The Dublin Marathon

Everything you need to know about the Dublin Marathon

One of the biggest challenges when you're in Dublin for the marathon is keeping out of the bars in the days leading up to the event! This is a city that loves its nightlife and there is plenty of it, including Guinness at every turn. It's a marathon that's had plenty of course changes over the years due to the ongoing development in the city, but it's settled now and it's one that you have to do.

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Dublin

Dublin is Ireland's capital city and its most historically significant, having been the second city of the British Empire until Ireland's independence in 1922, it has a population of just under 6 million. It has plenty to see and because it's a small city it's relatively easy to get around most of them in a few days of hard sightseeing.

Probably the most famous is the Temple Bar district. In 1707 a customs house, where all the government paperwork for import and export were processed, settled at Temple Bar and with it came warehouses, taverns and brothels, but when the customs house moved the area fell into an immediate decline. Today, the area is booming and it's the first port of call for tens of thousands of visitors annually. you’ll find Temple Bar in Dublin thriving. There are street fairs and shops to browse through and at night the Guiness flows in the pubs that line the cobbled streets. Try to stay away until after the race!

Speaking of Guinness, the most visited attraction in the whole of Ireland is here in Dublin, the Guinness Storehouse, opened in December 2000, Guinness Storehouse has become the most visited attraction in Ireland. More than 20 million visitors have taken the self-guided tour that details the history of the brewery and the brewing process spread out over 7 floors. At the end of the tour, at the top-floor Gravity Bar there are panoramic views across the Dublin cityscape with a complimentary well-earned pint. Trinity College, Ireland's oldest university, is another on most visitor's target lists. As well as its historical and architectural significance, it is also the home of the 9th century Book of Kells, a mediaeval manuscript of huge significance. It's a handwritten copy of the four gospels of the New Testament and filled with ornate Latin text and intricate illustrations. It can be viewed in the Long Room, where you can also view the Brian Boru Harp, Ireland's oldest surviving harp, and a rare original copy of the Proclamation, a seminal text in Irish history.

Dublin Castle and Christ Church Cathedral are two other landmarks that are well worth a visit. The Cathedral contains the tomb of mediaeval warlord Strongbow, the leader of the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, and also the heart of Dublin's patron saint, Saint Laurence O'Toole. Amongst other manuscripts and artefacts is a 14th century copy of the Magna Carta Hiberniae (a book of law dating back to 1216). Perhaps the crypt's most popular exhibit is the mummified remains of a cat and a rat. Known locally as 'Tom & Jerry', the cat is believed to have chased the rat into a pipe of the church organ, where they both eventually became stuck.

Histroy of the Dublin Marathon

The first Dublin Marathon was held in 1980, with 1420 finishers, increasing to 8,700 by 1988. Numbers then plateaued until 2007 when they hit 11,000. With the move from Bank Holiday to Sunday numbers have increased significantly, with a lottery now needed to allocate the 22,500 spots.

Heading through Phoenix Park

Race organiser

Marathon Events Management DAC

When is it?

The race is held annually in October

Distances

Marathon only

Is there an expo?

There is a two expo at the Royal Dublin Society where all runners must pick up their race bibs. There are also a number of vendors selling running and fitness gear.

How many runners

22,500

The course

It's a single lap course, starting at Fitzwilliam Street Upper and finishes at nearby Merrion Square. There are four wave starts, each with a different colour and a different entry point, the first of them going off at 8.45 am and the last of them an hour later.

Here we go!

For the first two miles the course passes through many of Dublin’s famous 18th century Georgian streets, before crossing the River Liffey and heading into Phoenix Park, just past mile 3. At 1,752 acres, the Phoenix Park is twice as big as New York’s Central Park and it's Europe's largest urban park. It was originally the Royal Hunting Park in the 17th century, when it became home to a large herd of fallow deer. It's also home to the fourth oldest zoo in the world that runners pass just before the 4 mile marker. Established in 1830 and covering over 69 acres, it has more than 400 animals split into distinct habitats, including the Orangutan Forest, the Kaziranga Forest Trail, Sea Lion Cove, African Savanna and the House of Reptiles. From here it's northwest through the Park to just past mile 6 where runners exit and then back into the Park at mile 8, before leaving again before mile 10 at Chapelizod Gate.

It's back over the river at mile 10 and at half way it's over the Grand Canal at Dolphins Barn Bridge. The Grand Canal was completed at the turn of the 19th century to connect Dublin to the River Shannon. Much of it has now been restored and there are some great walks along its banks. From here the course meanders through some of Dublin's southern suburbs, to Bushy Park at mile 17. It's then west to the University College Dublin, which dominates the course for two miles. It has over 33,000 students and is the largest in the country. At mile 23 the route turns north for the final three miles to the finish. Past Elm Park Golf course at mile 24 and then at mile 25 the start of what's known as the Purple Mile, along Northumberland Avenue to cross the Grand Canal again, to the finish at Merrion Square North.

There are lots of aid stations, with water and energy drinks and gels at two of them. Crowds are excellent in the city, but as you'd expect it's quieter in the Park and in the middle of the course. The last mile is amazing. There are some bands along the course to help keep runners motivated.

What's unique?

This is the only running event that shuts down the city's streets making it a great way to see Dublin from a different angle.

Do charities benefit?

There is a recently established charity programme that is aiming to grow the amount raised by runners each year. At the moment the amounts raised for charity are relatively low but expect this to improve as the event becomes more and more popular and entries become more sought after. The charity spots will then become more in demand.

Our verdict

It's a tough race to get a spot in, but it's worth the effort. Everyone here is super friendly and for a small events team they put on a great show. It doesn't have the massive crowds of a big event like London or New York but it's as well organised and the course never feels overcrowded. Definitely one to consider.

How to register

Online via the website.This event is oversubscribed and there is a ballot/lottery in place. There are tour operator bibs available and a number of charities have entries. These are mainly Irish charities but there are also some in the US and the UK. Fundraising targets are not high so this could be a good option if you've missed the ballot.

Race website

https://irishlifedublinmarathon.ie/