Athletics Ireland to celebrate Mageean at National Championships

Ciara Mageean [Getty Images]Athletics Ireland has announced a special celebration in honour of Ciara Mageean at the upcoming National Senior Track and Field Championships.The European champion will be a guest of honour at the meeting at Morton Stadium in Dublin on Sunday, 26 July.Mageean was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in May 2025 and has been undergoing rounds of chemotherapy.

A statement issued by Athletics Ireland said the occasion would "provide a fitting opportunity for the Irish athletics community to come together and celebrate one of Ireland's greatest ever athletes and her outstanding contribution to the sport"."From becoming European 1500m Champion and a three-time Olympian to rewriting the Irish record books over the 800m, 1000m, 1500m and the mile, Ciara's achievements have inspired a generation of athletes and helped elevate Irish middle-distance running on the world stage," the media release read.As part of the celebrations, every affiliated Athletics Ireland club has been invited to nominate two juvenile athletes to represent their club in a special on-track tribute to Mageean, taking place between the men's and women's 1500m finals.

"Wearing their club colours, young athletes from clubs across Ireland will join Ciara on the national stage in a symbolic celebration of her extraordinary contribution to Irish athletics," the statement read. "The tribute recognises an athlete whose resilience, determination and achievements have inspired thousands of young people to take up the sport."Every participating athlete will receive a commemorative signed autograph card from Ciara, creating a lasting memory of what promises to be a very special occasion."

Mageean said that she was looking forward to celebrating with young athletes at the National Championships."Athletics has given me so much throughout my life, and I'm incredibly grateful for the friendships, opportunities and memories it has brought me," said the 34-year-old."I'm honoured to be part of