts get in the way of a bitter grown man having a cry on a public forum
@Jim Beatty: give yourself a chocolate gold medal in senior infants maths there lad. Cost 50c.
@my name: who said I was on about Paddy
Once again don’t let the facts get in the way
You don’t have a clue what you are on about
@Jim Beatty: you’re still crying in public I see
@my name: and you are still doing a ‘trump’ on it, by not been able to accept reality
Your hero trump lost the election, your favourite GAA team is financially doped, get over it
@my name: what did Dublin football win before the financial doping
Fcuk all …
@Jim Beatty: stop liking your own posts Jim. Kilkenny (even though you’re miles off topic again) comes from great stock no matter what you think of him. When you were on here as @@. You said he couldn’t play football even though he was current footballer of the year. And was man of the match n that final
If you know anything at all about football you’ll have heard of Sean Purcell, Kilkenny is related to him so he has pedigree to burn
@my name: the name of the sport is Gaelic FOOTball
Kilkenny might go through his full inter county career with less than a dozen foot passes which is a poor indictment on his FOOTballing ability
He is the best hand passer in the country but it is not basketball he is playing
@my name: you operated another handle on here for a while yourself, have you forgotten that already
@Jim Beatty: you clearly haven’t a clue about football Jim and just hope you don’t coach any kids your view of how the game is played. Check out his scoring stats, you’ll be doing yourself a favour
@my name: it’s football mate
And the fact that you hero worship a player that can go a full 70 mins of FOOTball without kick passing once shows how little you know about the game
You really should stay 1 million miles away from coaching kids
Here is another astonishing stat for you. Ciaran Kilkenny played the full 70 min again Mayo in the 2019 semi final and he did not kick once, not even ONCE. Wow
The lad belongs on a basketball court
@Jim Beatty: you’re making a show of your utter lack of football knowledge. He’s an integral part of Dublin’s build up play, the amount of scores he sets up is second to none Jim. Did you check his scoring stats, how many All Stars have his peers deemed him a worthy winner of, footballer of the year is the only hint I’ll give you. You should really go and work it out for yourself buddy. It’s might however take you some time but hang in with it, it’ll change your world
@my name: so you are saying I am wrong about the game against mayo in 2019
He did not kick the ball once
Are you now saying this is a lie ?
Like you claimed Tom Ryan was lying when he said that the 20 million had greatly help Dublin win all irelands
You are so deluded, your hero trump has nothing on you
@Jim Beatty: who won the game Jim? Point out where I called you a liar. I’m saying you have no comprehension of football tactics
@my name: it’s you that has no comprehension of what football is
You laud a player that goes 70 min in an all ireland semi final and does not kick the ball once
You should not be allowed next or near any kids for coaching with that sort of football philosophy
It’s called football for a reason, the ball is to be kicked
It is not called hand pass ball
@Jim Beatty: nobody, and I mean nobody, can lecture a dub on football.. We are the globetrotters of the GAA. We will continue to try and show you the path… You and every other culchie shud up and pay attention.. No offence to culchies..
@Jim Beatty: hand passing has been part of the game since 1884 buddy. You have that little of a clue about football or the tactics involved in the winning of a game. Ciaran Kilkenny walks on to any team in the country
@Jim Beatty: I’m saying you’re wrong as he kicked the ball in for Con to score his second against the numpty Keegan.
Facts he said! Facts! Have yourself a nice cuppa tea and a bickie there Jimbo
@TheHospitalPass: there’s Jim calling everyone Trump and saying they’re spouting lies.
The lad couldn’t tell a truth if he tried. Here’s your evidence Jimbo
https://youtu.be/3MXu3WlUfGI
@TheHospitalPass: the couple of shoulders he throws to Keegan going back into position are beauts
@Jim Beatty: god Jim you couldn’t make it up. After your rant last night, what happens today? Kilkenny with another FOOTballer of the year nominations
A brilliant servant and career with his county. Thank you very much Paddy
Great player, great name, thanks for helping to keep Sam at home for so long
Brilliant career.
I can see MDMA, Kevin Mc, Philly Mc, Cian O Sullivan, Rory O Caroll announcing a retirement before next season starts.
Thanks so much for everything. You played with 100% heart every time. I wish you all the best for your future
Brilliant servant to and ambassador for the game. An agile and nippy forward who could shoot off both feet and who came back from a nasty broken jaw injury in 2019. Thanks for all of the memories Paddy.
Paddy thanks for all the great days.you dreamed as a kid to win one all Ireland.you have 7.congratulalations winner
Fantastic player ; would walk on any other team in the country!
Mad that he played corner back in the startled earwig game. Thought he deserved an All Star in 2015
@Conor Pocock: he was the difference between Mayo and Dublin in the replay until Dublin walked away with it with 10 minutes to go.
I wonder how this announcement will sit with Joe Brolly, he has a grá for the dubs so he might allow it, I think it’s primarily Mayo he hates (ps I’m not from Mayo, so I think more power to them all if they want to make public announcements of retirement, there’s no harm in it, and gives them an opportunity to thank those that have helped them, and they can receive a bit of well deserved recognition for their efforts too)
Up the rebels we be back soon :)
@Mark Murphy: back down home with no medal.
@Cosmos20202020: if the other 31 counties want a Sam medal, they should come to Dublin for the weekend, they might find one in their change.
Well done on a great career, and thanks for the enjoyment you provided.