Where are you from? 

I was born in Holles Street Hospital in Dublin at 3.11am on December 9th 1987!

I grew up in Dublin, living in Palmerstown and Clondalkin. When I was fifteen my family then moved to Robertstown in County Kildare, where we still live.

How did you get involved in athletics?

I definitely wouldn’t be involved in the sport if it wasn’t for my Dad. He used to run Cross Country in Cavan when he was younger and won Ulster Championships, but he gave it up when he left school because he started working. I was the first child so when I was about six he tried to sign me up with Donore Harriers in Chapelizord as we were living in Palmerstown, but he was told I couldn’t join until I was eight. So when I turned eight he brought me back and I joined.

Throughout the years he has given me so much support and has done so much for me. The two of us are really close and he has helped me through a lot of things. I’m really grateful to have him. 

Describe what kind of training you did as a kid?

I still remember training at Donore.. I loved it! Willie Dunne coached me and I trained twice a week, Tuesday and Thursdays, at their grass track. I used to 6x200 and practice the long jump. Then we would have some fun relays. After training I remember we would all go into the club house and have tea and biscuits!! (I think that’s why I loved going so much!!!)

Some days if it was raining I remember doing fun circuits inside in the gym. I also remember practicing for the high jump and javelin. I remember once, Willie let me run with the older kids and instead of my usual 6x200 I got to do a two mile run, down to the boat club and back. I was well excited but it felt so long!!

I remember my first few races. When I was at primary school my Dad set up a school sports day for all the schools in the area which turned into an annual event. I remember winning my first trophy in the 100m there. My first big race was when I was an u10 at community games. I ran the 200m and won Dublin community games. I remember turning up at Donore Harriers with my trophy to show them the week after the race! I then went to Mosney for the All Irelands and finished about 5th I think. I remember winning BLOE and Dublin championship cross country races when I was U11 and U12 for Donore as well.

Community Games

I really enjoyed running Community Games when I was younger. 

As an u8 I ran the 60m hurdles and I remember practicing for them over hurdles made from bamboo sticks and pegs! 

U10 I ran the 200m as I said above. 

U12 I ran 600m and came third at the Dublin’s. 

Then U13 I did the 900m WALK!!!! That was great fun, I remember finishing and my hips were in agony!! I crossed the line 3rd at the Dublin’s but the two ahead of me were disqualified for running so I became Dublin 900m walk champion! I then went to Mosney and didn’t do that great so I decided to stick to the running! 

U14 I ran the 800m and finished 2nd at the Dublin’s to Breffini Twohig. 

My last community games was my last year as an U16 and I was running for Kildare. I won the Kildare Community Games and then went on to win the All Ireland in Mosney. 

Did you do any other events?

I’ve actually tried out quite a number of different events. I did sprints and hurdles when I was younger, up to the age of about 13. I also did the long jump at a couple of AAI Dublin Championships, I’ve even done the Javelin and shot put!! I also did the high jump and continued to do that even when I was competing at Leinster schools. But now I stick to the middle distance stuff!! 

When did you get serious about training?

When I started secondary school I totally gave up athletics. I started to play camogie and basketball. I only got back into it in 2nd year when we had a schools sport day and afterwards my P.E teacher asked me to run cross country. I think I finished about 40th in the Leinster schools that year because I did no training! After that my Dad started bringing me to DSD, and I suppose this was the start of me getting serious. I still remember my very first day there. It was either a Tuesday or Thursday evening at Marley Park and I was told to run four miles. Well oh my god did it feel like a marathon!! I remember starting off with Ciara Baker and Ciara Halley and I was dropped after the first mile, trying to find my way back!! Slowly but surely I built up my fitness and the miles! I ran my first cross country All Ireland as an U16 and finished 5th. I spent about three years at DSD, and I’m still friends with some of the girls that I used to train with there.

In 2004, I didn’t feel like I was progressing anymore at DSD so with the help of my Dad I obtained an English coach. Due to complications I had to switch clubs so I joined my local club Newbridge AC. It was when David Farrow started coaching me, that I got really serious. I started to do everything by the book, and my improvements started to come.