Dublin Marathon
Road
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DateOctober
LocationDublin, Ireland
DistanceMarathon
Est1980 (age 46)
SponsorIrish Life (2022)
RecordMen's: 2:06:52 (2023)
Kemal Husen
Women's: 2:24:13 (2024)
Asmarech Nega
HomepageDublin Marathon
Participants17,729 finishers (2019)
16,166 finishers (2018)

The Dublin Marathon is an annual 26.2 mile (42.2 km) road marathon in Dublin, Ireland, held on the last Sunday in October. Prior to 2016, the race took place on the last Monday in October, which is a public holiday in Ireland. Held each year since 1980, the marathon had a record 22,500 registrants for the 2019 race, including over 5,000 entrants from outside Ireland.

History

The race was founded in 1980 by a group led by Noel Carroll, who persuaded the Business Houses Athletic Association (BHAA) to take up the idea. In the first year, 2,100 took part, of whom 1,420 finished. Dick Hooper of Raheny club Raheny Shamrock Athletic Club claimed first place, in a time of 2:16:14. The women's winner was Carey May who finished in 2:42:11. That year's runner-up was Neil Cusack, who returned in 1981 to post a winning time of 2:13:59.

Jerry Kiernan's 1982 time of 2:13:45 was a long-standing men's course record. This was finally improved upon by Lezan Kipkosgei Kimutai over twenty years later in 2004, but Russian runner Aleksey Sokolov twice broke the record with consecutive wins in 2006/07, running 2:11:39 then 2:09:07 the next year. Moses Kangogo Kibet became the first man under 2:09 in Dublin with his win in 2:08:58. The current men's record is 2:08:06 set by Othmane El Goumri in 2019.[1]

Moira O'Neill was the first woman under two hours and forty minutes with her win of 2:37:06 in 1988 and home athlete Christine Kennedy improved this with a run of 2:35:56 three years later. Kenyan Ruth Kutol win in 2:27:22 in 2003 was the first sub-2:30 time and Russian Tatyana Aryasova broke this record in 2010 with her current women's record of 2:26:13.[2]

The participation level of the race has followed an upward trend: by 1988 the number of participants had increased to 8,700 – up from the 4,000 the previous year. It was not until 2000 that the 1988 participation record was finally broken when 8,900 took part. An increasing number of people took part every year in the late 2000s, with 11,000 at the 2007 edition.[3] Entry levels have since increased significantly year-on-year with 19,500 completing the 2016 event.[4]

In 2001 the marathon became part of the Dublin Race Series, which includes pre-marathon events of 5 miles, 10 kilometres, 10 miles and half marathon distance over the preceding months, run in the Phoenix Park and Swords.

A competitor died while running in the 2006 marathon,[5] and another in the 2013 marathon.[6]

In October 2015, it was announced that from 2016 the marathon would be held on Sunday rather than the October bank holiday Monday to attract more overseas runners.[7]

The 2020 and 2021 editions of the race were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all entries made valid for the following year and all registrants given the option of obtaining a full refund.[8][9][10]

Course

The course is generally reasonably flat. It starts at Fitzwilliam Square in the city centre and concludes at Merrion Square. Exact routing varies, although in recent years[when?] the race has proceeded in an anti-clockwise direction around the city, including passing through the Phoenix Park before moving towards the southside suburbs.

Race series

The marathon is part of a race series that includes four other races: a 5 mile race in South Dublin, the Fingal 10K in Swords, and the Frank Duffy 10 Mile and the Dublin Half Marathon (both set in Phoenix Park).[11][12]

Prizes

The overall winner receives the Noel Carroll Memorial Trophy.[13] Both winners also receive 12,000 EUR.[14]

Winners

Key:

Course record (in bold)
Irish championship race
Ed.YearMen's winnerTime[a]Women's winnerTime[a]Rf.
11980Dick Hooper (Ireland)2:16:14Carey May (Ireland)2:42:11
21981Neil Cusack (Ireland)2:13:58Emily Dowling (Ireland)2:48:22
31982Jerry Kiernan (Ireland)2:13:45Debbie Mueller (United States)2:40:57
41983Ronny Agten (Belgium)2:14:19Mary Purcell (Ireland)2:46:09
51984Svend Erik Kristensen (Denmark)2:18:25Ailish Smyth (Ireland)2:47:30
61985Dick Hooper (Ireland)2:13:48Julia Gates (United Kingdom)2:41:26
71986Dick Hooper (Ireland)2:18:10Maureen Hurst (United Kingdom)2:46:29
81987Pavel Klimeš (Czechoslovakia)2:14:21Carolyn Naisby (United Kingdom)2:42:08
91988John Griffin (Ireland)2:16:02Moira O'Neill (United Kingdom)2:37:06
101989John Griffin (Ireland)2:16:44Pauline Nolan (Ireland)2:44:32
111990John Bolger (Ireland)2:17:17Christine Kennedy (Ireland)2:41:27
121991Tommy Hughes (IRE)2:14:46Christine Kennedy (Ireland)2:35:56
131992Jerry Kiernan (Ireland)2:17:19Karen Cornwall (United Kingdom)2:41:58
141993John Treacy (Ireland)2:14:40Cathy Shum (Ireland)2:38:14
151994Steve Brace (United Kingdom)2:17:13Linda Rushmere (United Kingdom)2:40:17
161995William Musyoki (Kenya)2:16:57Trudi Thomson (United Kingdom)2:38:23
171996Joseph Kahugu (Kenya)2:17:42Cathy Shum (Ireland)2:38:56
181997Joshua Kipkemboi (Kenya)2:15:56Carol Galea (Malta)2:39:33
191998Joshua Kipkemboi (Kenya)2:20:00Teresa Duffy (Ireland)2:39:56
201999John Mutai (Kenya)2:15:18Esther Kiplagat (Kenya)2:34:24
212000Simon Pride (United Kingdom)2:18:49Sonia O'Sullivan (Ireland)2:35:42
222001Zacharia Mpolokeng (South Africa)2:14:03Debbie Robinson (United Kingdom)2:35:40
232002Frederick Cherono (Kenya)2:14:25Lidiya Vasilevskaya (Russia)2:32:58
242003Onesmus Kilonzo (Kenya)2:17:03Ruth Kutol (Kenya)2:27:22
252004Lezan Kimutai (Kenya)2:13:07Yelena Burykina (Russia)2:32:53
262005Dmytro Osadchyy (Ukraine)2:13:14Zinaida Semenova (Russia)2:32:53
272006Aleksey Sokolov (Russia)2:11:39Alina Ivanova (Russia)2:29:49
282007Aleksey Sokolov (Russia)2:09:07Alina Ivanova (Russia)2:29:20
292008Andriy Naumov (Ukraine)2:11:06Larisa Zyuzko (Russia)2:29:55
302009Feyisa Lilesa (Ethiopia)2:09:11Kateryna Stetsenko (Ukraine)2:32:45
312010Moses Kangogo (Kenya)2:08:58Tatyana Aryasova (Russia)2:26:13[2]
322011Geoffrey Ndungu (Kenya)2:08:33Helalia Johannes (NAM)2:30:33
332012Geoffrey Ndungu (Kenya)2:11:09Magdalene Mukunza (Kenya)2:30:46
342013Sean Hehir (Ireland)2:18:19Maria McCambridge (Ireland)2:38:51
352014Eliud Too (Kenya)2:14:47Esther Macharia (Kenya)2:34:15
362015Alemu Gemechu (Ethiopia)2:14:02Nataliya Lehonkova (Ukraine)2:31:09
372016Dereje Debele (Ethiopia)2:12:18Helalia Johannes (NAM)2:32:32
382017Bernard Rotich (Kenya)2:15:53Nataliya Lehonkova (Ukraine)2:28:57
392018Asefa Bekele (Ethiopia)2:13:24Mesera Hussen (Ethiopia)2:33:49
402019Othmane El Goumri (Morocco)2:08:06Motu Gedefa (Ethiopia)2:27:48[1]
cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic[8][9]
412022Taoufik Allam (Morocco)2:11:30Nigist Mulaneh (Ethiopia)2:28.32[15]
422023Kemal Husen (Ethiopia)2:06:52Sorome Negash (Ethiopia)2:26:22[16]
432024Moses Kemei (Kenya)2:08:47Asmarech Nega (Ethiopia)2:24:13
442025Daniel Mesfin (United States)2:08:51Eebbissee Addunyaa (Ethiopia)2:26:28

Wheelchair

Only male winners of the wheelchair division have been recorded, with the exceptions of 2002, 2004 and 2005.[17]

YearMen's winnerTime[a]Women's winnerTime[a]Rf.
1981Michael Cunningham (Ireland)2:44:15none[17]
1982Gerry O'Rourke (Ireland)2:32:44[17]
1983Gerry O'Rourke (Ireland)2:24:52[17]
1984Gerry O'Rourke (Ireland)2:28:07[17]
1985Gerry O'Rourke (Ireland)2:21:02[17]
1986Gerry O'Rourke (Ireland)2:22:55[17]
1987Gerry O'Rourke (Ireland)2:23:01[17]
1988Andy Hynes (England)2:12:57[17]
1989Chris Hallam (Wales)2:04:50[17]
1990Gerry O'Rourke (Ireland)2:05:58[17]
1991Chris Hallam (Wales)1:53:20[17]
1992Chris Madden (England)1:53:50[17]
1993Chris Hallam (Wales)1:59:28[17]
1994Richie Powell (Wales)2:11:27[17]
1995Roy Guerin (Ireland)2:05:47[17]
1996John Fulham (Ireland)2:11:52[17]
1997D Kavanagh (England)2:00:16[17]
1998John Fulham (Ireland)2:04:10[17]
1999John Fulham (Ireland)1:59:06[17]
2000Derek Connolly (Ireland)2:57:12[17]
2001Kenny Herriot (Scotland)2:55:00[17][18]
2002Kenny Herriot (Scotland)1:52:48Emer Patten (Ireland)3:35:15[17][18]
2003Kenny Herriot (Scotland)1:45:20none[17][18]
2004noneEmer Patten (Ireland)3:27.47[17]
2005John Glynn (Ireland)2:14:08Patrice Dockery (Ireland)2:34:29[17]
2006Richie Powell (Wales)1:55:10none[17]
2007Richie Powell (Wales)1:59:03[17]
2008Paul Hannan (Northern Ireland)2:22:06[17]
2009Richie Powell (Wales)2:09:28[17]
2010Paul Hannan (Northern Ireland)2:20:38[17]
2011Paul Hannan (Northern Ireland)2:13:58[17]
2012Luke Jones (Wales)2:03:29[17]
2013Paul Hannan (Northern Ireland)2:34:48[17]
2014Patrick Monahan (Ireland)1:52:43[17]
2015Patrick Monahan (Ireland)1:43:05[17]
2016Patrick Monahan (Ireland)1:39:18[17]
2017Patrick Monahan (Ireland)1:49:55[17]
2018Johnboy Smith (England)1:36:12[17]
2019Patrick Monaghan (Ireland)1:39:50[17]
cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic[8][9]
2022Patrick Monaghan (Ireland)1:37.31none[1]
2023Patrick Monaghan (Ireland)1:41:04none[19]

Broadcast coverage

YearsServiceNotes
1980–1999RTÉlive at first, highlights for majority of run
2000–2010TV3/Setanta Sportshighlights
2011RTÉlive
2012Setanta Sportsdocumentary coverage, but broadcast at Christmas
2013–2014Setanta Sportsdocumentary coverage
2015no coverage
2016Irish TVdocumentary coverage
2019YouTubelive stream

See also

Notes

  1. ^ h:m:s

References

  1. ^ "Othmane El Goumri sets new record to win Dublin Marathon". RTÉ News. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Autumn splendour as records fall". Irish Times. 26 October 2010. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Sokolov and Ivanova retain Dublin marathon titles". The Irish Times. 29 October 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  4. ^ Sweeney, Peter (28 October 2016). "At a glance: Dublin Marathon 2016". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Marathon competitor dies in Dublin". RTÉ News. 30 October 2006. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  6. ^ Hilliard, Mark (30 October 2013). "Man dies after collapse at Dublin Marathon finish line". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Dublin Marathon to move to Sunday of October Bank Holiday from 2016". The Irish Times. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Cancellation of the KBC Dublin Marathon and Race Series". KBC Dublin Marathon. 19 May 2020. Archived 20 May 2020 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ^ "2021 KBC Dublin Marathon Cancelled". KBC Dublin Marathon. 7 July 2021. Archived 13 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ^ "Dublin marathon cancelled for second year in a row". RTÉ Sport. 7 July 2021. Archived 9 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ^ "Enter KBC Dublin Race Series". KBC Dublin Marathon. Archived 19 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ^ Moreton, Jacob (10 May 2021). "Dublin Marathon organisers 'quietly confident' race will go ahead". Runner's World. Archived 19 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ^ "Noel Carroll Memorial". RTÉ Libraries and Archives. 23 October 2013. Archived 20 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
  14. ^ "Prize Fund". KBC Dublin Marathon. Archived 20 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
  15. ^ Allen, Greg (2022-10-30). "Allam wins Dublin Marathon, Hoare first Irishman home". RTÉ News. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  16. ^ "Kemal Husen and Sorome Negash ensure Ethiopian double in Dublin Marathon". RTÉ News. 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  17. ^ Previous Winners. Dublin Marathon. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  18. ^ "Records fall as sun shines on Dublin marathon". The Irish Times. 28 October 2003. Archived 21 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
  19. ^ "Kemal Husen and Sorome Negash ensure Ethiopian double in Dublin Marathon". RTÉ News. 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
List of winners