Mark O'Toole
Director/Writer
Mark O’Toole is an accomplished producer, director, and writer whose diverse body of work spans film, television, and journalism. His projects have aired on CNN, NY1, and RTÉ, Ireland’s national broadcaster, and have been showcased at film festivals across the world.
Most recently, Mark directed the award-winning short documentary Outside In, set in New York City during the pandemic, which received critical acclaim for its intimate portrayal of resilience in unprecedented times.
Mark co-directed So What’s in Jericho?, one of the first festival-considered films shot on digital video—a pioneering achievement at a time when the format was still in its infancy. His journalistic work has been featured in prominent publications such as The Irish Times and New York Daily News, and his insights have been frequently cited in The Wall Street Journal. He also maintains a passion for storytelling through theater and music as the co-founder of the award-winning Storm Theatre Company and indie rock band Audio Fiction.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark chronicled life in New York City through his blog www.surrealnyc.com, now preserved as part of the New York Historical Museum’s first digital collection.
His work is also featured in Broadway Rising, a documentary by Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Amy Rice, which had its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and available to stream on Amazon Prime.
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Mark’s career began as an assistant director working alongside Academy Award-winning filmmaker Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, Interview with a Vampire) on The Miracle. Looking ahead, his latest documentary, The Great Ethiopian Run, is set to premiere in 2025, continuing his tradition of crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Eamonn Coghlan
Featured
Ireland's Eamonn Coghlan is known as the “Chairman of the Boards” for his unprecedented successes on the American indoor athletics circuit, winning 56 races on the trot. He won the famous Wanamaker Mile in Madison Square Garden a record seven times.
Eamonn broke the world record for the indoor mile on three occasions and held this record for 18 years.
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In 1983 he became the first person to run under 3 min 50 sec for the mile with a time of 3:49.78. Also, in 1983 he became Ireland’s first World Athletics Champion when he won the gold medal for the 5,000m in Helsinki.
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Eamonn is a three time Olympian and finished 4th twice, the 1500m in Montreal 1976 and the 5000m in Moscow 1980.
Eamonn’s last race ever will arguably go down as one of his most historic. On February 20th 1994 when he became the first and, still the only athlete in the World over 40 years old, to run under 4 minutes for the mile in a time of 3:58.17 in Boston.
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He published his autobiography “Chairman of the Boards-Master of the Mile” and in February 2012 he won an IFTA for his documentary “Man on a Mission”.
Haile Gebrselassie
Featuring
Haile Gebrselassie is considered one of the greatest runners in history, with victories and world records in almost every long-distance and middle-distance event.
Born to run
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As a child growing up on a farm in Ethiopia, Haile Gebrselassie ran 10 kilometres to school each day and another 10 kilometres back home. As an adult, he ran with his left arm crooked, the effect of years spent running with books under his arm.
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He won two Olympic gold medals and four World Championship titles over the 10,000 metres. Haile triumphed in the Berlin Marathon four times consecutively and also had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon. He also earned four world titles indoors and was the 2001 World Half Marathon Champion.
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He is the co-founder of The Great Ethiopian Run.
The Race Team
Addis Ababa
L-R - Alfie Tucker, Eamon Sharkey, Liz Devine, Ben O'Brien, Liam O'Brien, Mark O'Toole, Amie Wiley, Eamonn Coghlan, Ronan Ryan, Conor Twomey, Ed Louie
The race team were Eamonn Coghlan, Tony Chambers, Ed Louie, Ronan Ryan, Mark O'Toole, Conor Twomey, Alfie Tucker, Amie Wiley