Bourke soon learned that while the established runners in Ethiopia were well looked after, youngsters living outside the big cities had little chance to make the breakthrough.
"Unlike here, the club structure is not well developed. There is little prospect of a group of adults coming together in some town to establish a club. The people just can't afford the time and effort," says Bourke, a good club runner in his day.
Yet like young people everywhere, Ethiopian youngsters have dreams and ambitions to emulate their idols, who are the great Ethiopian distance runners.
When Bourke decided to organise a club in Yirgalum, he got a huge response. "We already have 65 young people aged from 10 to 18 and practically 50/50 boys and girls. We could take a lot more, but for the moment, we have to set a limit."
A little money goes a long way in Yirgalum and last year Mick managed to buy shoes, shorts and singlets for all the athletes as well as tracksuits for the 35 older runners; all for about Eu900.
He also paid three coaches and two officials for the year - a cost of just Eu500. Now the aim is to get his young protégées into competitions.
"They have to compete if they are to develop and progress, but it coats money to travel and enter races. It's not much by our standards but most of these athletes can't afford it."
Just formed is a small organisation called Stride-Ethiopia to look after the club. "We have a number of ideas. Maybe athletic clubs could undertake to sponsor an athlete for a year, say at a cost of Eu100, over five years?"
It's early days yet, but if you want to help, Mick Bourke at 01-4531649 or Kevin O'Connor at 01-2817020.