MONDAY 19 JUNE 1995

SANTRY XPRESS IS FIRST PAST THE POST

Mini-Marathon thumbs up for Press workers

More than 20,000 mini-marathon runners gave 600 Press workers a resounding vote of confidence when they completed the gruelling 10 kilometre course under the stone-splitting sun in Dublin yesterday.

It was hot and humid, making it difficult for some of the competitors, but the runners said they would gladly go through it all again, hopefully under the Press banner next year.

I hope it's not the last Mini Marathon, said race winner Catherine Shum from Santry who completed the course in 33 minutes and 21 seconds. There's no race like this anywhere. You just have to look at the amount of women taking part to realise how important it is.

Catherine, second in last year's Mini-Marathon, is now looking forward to the World Championships in Gothenburg next August when she will be representing Ireland over the full marathon distance.

Mick Dowling, former Irish Olympic amateur boxer, also gave the Press workers a vote of confidence. "I hope you get it back together again," he said.

Heather O'Hare from Edenmore, first home in the wheelchair section, paid tribute to the Press workers who had made the marathon such a success over the years.

"I think its great," she said. "I hope it's not the last."

The Mini Marathon is traditionally one of the big events of the year for Press journalists and workers and even though they weren't officially at work yesterday, they were out in force to cheer on the runners while XPress on Sunday sellers were also busy - selling our world exclusive U2 interview issue.

The message along the route was resoundingly positive.

"Keep up the good work and we hope to see you again next year," said the husbands, partners, boyfriends and girlfriends of the runners who wound their way from Fitzwilliam Street through Ballsbridge along the Merrion Road and back again.

The 600 Press workers have already started training for their own Mini-Marathon as they will be marching through Dublin next Wednesday from the Municipal Gallery, Parnell Square to Dail Eireann.

XPress reporters and photographers were also busy at work yesterday producing a special Irish Runner/Walking World Ireland souvenir issue which will give comprehensive coverage of the race later this week.

Copies will be available from Frank Greally of Irish Runner/Walking World Ireland at Cherrywood House, 288 Harold's Cross Road, Dublin 6, phone (01) 4922502.

XPRESS U2 EXCLUSIVE GRABS THE HEADLINES

The XPress on Sunday's scoop - a world exclusive interview with U2, who broke a two-year long silence to talk to the paper - attracted a considerable amount of media attention over the weekend.

There was extensive coverage in the national press, references to the article on radio and tv by leading broadcasters Gay Byrne, Pat Kenny, and Dave Fanning and items on both Soundbyte and The Sunday Show.

On the latter, Irish Press Northern Editor, Anne Cadwallader, pointed out that "even though they're out of work, Irish Press journalists are still pulling off genuine scoops."

U2 granted the interview as a gesture of solidarity to the 600 Irish Press employees who are now out of work.

As well as talking about the bandSs recording plans and reflecting on live work, ZOO TV, Bill Flanagan's book and other issues, Bono used the interview to express his backing for the survival of The Irish Press.

"I think The Irish Press is important for a few reasons," he said. "First of all, obviously, the jobs and the talent that's in the paper. But also because I don't think Irish people really want to go down the road of the English tabloids. That's something we all have a stake in. And I think it's very important that there are alternatives to that road. And I think the Press Group is that alternative."

U2 fans should note that copies of this collector's item edition of The XPress on Sunday will continue to be available for sale at selected record shops in Dublin and direct from Room 103, Liberty Hall, Dublin.

U2's support for The Irish Press 600 is just the latest in a long line of gestures of solidarity from a huge range of politicians and personalities, among them Jack Charlton and the Irish football squad; movie maker Neil Jordan; World Boxing champion Stephen Collins; Government Ministers, Michael D. Higgins, Ruairi Quinn and Pat Rabbitte; SDLP leader John Hume; former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, Mary O' Rourke, The Catholic Hierarchy and many others.

WINNERS ALL IN BIG RACE

RALLY TO PROTEST CLOSURE

The 600 laid-off Irish Press employees, along with family, friends and supporters will take to the streets of Dublin this coming Wednesday, June 21, in a mass show of unity to protest the planned closure of the newspaper group.

Marching together under a single banner, the workers will assemble at The Municipal Art Gallery in Parnell Street at 1pm. A letter will be handed into the Press Group headquarters and the march will then move off through OåConnell Street, DåOlier Street, and around Trinity College before concluding with a mass rally outside the Dail.

Politicians from all the major political parties have been invited to address the crowd and there will also be speakers from the ICTU and The Dublin Printing Trades Group.

Participants in the march are asked not to bring any banners, since it is intended purely to highlight the plight of the 600 Irish Press workers who now face such an uncertain future.

NOTE TO OUR READERS...

The XPress newspapers carry a nominal cover price of 1p, but we appreciate all donations to our newspaper fund. To help co-ordinate our fund raising activities, a bank account has been set up in aid of the NUI members who are currently locked out of the Irish Press offices. Please forward all donations to:

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