Dave's Ultra Odyssey: Mournes Misses and Dolomite Triumphs
The untold story of Dave Ryan, Irish Ultra runner supported by Kailas FUGA
By Sean Clifford · · Runner Profiles
From Mournes bogs to Dolomite peaks, Dave Ryan is Ireland's ultra phenom! Thurles-born and Cyprus-based, he's nailed podiums like 2nd at Arc of Attrition, raced Lavaredo with Courtney Dauwalter, and won Olympus Man Ultra. Powered by Kailas Gear, he eyes UTMB 2026—grit, rebounds, and pure trail passion!
A Missed Chance in the Mournes
In the rugged expanse of the Mourne Mountains, Dave Ryan lined up for the 2025 Granite Peaks race, a qualifier for the Irish national team. The stakes were high: a top performance could secure a coveted spot to represent Ireland. Dave, a Thurles-born ultra runner then based in Wales, came into the race with confidence after a solid training block. His goal was clear — hit the 9.5-hour qualifying pace for the 80 km course and earn his place among Ireland’s elite. But the Mournes, with their brutal terrain and unpredictable bogs, had other plans.]
Dave started strong, running shoulder-to-shoulder with Paddy O’Leary at the front for the first 30 km. A chasing duo — Ricki Wynne and Cillian Fleming — kept them in sight. But a lingering chest infection from a hiking trip in Morocco began to sap his energy. By the time he hit the first drop bag at 30 km, the leading pack had surged. “The harder I tried to get back to them, the further they seemed to go,” he recalls. Navigation challenges didn’t help — unlike Ricki Wynne, who had trained extensively in the Mournes, Dave found himself second-guessing the route, unsure which side of the iconic stone wall to run on. Crossing the line 45 minutes behind the winner and an hour off the qualifying pace (10:27:16 official time), Dave knew his dream of making the Irish team was out of reach this time. “It was gutting,” he admits, “but I was way off the standard.”
The disappointment stung, especially after a stress fracture had derailed his previous attempt at qualifying for the European Championships via the Maurice Mullins Race. Yet, true to his resilient nature, Dave didn’t dwell. “Third time lucky, hopefully,” he says with a determined grin, already looking ahead. This setback in the Mournes was merely a chapter in a story defined by perseverance, a trait that has carried Dave through a remarkable ultra-running career.