Maurice Mullins, who died after a long battle with cancer on St Stephen’s Day, brought the very first triathlon in this country to his native Skerries over thirty years ago in 1983. A few years later, he organised the country’s first Iron distance triathlon, also in Skerries.
Although a late covert to running, he joined Raheny Shamrock AC and later moved into ultra running, completing 130 marathons, twenty 100km races and a number of 24-hour races, as well as helping organise many of them with a loyal group of ultra running pioneers.
He was also a dedicated mountain runner and among the events he pioneered was the Wicklow Way 50km ultra and 25km trail race which still takes place annually. In due course, he became the first chairman of the Ultra Running Running Ireland. When diagnosed with cancer, he kept active and positive, even when the cancer returned, as a lovely film called “Going the Distance” made by his daughter Deirdre two years ago showed.
Maurice was a remarkable man and a true original. To his family and many friends goes our deepest sympathy.
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