Back 2 Boston Running Club celebrate a successful debut weekend

Back 2 Boston Running Club celebrate a successful debut weekend. Pictured are Liam Dunne, Ava Crean, and John Kinsella of Back 2 Boston Running Club

Back 2 Boston running club athletes Ava Crean and Liam Dunne set an incredible milestone for the new Limerick running club in their debut events

It was a successful weekend for Limerick’s Back 2 Boston Running Club as two of their runners claimed titles in the club’s debut weekend.

It was a weekend to remember for the Back 2 Boston runners as the club made its mark both locally and nationally in running events this past weekend with two victories to celebrate.

A cause for celebration this weekend saw the Back 2 Boston Running Club’s Liam Dunne etch another milestone for the club as he became their first-ever male marathon winner. Dunne took top honours at the Kilkenny Medieval Marathon, marking a proud moment for the newly formed club.

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Back 2 Boston’s Ava Crean carried on her incredible form from her victory at the 2025 Regeneron Great Limerick, adding another title to her amazing performance earlier in the year. Ava has now set the milestone of becoming Back 2 Boston’s first female winner as she finished with the incredible time of 1:15:22 at the prestigious 2025 Charleville Half Marathon.

Ava, a student at the University Academy 92 (UA92), founded by the legendary ‘Class of 92’ players from Manchester United, impressed Ireland’s long-distance running world earlier this year when she was the first female to cross the finish line for the 2025 Regenaron Great Limerick Run, just one week after completing the Manchester Marathon.

Crean’s triumph in Charleville ensured the club also celebrated its first female winner, following quickly on the heels of Dunne’s breakthrough success.

Ava shared her journey into running following the Great Limerick Run earlier this year, telling I Love Limerick, “I remember when I started running, I couldn’t even run a hundred meters without stopping or taking a break,” before adding, “ I wasn’t really training for a Marathon. I did the Manchester Marathon last week. I was training for that for a good bit, but maybe 10 weeks. I started running during Covid, and I only started with like two or three-kilometre runs, and I was dying by the end of it.”

Speaking about her time when she first started to run, she said, “I was scared to run outside because I thought people would judge me, but I realised no one actually cares – you’re the one running, and you should be proud you even got out there.”

Ahead of the weekend’s event, Back 2 Boston founder John Kinsella shared his ambition to allow people to become role models within Limerick’s communities, and the performances have shown the club is paving its path.

Kinsella said, “Role models matter. They give us something real to believe in. And in communities like ours, that belief can change a young person’s life. This is why I’ve started the Back 2 Boston Project. Through running, I want to help create more community ambassadors and role models — people who inspire, uplift, and show others that it’s possible.”