Quest Lough Derg makes the most of the surprise Summer heatwave
The long-time promised week of good weather saw over 1,200 adventurers arrive in Ballina on Saturday to run, cycle, and kayak their way around Quest Lough Derg.
Participants enjoyed surprisingly good temperatures for the time of year as they competed across a choice of routes: 22km Challenge, 44km Dual (no kayak), 45km Sport and 69km Expert, that took them from the start outside Flanagan’s in Ballina up as far as Tountinna and out to Moylussa.
The winners of the Expert Route were Declan Ferry & Ellen Vitting while the winners of the Sport Route were Paul O’Brien & Siun Walsh. The winners of the Challenge Route were Adrian Lally & Roisin O’Donovan while the tinners of the Dual Route were Padraig Murphy & Linda O’Sullivan.
A unique feature for this adventure race is its impressive finish that involves participants running across a temporary pontoon bridge spanning the Shannon from Killaloe to Ballina, built especially for the event. A spectacle taking many days to construct, it attracts a significant number of spectators to the area and is the longest temporary bridge ever built across a river in Ireland. The final stage of the race sees participants race to the finish line across the pontoon to cheers from friends and family.
Event organisers Elite Event Management work closely with Clare County Council, Tipperary County Council, Destination Lough Derg Group and Failte Ireland to bring this high-profile event to the region and extend their thanks to Waterways Ireland for their help facilitating the installation of the pontoon bridge.
Quest events are well known for their choice of stunning locations, and Lough Derg is no exception, providing an incredible opportunity for participants to explore the area in the best way possible, as routes take in Tountinna, Garrykennedy, Ballycuggaran and Moylussa. At the finish line outside Flanagan’s on the Lake, competitors are treated to hot food, music, and a festival-like atmosphere.
Event organiser Oliver Kirwan said: “We were delighted to come back to Lough Derg this year. A considerable amount of preparation and planning goes into the event beforehand, and we are delighted that it has once again been such a great success. We remain grateful for the incredible support we receive locally, and extend a special thanks to the local community, businesses and to volunteers for their time.”
Ciara Sugrue, Head of Festivals and Events Fáilte Ireland added: “Fáilte Ireland is pleased to support Quest Lough Derg which creates a unique and exciting reason for participants and their supporters to experience our world class outdoor activity offering. Developing participative festivals like this really helps boost the appeal of a destination and encourages the spread of tourism across the country. This is essential for driving footfall for local businesses and bringing social and economic benefits to the local community.”
Quest Lough Derg will return to the twin towns of Ballina and Killaloe with a provisional date of Saturday 20th September 2025. Anyone wishing to register their interest can do so on the Quest Adventure Series website or by emailing info@eliteevents.ie
RESULTS
EXPERT
Male: 1st - Declan Ferry 3:14:26; 2nd - David McKelvey 3:16:10; 3rd - Niall Corless 3:17:01
Female: 1st - Ellen Vitting 3:44:44; 2nd – Ger Kelly 3:57:52; 3rd - Eithne McGorman-Curtis 4:04:46
SPORT
Male: 1st - Paul O’Brien 2:26:14; 2nd - Patrick Dundas 2:27:04; 3rd - John Paul O’Connell 2:28:09
Female: 1st - Siun Walsh 2:55:46; 2nd - Denise Molloy 2:56:16, 3rd - Niamh Cleary 2:57:59
DUAL
Male: 1st - Padraig Murphy 2:56:31, 2nd - Colm Porter 3:01:04, 3rd - John Moloney 3:05:51
Female: 1st - Linda O’Sullivan 2:46:37, 2nd - Evelyn O’Brien 3:33:52, 3rd - Michelle Murphy 3:38:28
CHALLENGE
Male: 1st - Adrian Lally 1:31:54, 2nd - Jonathan Berry 1:32:15, 3rd - Shane McGrath 1:35:44
Female: 1st - Kieva Lorraine Tracey 1:50:37, 2nd - Orla McDonald 1:50:43, 3rd - Mags O'Sullivan 1:52:29
All results can be found at: https://sportmaniacs.com/en/races/quest-lough-derg-2024.