DUBLIN city centre suffered its worst Sunday traffic congestion of the year for several hours during the women's mini marathon yesterday, but no one seemed to mind.
"There is more to life than traffic," a philosophical Automobile Association spokesman said. "The congestion was particularly bad in the south inner city area, but it is the price one has to pay for fun events. Several motorists rang us to tell us what was happening, but there were no complaints."
Around 25,000 women took part in the annual Dunnes Stores Evening Herald mini marathon and raised an estimated £2.5 million for a variety of causes.
Traffic queues built up on the southside approaches to the city centre as a result of road closures. The route began in Fitzwilliam Square and headed out to Ballsbridge before returning to St Stephen's Green.
A Garda spokesman said: "It is a small price to pay for the enthusiasm of the runners and the enormous money they raised for charity."
The mini marathon was won by the granddaughter of a Donegal emigrant, Ms Katy McCandless (25), a native of California who lives in London, where she is an athlete and works in the theatre. She completed the 10 km route in a record time of 32 minutes, 44 seconds.
Her late grandfather, William McCandless, came from Culdaff, in the Malin peninsula, where she still has relatives. "I'm thrilled. This was my first race this year because of an injury. I hope to be in line for a place in the Irish Olympic team for Atlanta," she said.
Reports that a protest by Mandate against Dunnes Stores might disrupt the mini marathon were unfounded. With 80 gardai and 1,200 stewards on duty, the event went smoothly.
