On the 10^th September 2020, two days before his 87^th birthday, it will be 60 years to the day since Willie Dunne competed in the 1960 Olympic Games marathon in Rome.

It is arguably the most iconic race in the history of the marathon. The race was won by Abebe Bilika, who took the decision to run the race in his bare feet despite sections of the route being over cobblestone. Bikila, a soldier by trade (a member of the Imperial Guards who protected the Emperor of Ethiopia), set a new world record of 2.15.16 and became a pioneer for African distance running. He became the first man to successfully defend the Olympic marathon title when he won in Tokyo in 1964 lowering the world record mark to 2.12.11.

Here is a link to the 1960 race – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_zRr9KOFWEWillie was wearing no. 59 and his clubmate Bertie Messitt, who was an early race leader, wore no. 58. Gerry McIntyre (Clonliffe Harriers) wore No. 60.

Back in 1956, Willie, together with his brothers Tommy, Joe and Brendan, were key members of the Donore Harriers teams that began a run of 19 senior cross-country titles within a period of 20 years.

Willie competed 4 times in the International Cross-Country Championships, the precursor to the World XC Championships, with his best result being 5^th at the Pontcanna Fields in Cardiff on 22^nd March 1958. The top 3 in that 9-mile race were international superstars in the sport in their day; Stanley Eldon (ENG) 46.29, Alain Mimoun (FRA) 46.30 and Frank Sando (ENG) 46.33. Willie ran 46.43 and led home the Irish team that also included his Donore Harriers team-mate Bertie Messitt, who placed 19^th. Ireland came 7^th of 9 teams.

Willie won the All-Ireland (AAUI) championship marathon in 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1966, before winning the first Bord Luthchleas Na hEireann (BLE) marathon in 1967 following the amalgamation of the NACAI and AAUI.

The Donore Harriers athlete competed several times in the international Marathon de Berchem in Belgium. In 1971 he came 2^nd (2.23.10), behind French international Bernard Caraby (2.19.58), whilst in 1972 he placed 3^rd (2.17.54) behind his club teammate Brendan O’Shea, who won in 2.16.50.

On the 5^th March 1977 Willie contested the first national veterans (masters) XC championships at the Phoenix Park, finishing 3^rd behind George Blackburn of Westbury Harriers and Noel Hendricks of Wexford. Twenty-nine years later Willie came 2^nd in the national M70 grade at Carrignavar in Co. Cork. He eventually retired from competition when 80 years old.

The Dublin 8 native came 25^th in the inaugural Dublin Marathon in 1980 in a time of 2.37.07 and ran a blistering 2.30.13 in the following years aged 48.

Willie won a European Masters marathon gold in the M45 class at Viareggio, Italy in 1978 and won a team silver, together with his clubmate Jim McNamara and his brother Brendan, in the 10km XC at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Melbourne in 1987.

He coached at Donore Harriers for the best part of 30 years, gradually stepping away in the early 2010s. Among the successful juvenile girls in his squad were Roseanne Galligan, Karen O’Neill, Emily Rankin and Brid Larkin

NOTE: In December 2017, the Juvenile Section coaches at Donore Harriers initiated a 2-mile handicap race run in conjunction with the Waterhouse Byrne Baird Shield 10-mile Handicap race. The winner of the Juvenile race is presented with the Willie Dunne Shield

<NOTE: A very special thanks to Jean Dunne, Willie’s sister-in-law (wife of Brendan) and Amanda Gilsenan (Jean’s daughter-in-law) for their support with this interview>

STANDARD QUESTIONS

PLACE AND YEAR OF BIRTH? The Coombe on 15.09.1933. I was one of 9 boys and a girl

WHERE WERE YOU EDUCATED? St. Kevin’s Schools in the Black Pitts, Dublin 8

WHAT WAS YOUR MAIN CAREER PATH? Silversmith

IN WHAT YEAR DID YOU JOIN DONORE HARRIERS? 1950 give or take!

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE DONORE HARRIERS? I think it was 1949 when I saw a group of people running in College Park. A man said that he would give half-a-crown to whoever won the 440 yards race. So, I joined in and I won. That got me started in the running. Donore Harriers was my local club

WERE YOU A MEMBER OF ANY OTHER CLUB BEFORE JOINING DONORE HARRIERS? No

DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN ANY OTHER SPORT? I used to box at the St. Francis Boxing Club in the Liberties. Other family members also boxed there

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE ATHLETICS EVENT? The marathon

WHAT WERE YOUR MAIN ROLE(S) AT THE CLUB? Athlete and coach

WHO WERE YOUR SPORTING INSPIRATIONS/INFLUENCES? It was Ronnie Delany

SOCIAL QUESTIONS

FAVOURITE COUNTRY VISITED? AND WHY? Puerto Rico. I competed there in a team event together with my brother Brendan and another club member Brendan O’Shea. We won the team gold

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER INTERESTS AWAY FROM ATHLETICS/SPORT? I like a bit of opera and to listen to classical music. I also enjoy watching sport on TV, in particular rugby

IF DISERT ISLAND DISCS ASKED YOU TO PLAY 3 SONGS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

1. Nessun Dorma

2. Serenade from the Student Prince

3. Old Refrain by Deanna Durbin

ATHLETICS QUESTIONS

WHO WERE YOUR COACHES? Eddie Hogan and Cyril White

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE YOUR BEST ATHLETICS ACHIEVEMENT? I set the Irish marathon record of 2.14.35 (#) when I won the national championships in 1967. It was the first combined BLE championships after the NACAI and AAUE came together

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE COACHED SESSION? The long run

DESCRIBE THE MOST DIFFICULT SESSION THAT YOU DID? Anything with hills

WHAT WAS A TYPICAL WEEKLY TRAINING PLAN IN YOUR HEYDAYS? I used to run between 100 and 130 miles in a week

DO YOU STILL FOLLOW THE ACTIVITIES OF DONORE HARRIERS? Yes, but it’s difficult these days because I can’t get to the club so often – and I am not on the internet

WHO ARE YOUR TOP 3 IRISH SPORTSPERSONS OF ALL TIME (all sports)?

1. John Treacy

2. Sonia O’Sullivan

3. Eamonn Coghlan

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

DID YOU COMPETE AS A JUVENILE OR JUNIOR ATHLETE? Yes, I started running as a junior, known as youths back in the day

SANTRY 1956, IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A GOLDEN ERA FOR DONORE

HARRIERS IN IRISH CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING… YOU WERE ON THE SCORING TEAM THAT WON THE INTER-CLUBS THAT DAY, WHAT IS YOUR MEMORY OF THAT DAY? I remember that I came 7^th. My brother Tommy was 2^nd. We were all delighted with the team win and celebrated afterwards in Dillon’s Pub, which was close to our clubhouse in Hospital Lane. However, I never touched alcohol

THE DUNNE FAMILY WERE A DYNASTY IN DONORE HARRIERS. I NOTICE – AS

EXAMPLE – THAT THE 1961 NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY WINNING TEAM

INCLUDED BROTHERS WILLIE, JOE AND BRENDAN DUNNE. TELL US MORE

ABOUT THAT? All my brothers were runners, some did the running more than others. I came 6^th with Joe 11^th and Brendan in 12^th. Joe was also a good runner! I was also on the scoring Donore Harriers team that won in 1962

YOU RAN THE HISTORIC 1960 ROME OLYMPIC MARATION IN 1960, WHAT ARE YOUR RECOLLECTIONS OF THE RACE AND THE ROME OLYMPIC GAMES? I remember that I had heat stroke 2 days before the marathon. I got to meet Cassius Clay (Mohammed Ali) and I still have his autograph to this day. And I remember that we all got Parker pens. When I got home there was a great celebration in the Iveagh Trust Flats (Kevin Street) – and I remember that my mother felt very proud that I had competed in the Olympics Games

<NOTE: Willie Dunne (2.33.08) came 42^nd from a field of 75 athletes>

YOU HAVE A SPECIAL STORY TO TELL ABOUT THE GREAT ABEBE BILIKA, PLEASE TELL US ABOUT THAT? Bikila stayed in the same Olympic accommodation and there was great excitement in the flats after he won the marathon.He was a lovely man, but he didn’t have a word of English. We used to go on runs together with some of the other distance runners

DID YOU PREFER RACING ROAD OR CROSS-COUNTRY? Road, too many hills in cross-country

WHAT ARE YOUR ABIDING MEMORIES OF COACH EDDIE HOGAN’S ERA OF THE 1950s, 60s and 70s, WHEN DONORE HARRIERS WON 19 NATIONAL CROSS-COUNTRY TITLES IN 20 YEARS? It was a great period for the club.Eddie Hogan was a great coach. He was very dedicated. I think that he was at the club morning, noon and night

WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT RUNNING IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARATHON DE BERCHEM BACK IN THE EARLY 1970s? I ran in that race a few times. When I finished 2^nd in 1971 it was the first time that I made the podium in an international race. I went to the race with Dave Reynolds (Lourdes AC) from Drogheda and we struck up a friendship. We used to talk about the running and our jobs. I think he said that he was fitter in a local cement factory.

I remember that I was leading the race in 1972 past the halfway. I passed halfway just outside 70 minutes. There was a local official on a bike who was shouting at me, and I couldn’t make out if he was saying “you in front” or “two in front” with his Belgian accent. I couldn’t see anyone up the road, but I still decided to try and speed up. Eventually, I got tired and Brendan O’Shea caught up to me and that was that. I finished 3^rd.

<NOTE: Here is an extract from the book ‘ATHLETICS IN DROGHEDA 1861 -2001’ by Joe Coyle – in which he gives an account of the trip to the ‘Berchem Marathon’ in 1971 … On written confirmation of his selection (Dave) Reynolds reported to the Santry Stadium on the Sunday before the race. He was loaned an Irish track suit, which he was told to give back as soon as he returned. He was given a green Irish international vest, which he could keep. He was given a separate badge of the national shamrock motif, which he was to arrange to have sewn on the front of his vest. (Willie) Dunne and he were given return flight tickets Dublin-Brussels and they were given written instructions on how to get to the race from Brussels and how and when to get back to the airport.

When they (Reynolds and Dunne) arrived in Brussels they boarded a train for Duffer, a small town near Antwerp. On arrival, they were met by Irish man, Paddy Cuddy, from Aughnacloy in Co. Tyrone, who had married a local girl and stayed in Belgium after the war. He arranged their accommodation. Although they were racing the following day the athletes were obliged to stay a further four days because the ‘six day’ return flights were the most economic that BLE could purchase.

Cuddy had arranged for the Belgian coach of the local Duffer A.C to give the Irish runners information about the race. There was one small hitch – the Belgium coach had few words of English.

Not surprisingly, in the heart of sports mad Europe, the marathon was a big event locally. There were 118 starters, a huge field in those days. Commencing at 7pm on a September evening darkness came quickly and most of the distance was run under the street lighting of the city. The course was flat, incorporating some difficult stretches of cobbles, but Reynold’s abiding memory is of the enthusiastic crowds lining the entire course and their encouragement to the runners. He never experienced anything like it.

The two Irishmen were in close contact through much of the race, but as the field settled after the early miles, they were not sure what was happening up front. They could see the flashing blue lights of the official lead car ahead of them. Approaching twenty miles the Belgian coach who had been darting from point to point on a bicycle, rode up to them, gesticulated and shouted: “treee, fooor”. Dunne and Reynolds correctly interpreted this to mean that they were holding third and fourth places. Two French men had slipped away early in the race and one was tiring badly. Dunne caught him first to move into second and the Drogheda runner passed him a short time later to go clear in third place. But the French man’s team-mate (Bernard) Caraby held off the strongly finishing Irish pair to win in two-seconds under 2hrs and 20mins, with Reynolds clocking 2hrs 23mins 24 secs., just nineteen seconds behind Dunne.       

The following day the first three finishers were paraded in front of a 20,000-crowd attending a track and field meeting in the Heysel Stadium, Brussels … They did a lap of honour and were introduced trackside to the legendary Belgian athlete of the day Emile Puttemans. Most importantly for the lads they were given envelopes which covered their expenses. If they had finished outside the top three, they would have been out of pocket because of their enforced extended stay in Belgium…>

<NOTE: Dave Reynolds was the founding member of Star of the Sea AC in 1972>

IS IT TRUE THAT YOU RAN IN THE FIRST DUBLIN MARATHON IN 1980? Yes, I ran in the first Dublin Marathon <NOTE: Willie placed 25^th in 2.37.07, just one place and 5 seconds behind Jim McNamara>. But I did better in the second Dublin Marathon. I came 43^rd in 2.30.13 at 48 years of age. My brother Brendan ran 2.40.

DID YOU EVER HAVE TO DEAL WITH LONG-TERM INJURY? I had a lot of injuries and I still struggle with walking after all the wear and tear of running

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WAS YOUR LAST RACE? I ran in the Waterhouse Byrne Baird when I was 80 years old. A few years back! I had to walk most of it, and I thought that was it <NOTE: Willie never won the WBB>

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPORTING REGRETS? I have no sporting regrets, only happy memories

HOW LONG WERE YOU A COACH AT DONORE HARRIERS? 20 years, maybe more

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING YOUNG ATHLETES? Take it easy at the start and have patience. Success needs to be long-term, so be patient

END NOTE: The Willie Dunne Shield winners to date are: -

2017 – Oliver Hopkins

2018 – Amber Lynch

2019 – James Dunne

END NOTE: To finish, here is another video clip of the 1960 Olympic Marathon – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijk72IL6BDwAt 2.09 you will spot Willie Dunne No. 59, Bertie Messitt No. 58 and Gerry McIntyre (Clonliffe Harriers) No. 60 on the start line. At 2.29 you will see Willie running in the early stages of the race. McIntyre placed 22^nd in 2.26.03, whilst Bertie Messitt was withdrawn from the race on medical advice as he struggled in the latter stages of the race