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The Sun
19-07-2025
- The Sun
I tried the unusual ‘midnight race' where the sun never sets – along with insane whale-watching and thermal baths
THE sun beams down on me as I run along the path. It's a beautiful running track, a little stream gurgles to my left, purple flowers and gorgeous greenery standing out against the bright blue sky as I sweat it out along with 2,500 other runners. 3 3 I look down at my watch to check my pace and notice the time – 10.30pm. Hang on. My bedtime is 10pm, what am I doing? I should explain. I'm in Iceland, where in the summer, there is almost 24 hours of sunlight every day. As a keen runner, I signed up to the Suzuki Midnight run to take on the summer solstice challenge and I'm in good company with more than 2,600 fellow runners. I meet a self-described 'little old lady' from Canada who wanted to explore Iceland for her 70th birthday and take on the run, an Aussie couple lining up for their race photo and a gaggle of Irish women who are raising cash for a pal with cancer. I've elected to do the 10km but you can sign up to the 5km or even push yourself to complete the 21km. And while I'm normally a morning runner, there's something fun about taking on this midnight challenge. As the race gun goes off, I soak up the sunshine and the gorgeous views. Afterwards, I'm met with an electrolyte drink and medal, and I'm swept up in the crowd of locals heading straight to the thermal pools to soak their tired muscles. Iceland also has plenty of other activities for any non-runners, thanks to its jaw-dropping nature. Martin Lewis warns about strict passport rule that could see you board your flight - only to get sent home on arrival The afternoon before the race, I spent two hours whale watching, spotting humpbacks and minkes. Gearing up in a thick red suit and strapping on a life vest, I jump onto the RIB. Soon, we're heading out on to the open Atlantic. Suddenly, our boat veers to the left – our skipper has spotted something. The boat's engine is cut and the air is still with anticipation. 'Fwissshhhhhh'. Everyone jumps at the sound and turns to the right – there a massive humpback whale has breached out of the water, rolling its body along the surface. 3 It circles the boat, breaking the surface of the water several times until, with a final flick of its tail, it disappears into the depths. We spend two hours out on the water, spotting half a dozen humpbacks and even an elusive minke on the trip. We are also delighted to spot hundreds of puffins flying around a small island off the coast of Iceland's capital. It's a world away from the UK, despite being just a three-hour flight from London with Play Airlines. Later that night, as I finally drift off to sleep in my hotel room, the sky outside is still bright. My muscles might be a little sore, and my internal clock utterly confused, but it was definitely an adventure worth staying up past my bedtime.
Irish Post
27-06-2025
- General
- Irish Post
Unique project preserves personal histories of Irish women
AN INNOVATIVE Irish heritage project dedicated to recording and preserving the personal histories of Irish women visited the Coventry Irish Society this month, offering a powerful insight into the experiences of migration, identity and cultural memory. Úna Gan a Gúna – established in 2017 and registered as a charity in 2021 – brings together Irish women to share their stories, many of which are now archived in collaboration with the Department of History and Philosophy at Birkbeck, University of London. Dr Ruth Beecher, Founder and Trustee at Úna Gan a Gúna (Pics: Chris Egan) At the Coventry event, attendees heard from Dr Ruth Beecher, founder and trustee of the charity, and interviewer Pat Rodwell, who facilitated a round-table discussion with several women who have contributed to the archive. Among them was Ravnder, who was born in Cork and moved to the outskirts of Birmingham at the age of five. In Conversation, Caroline Brogan, Sally O_Donnell and Úna Gan a Gúna Trustee Daisy Roberts (Pics: Chris Egan) She spoke movingly about how her Irish identity has remained central to her life, interwoven with her Indian heritage. Another speaker, Pat, originally from Dublin, recalled her journey to Bedford to train as a nurse. She shared memories of her younger years – 'moving to England and having the craic' – and her desire to see the world rather than immediately settle down. Pierre Botcherby with Susannah Wilson (Pics: Chris Egan) The event also highlighted the work of the project's volunteers. Katie, a volunteer with the charity, reflected on the importance of capturing these personal histories, citing the example of her grandmother, Elizabeth 'Betty' Hunter. Originally from Dún Laoghaire, Betty moved to Coventry in 1964 and went on to become a pioneering social worker, credited with transforming dementia care in the city. Ilana Ravozzolo with Úna Gan a Gúna Founder Dr Ruth Beecher (Pics: Chris Egan) The Úna Gan a Gúna archive continues to grow, offering a vital record of Irish women's lives and their impact on communities in Britain and beyond. More information, including access to selected interviews, is available at See More: Coventry, Irish Women
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Tipperary Olympian Sharlene Mawdsley goes public with GAA star boyfriend
The athlete has kept her love life secret since her debut at the Paris Olympics last year. However, this weekend she revealed her boyfriend as Tipperary hurler Mikey Breen. Taking to social media, the 26-year-old shared a snap of herself and Breen wearing matching GAA jerseys as she supported the full back following their home win over Waterford on Saturday. 'Tippin' on,' she captioned the post which shows the pair beaming down the camera at Semple Stadium. Taking to the comments, fans expressed their delight at the pairing. 'Two of Tipp's finest athletes. Magic,' wrote one person. 'Hon Tipp,' added another. A third shared: 'Premier class through and through, H'on Tipp.' Singer and fellow Tipp woman Una Healy gave her seal of approval, simply commenting the heart eye emoji. Mikey himself responded to the post with: 'Any tag, nah?', poking fun at his girlfriend for not tagging him in the picture. Sharing the snap to his own social media, he commented: 'This fan was following me around all day.' Sharlene has recently returned home from the World Relays in China, where she helped Team Ireland secure a place at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. Mawdsley finished the race in second place, ahead of Poland. She raced as part of the Irish Women's 4x400m relay team alongside Sophie Becker, Rhasidat Adeleke and Rachel McCann. She also secured Ireland's spot in the mixed 4x400m relay team with Rhasidat Adeleke, Cillín Greene, and Conor Kelly.
