Hacketstown fun run had everyone ‘buzzing’

“EVERYONE was absolutely buzzing” at the Hacketstown festive fun run on Sunday 14 December, said organiser Peggy Coleman.

The entire community showed up in Christmas-themed costumes to fundraise for the maintenance of Hacketstown playground and donations to community games. “There were toddlers, pro runners and little old ladies; a range of people” among the 170-odd participants, she said.

The kids were enthralled by a very realistic grinch costume hiding Eddie Coleman, the Hacketstown fire station chief, who led the 3km run for the kids. “He made his own costume and stayed in character all day,” said Peggy.

“The kids actually thought it was the real grinch,” she said.

The 3km, 5km and 10km runs were professionally run, with medals and chipped timings surpassing the expectations of the local running club. Peggy ignored the bad weather warnings across the country that morning and, luckily, the rain held off for the event.

After the kids finished their run, they returned to St John’s Hall for an afternoon of entertainment and arts and crafts, provided by In Sync. Some transition-year enterprise students set up stalls to sell their wares: Ruby Doyle had personalised photo frames, Chloe sold Golden Crumbs cookie jars, and John and Niamh Flood sold handmade decorations in aid of the Wicklow South Hospice Support Team.

Liz Townsend, Anna Mulvaney, Martina Doyle and Gerrard Doyle from the Corner House pub arranged for Santa to visit the children in PJ Townsend’s vintage truck, and afterwards Conor McKearney and Deirdre Byrne played some music, with support from their granddaughter Grace.

The day raised around €1,300, and Peggy believes they can double it next year.

The playground committee, including Peggy and Shane Coleman, Lisa Doyle and Jackie Mooney, “were absolutely blown away by the support”, considering it’s the first time they had run the event, said Peggy.

“We’re very proud of ourselves,” she added.