The Rás na hÉireann Cross Country International will be held on 27th February 2004.

The venue is St Fechin's GAA Grounds on Beaulieu Road in County Louth, Ireland. This year's event will be held near Drogheda in Termonfechin, less than 30 minutes from Dublin. "The new course at St Fechin’s GAA Grounds will be a showcase location for the some of the finest athletes in the world and will offer spectacular views and vantage points for the spectator,” says Meet Director Larry McGuill who has devoted his efforts to the Rás na hÉireann since the inaugural event in 1970.

Once again the Rás na hÉireann will be part of International Week. International Week is the collaboration between Rás na hÉireann and the Armagh Road Race slated for 24th February. Both events work together to bring a week of the finest competition to Ireland. This collaboration started in the 1970's between the two events and is now flourishing like never before.

"We have a great line-up of athletes for this year." continues McGuill. Some athletes due to appear may not be familiar names yet here but are already proving to be the rising stars of the US athletics circuit with some very strong performances recorded over recent months. Some of the athletes of note who will be competing are Michael Bartozak from Poland and American athletes Christian Hesch, Joe Driscoll, Kyle King, Ted Mitchell and Debbie Thornhill on the women's side.

In addition to a strong USA squad, teams from South Africa, Portugal, France, England, Wales and Scotland will also compete.

More information including the schedule of races along with online entries are available at the 2005 Rás na hÉireann Website