Grange Fermoy Athletic Club has been at the heart of athletics in North Cork since its founding in 1960. Established by the late Paul Barry of Sheepwalk, Fermoy, the club grew from one man’s vision to create opportunities for young people to train, compete, and thrive.
Paul was a talented footballer and athlete who recognized the lack of facilities for the youth of the area. Rather than lament the fact, he acted. He donated the first clubhouse and training field, organized Christmas morning cross country runs, and soon after, the idea of Grange Athletic Club was born. The first official outing came at the County Novice Cross Country Championships in Meelin in 1960.
Although Paul’s untimely passing in 1962 shocked the community, the flame he lit was carried forward with determination. From that point on, Grange AC—and later Grange Fermoy AC became synonymous with passion, achievement, and community spirit.
Early Successes The club wasted no time making its mark. In 1962 James Cummins secured the County Novice title, and by 1965 the club achieved a remarkable clean sweep—winning every County Cross Country team title: novice, junior, intermediate, senior, and youths. That feat has never been repeated.
In 1966, Grange AC took part in a 170-mile relay to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Rising, running from Rosmuc, Galway, to the GPO in Dublin—and proudly finishing first.
Icons of the Club The club produced athletes who shone on the world stage. John Hartnett’s victory at the World Junior Cross Country Championships in Vichy, France, in 1970 was the beginning of an illustrious career that saw him represent Ireland at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Fanahan McSweeney, another club legend, held both national and European records and also competed at the Munich Games.
John Hartnett, Donie Walsh and John Buckley battled it out in January 1972
John Hartnett (435) in his Villanova cross-country days with fellow 1972 Irish Olympians Mike Keogh (174) and Donie Walsh (447). The occasion was the Cork BLE senior, youths, and women’s cross-country championships and the venue was Grange, just outside the town.
Grange’s women’s teams made history too, sweeping county, provincial, and national honours in 1974, including the National Senior title. That same year, club athletes Mary Mellerick and Eddie Hartnett proudly wore the Irish singlet at international level.
Building for the Future The 1970s and 1980s saw Grange host the famous Grange International Cross Country, an event that ranked among the best in the world. Athletes from Europe, Africa, and the Americas flocked to Fermoy, putting the club firmly on the international athletics map.
A long-time dream became reality in 1991 when, after years of fundraising and dedication, the club laid its own all-weather track. The facility was officially opened in 1992 by none other than Olympian Fanahan McSweeney, marking a new era for the club and the community.
Today Now known as Grange Fermoy AC, the club continues to thrive, proudly wearing its colours of blue, orange, and white (Blue: R17 G48 B172, Orange: R226 G81 B0).
We have a very active juvenile club, meeting three times each week, midweek at the Coláiste an Chraoibhín Running Track and Corin On Sunday Mornings. Under the guidance of experienced and enthusiastic coaches, children of all ages and abilities are supported to discover athletics in a way that is fun, inclusive, and inspiring. From beginners to high-performance groups, the focus is always on developing skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of sport.
Our masters athletes have enjoyed outstanding success, winning national titles across endurance disciplines as well as field events such as the shot put and high jump. Training and competition are grounded in the club’s core values: team spirit, camaraderie, continuous development, and the pursuit of excellence.
The club’s home base at Coláiste an Chraoibhín provides structured sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays. It is more than just a training ground. It is a hub of energy, friendship, and athletic ambition.
We are also proud hosts of two of the region’s most popular road races: the annual Four-Mile Road Race in Grange, a highlight of the local running calendar, and the New Year’s Eve 10K in Fermoy, a timed event that draws athletes from across the country to finish the year on a high. Both races capture the spirit of the club competitive, welcoming, and community-driven.
Above all, Grange Fermoy AC remains true to Paul Barry’s founding vision: to provide a place where people of all ages can discover athletics, compete with pride, and belong to a supportive sporting family.
