Colin Farrell among participants in the 20,000th Dublin Marathon – The Irish Times

More than 22,000 people took part in the Irish Life Dublin Marathon on Sunday, with actor Colin Farrell among this year’s participants.

Farrell (48) crossed the finish line in just over four hours, pushing his friend Emma Fogarty (40), who suffers from a rare skin condition called epidermolysis bullosa (EB), in a wheelchair for the last 2.5 miles of the race.

“I’ve known Emma for many years and she is the epitome of bravery, it’s all about courage and sheer determination,” Farrell said in a statement afterward.

“That run was nothing compared to the pain she has to endure every day, even if she doesn’t show it. It was an honor to see her waiting for me with 4km to go, each representing a decade of her life, and to do the final stretch together. I will never forget it.”

The Castleknock native has so far raised more than €700,000 for Debra, a national charity that supports those living with EB.

The route of this year’s marathon has changed slightly, with the start line at Leeson Street Lower, before crossing the River Liffey at Heuston Station and passing through Stonybutter, the Northern Ring Road and into Phoenix Park.

The runners then crossed the river again and headed along the South County Road and Dolphin’s Barn and on through the suburbs before the finish line on Mount Street Upper.

Ger Copeland, 46, from Howth, who suffered three brain haemorrhages and a stroke after a skiing accident earlier this year, was also among this year’s participants.

Mr Copeland, who has run 300 marathons and finished in 3 hours 6 minutes, said the race was “very emotional”.

“I was told that I would never eat, walk, see or hear again. I had to learn to walk again, to swallow, to see. I had to relearn how to do everything,” he said.

“I feel constant pain. I can’t feel on the right side, I have Horner’s syndrome on the left side of my face. I am blind in one eye, my organs on the right side only work at 20 percent.

“I just wanted to get through it, whether it was six or seven hours or if I had to do it with a zimmer frame or poles, any way I could get through it. I’ll never be what I was before, but I’m definitely better than anyone could have imagined.”

Mr Copeland received his Lord Mayor’s Medal at the start line this morning from Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan and said he planned to celebrate with “a hamburger and a Diet Coke – as usual”.

Mr Geoghegan said the route had changed after concerns were previously raised about expectant mothers traveling to the National Maternity Hospital in Halls Street.

“They’ve been trying to find a new venue that still has the essence of Dublin and I think we’ve got a great vibe,” Cllr Geoghegan said.

“A good finish here at Mount Street, a lot of noise. I think it worked this year, everything should be under control, but I think it’s another successful event. It’s the best in Dublin.”

Kenyan Moses Kemei won the Dublin Marathon with a time of 2:08.47. Asmirah Nega became the first woman with a record time of 2:24.13.