We are heartbroken following the death of our club president, Chris Wall. Chris had been a member of Dublin City Harriers for some sixty years and in that time fulfilled every role on the committee with skill and determination. He was no stranger to hard work and could regularly be seen mowing the grass track in Longmeadows, Chapelizod after training.
He was an accomplished athlete and his performance level would still rank well to this very day. He was persuaded to become involved in the Dublin County Board in the late 1970s/early 1980s and became Chairman. He was elected to numerous BLE national committees and ultimately became international secretary. He immediately developed relationships with event promoters in Europe and elsewhere and within a short space of time regular and meaningful international competition became available to ever larger number of athletes. The tributes being paid by former athletes bears testimony to his efforts.
He was innovative and was the prime mover in staging the world cross country championships in Leopardstown in 2001. Through his friendship with Brendan Foster he established the Great Ireland Run which brought world class international and televised road racing to Ireland. Throughout this busy time he set his heart on achieving unity among the athletic bodies and working with the late Paddy McGovern and Brendan Foreman on the BLE delegation this was delivered in 1999 when AAI was formed. Its hard now to realise that all three have left this life. Chris was appointed a Life Vice President of AAI in 2019.
In his heart of hearts he was a Dublin City Harrier and even during his failing health over the past two years he wanted to know what was going on, and was always willing to offer advice and help in practical ways.
Chris was a high achiever in business, sport and politics and everything he turned his hand to but behind all of that he was a family man. He was devoted to wife Myra, and children Jacqueline, Richard, Eileen and Mary, he loved them and his wider family deeply and always spoke of them. Their loss is greatest and all we can do is to support them and share their pain.
THE MEMBERS OF DUBLIN CITY HARRIERS
Celtic DCH 