Published: Tuesday, 9th March, 2010 5:38pm

Rith 2010 on way to Meath

President McAleese, Daithi de Faiote, chairperson, Rith 2010, and Siobhan Seoighe, Rath Chairn, events manager, study the route for Rith 2010 at Aras an Uachtaran.

'Rith 2010', a 1,600 km relay-run which began in Belfast and will finish in Galway city on St Patrick's Day, will pass through Meath on Wednesday 10th March.

Thousands will run "ar son na Gaeilge" with the specially designed baton which will hold a secret message from President Mary McAleese, which will be revealed at the end of the run. "We're very excited about this event," says Siobhán Seoighe, events manager, Rith 2010, who is also from Rath Chairn and plays football with Clann na Gael ladies club. "We've seen how the Basque Country celebrate their language and culture in such a healthy way. So we've decided to bring the equivalent Rith 2010 to Ireland for the first time. This is a real celebration where thousands of people will run to celebrate the Irish language whilst raising funds that will be re-invested back into Irish language projects throughout the country," she said.

As well as the run itself, there will be plenty of other events happening along the route as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge, and Club Rith, the official social function for Rith 2010 will be taking place in Ráth Chairn on Wednesday night, 10th March.

After passing through counties Down and Louth, the run will arrive in Slane at 5pm, with a 'Mini Rith' in Toddy Harding Park in Slane, following by Navan, at 8pm, Athboy, at 9.30pm, followed by Club Rith in Áras Phobail, Ráth Chairn, with ceol, craic, rith agus spraoi.