The 2002 Rás na hÉireann winner and British Olympian Matt O'Dowd will be running in this year's event. O'Dowd will be joined by Polish Olympian Michael Bartozak and New Zealand's latest sensation Kim Smith in this years Rás na hÉireann. Kim Smith will join O'Dowd and Bartozak in Termonfechin on Feb 27th when she will make her debut in Ireland in the 35th Rás na hÉireann.

Matt O'Dowd has achieved great success in recent years. He was the British AAA 10,000M champion in 2004 and ran for Britain in the Olympic Marathon. O'Dowd has run 13:30 for 5K. Micheal Bartozak also ran the Marathon in Athens and won the Armagh Roadrace in 2002. Bartozak is a four-minute miler and it was his speed at the finish last year that produce his victory in Armagh. The two will clash in the Armagh Roadrace.

The biggest star for this year's Rás is Kim Smith of New Zealand. Smith is under the guidance of Ray Treacy who coached Smith to her greatest victory last year in the US when she won the NCAA Cross Country title for Providence College where she will graduate this may. Smith went on to represent New Zealand at the Athens Olympic Games. During this indoor campaign Smith has already produced personal best times of 8:49.18 (3k) and 14.50.46 for 5,000m.

"The Russians are coming and the Americans will be in Termonfechin on February 27th, waiting for them!" per Larry Maguill, race Director for Rás na hÉireann since the inaugural event was held in Dunleer in 1970. Over the year's the Rás na hÉireann has generate some of the best excitement in Irish athletics and this year will be no exception. Four of Russia's to athletes will be flying in from Moscow to participate in what will be one of the best Rás na hÉireann's ever promoted in County Louth. The Americans are coming too and they too are determined to take the top honors at this year's Rás.

Joe McAlister, the reigning Irish 10,000m Champion is currently the top Irish entrant in this year's Rás to take on athletes from Russia, USA, South Africa, Portugal, France, Scotland, England, Wales, Poland, and Kenya. McAlister (St Malachy's) will be flying in from Boston, Massachusetts, USA to represent the Irish athletes against this incredible field.

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.

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.

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