Member's statement: Irene Clements
Member's statement by Ms Diana Armstrong on .
- MLA
- Ms Diana Armstrong
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 19 October 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Irene Clements
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5795318
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I will deliver a Member's statement with some optimism. Recently, despite not having run for a number of years, I took part in a 5K in aid of Cancer Focus NI. I finished it with a real appreciation of what it takes to put one foot in front of the other, even for a short distance, and that is why, today, I want to recognise a Fermanagh woman who, like me, is of a certain age and is showing what is possible. That woman, Irene Clements, has had a year that is almost beyond belief. She won her category at the Berlin marathon. A fortnight later, she ran the World Masters marathon championships in Zagreb and did it again: she opened up a decisive lead through the second half and took World Masters gold. That makes it two marathons in a fortnight, with a world title to show for it. She did not stop there. At the European Masters championships in Catania, she added a silver medal in the 10K and a team gold. She won a further two gold medals, including in the half marathon in very warm conditions, when she took the title with more than six minutes to spare. She also won her category at the Malta half marathon in one hour, 31 minutes and 15 seconds. It has been a medal-winning and record-breaking year, and, to be honest, there seems to be no stopping her. Irene shows that age is no barrier. She is an inspiration to women everywhere, particularly those who think that they have missed their moment or have not laced up their trainers yet. Her achievements are a reminder that it is never too late to start and never too late to excel. I ask the House to join me in congratulating Irene on a remarkable year and wishing her every success in the races ahead.
313 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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