by Molly M. Schoemann and Abigail B. Ferrente

Crowds of cheerful spectators turned out in Davis Square at 11a.m. March 20 to watch the third annual Ras na hEireann U.S.A, named for the Race of Ireland, an annual cross-country race held in Ireland, the 5km race, drew runners from all over the country.

“We’ve got people coming from at least 11 different states,” said Paul Collyer, the event organizer. “There are a lot of people from the Northeast area, but a few folks came from Ireland and other countries as well.”

“It has been an excellent race this year,” he said. “I like to do it because it is very festive and everyone always has a nice time.”

The winner of the men’s race was Keith Kelly, who is from the town of Termonfeckin in County Louth, the county in Ireland where the original Ras na hEireann takes place. A graduate of Providence College, he has lived in the United States since 1997, he said.

“I am not sure of my time. I think it was around 14:30. I knew I had a good lead. I was confident I would win,” said Kelly shortly after he won.
Kelly said he ran in the Irish race before coming to the States. “I ran the underage race in Ireland when I was in high school.”

Mimi Fallon, from Walpole won the women’s race. “I was second until about a half mile to go, and then I pulled ahead. I think my time was about 17:30,” she said.

“All of the Somerville races are great. I’ve run this one for each of the three years,” she said.

Upon learning from event organizer Paul Collyer that the first prize was $400, she was stunned. Fallon had been unaware that there was any prize money involved. “I ran this race for the fun of it,” she said.

“It was wonderful to see everyone in the neighborhood out on their porches, cheering us on,” said John M. “Jack” Connolly, the Ward 6 alderman and also a runner.

“It was a great day. I was very pleased to see the number of people enjoying Davis Square for the first time,” said Connolly.

“Many of them were still out and about at four or five in the afternoon, still wearing their medals,” he said.

“There was a minimal impact on the city as a whole, we really didn’t interrupt things too much,” Connolly said. “We stopped traffic on Elm Street for a little while, but I don’t think we really got in anyone’s way to a large extent.” 

The fairly flat, scenic three-mile course began in front of The Burren on Elm Street and made its way through streets of Teele Square, along Powderhouse Boulevard and Tufts University, and through Ball Square. The final leg of the race was the down the bike path to the finish line behind the Brooks Pharmacy in Davis Square.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone was present at the race and welcomed the runners at the starting line.

Although an injury prevented him from running, he said. “It was a great day for a race, and I was looking forward to participating in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. Unfortunately, I ruptured my calf muscle last spring while doing Tae Kwon Do.”

“It was bothering me after a long run I did last week. I knew I wouldn’t be doing myself any favors by pushing it today, so I’m watching from the sidelines instead,” he said.

Husband and wife Diane and Chris Jackson both ran. “We liked the theme of the race,” they said. “Paul Collyer always puts on great races. We are always guaranteed a good time when he is organizing.” 

The event was hosted by the Somerville Striders Athletic Club and the Boston Triathlon Team. Its beneficiaries are The Somerville High School Track Parents and Alumni Club, and the Somerville Auxiliary Police Department.

The post-race celebration was spread out between a number of bars in the Davis Square area and beyond, including Sligo, The Burren, Redbones, The Joshua Tree and P.J. Ryan’s, where race participants were welcomed with an open bars and a variety of hearty fare, from brown bread to potato leek soup and barbeque.

“It was bananas last year,” said Jerry McAuliffe, a bartender at Sligo Pub. “The runners went up to Teele Square and hit every bar on the way back.”

“A few of our regulars ran the race, but most of them and were just mad because the bar was so crowded afterwards that they couldn’t get in,” he said.

Many of the local bars also featured live entertainment. The Celtic-influenced rock and fiddle band Down Dog played at The Burren. The Irish band Stormy Wind could be found playing at Redbones.

Those who were more inclined for a post-race cup of tea could head over to the VFW George Dilboy Post on Summer Street, where Irish tea and scones were also available. The day before the race, the VFW George Dilboy Post hosted four-time Boston and NYC marathon winner Bill Rodgers for an afternoon of mingling with fans, and later a “Taste of Ireland” dinner, which was sponsored by several local restaurants, and at which the four-time winner of the Boston Marathon spoke.

Rodgers also ran in the Sunday race and signed autographs.

Playing at the start and finish line of the race were the Campbell Highlanders, a traditional bagpipe and drum band based in Andover, dressed in tunics, kilts and spats.

“As long as we don’t have to race, we’ll be ok,” said Pipe Major and band manager Frank Rowe. “Pipers in the old days used to march up in front of the army. But I just can’t picture us doing the same thing.” 

Rowe said this is the band’s first race. “We play a lot of unusual events,” he said. “But we’ve been looking forward to this one. We’ve been working on some new tunes.”

Ten-year-old Erika I. Kirk ran the race with her father. “My whole family runs,” she said. “I like to run with my dad. It was fun and easy.”

Patrick Carrol came all the way from Ireland. “I came here just for the race,” he said. “I come every year. It was a seven hour flight. I arrived here on Thursday at four in the morning and was running in Somerville’s Thursday night Quarry Race that evening.”

“We will definitely do this again next year. I was really pleased with the turnout. I’ve been working with Paul Collyer for five months to put this together, and it went off very well,” said Connolly.

“We want to make this a signature event on St. Patrick’s Day, and I think we’ve got one of the best events going so far,” he said.