Dublin Marathon Guide

The Dublin Marathon began in 1980 and has gone on to become Europe’s 4th largest marathon. Runners are drawn to the fast, flat course and this year it is over subscribed with people applying to take part from 60 countries.

When and where does the Dublin Marathon take place?

This year the Dublin Marathon takes place on October 29th. This event will have five start times, starting with the wheelchair participants at 8:40 am. They will be followed by wave 1 at 8:45 am, wave 2 at 9:05 am, wave 3 at 9:25 am and wave 4 at 9:45 am. It starts and ends in the city centre and takes participants past famous landmarks such as Trinity College.

Dublin Marathon route guide

The Dublin Marathon takes runners on  a tour of the city. Runners will travel along the outside of Phoenix Park and then head towards Inchicore and South Circular Road. Runners will then make their way to Crumlin, Terenure and Rathgar. Read on for the full route break down.

1-3 miles

The first one to three miles takes runners from Kevin Street through to Stoney Batter over James Joyce Bridge.

4-6 miles

Heading into Phoenix Park, miles four to six take runners past Dublin Zoo and out the other side. There are water stations available and there will also be toilets.

7-10 miles

Miles seven to ten see runners head out of Phoenix Park and over Chapelzoo Bridge. There is also an Irish Life Support Zone here. Runners can also grab a drink of water or a Lucozade to keep hydrated.

11-13 miles

Heading down Sarsfield Road past Brickfield Park, miles eleven to thirteen take runners past the medical/ ambulance stations to provide support. There are also toilets and water stations along this part of the route.

14-16 miles

Miles fourteen to sixteen takes runners down Drimnagh Road, through to Walkinstown Road through Cromwellsfort Road West. There is another Irish Life Support Zone here.

17-20 miles

Runners head into Bushy Park during miles seventeen to twenty, where there is another Irish Life Support Zone to provide some much needed cheering as runners head towards the final six miles.

21-23 miles

Heading down towards University College Dublin, runners will have access to hydration stations. There is also a drop out zone here in case the race becomes too much for some.

24-26 miles

The final stretch – miles twenty-four to twenty-six takes runners past Elm Park Golf Course, through the Irish Life Purple Mile towards that all important finish line.

Dublin Marathon entries

Thousands of people enter to run the Dublin Marathon each year. In 2022 the entry was capped at 22,500, down from the previous year’s entry of 25,000, due to new “infrastructure restrictions” along the route. There are a few different options to choose from when entering the Dublin Marathon. Hopeful runners can apply for a Lottery place, a charity place, or a Good for Your Age entry

Lottery applications

Entries for the Dublin Marathon 2023 Lottery were open from 9am Thursday November 3rd 2022 until Midnight Wednesday November 16th 2022. Entering the lottery doesn’t guarantee you a place and you can only enter once per person.

Run for charity

Participants who are looking to run and raise money for a good cause can apply for a charity place in the Dublin Marathon. There are over 50 Irish and International charities officially partnered with the event which participants can run for. Usually the charities will have a minimum amount that participants need to raise in order to run for them. Charities have a set number of places for runners and demand is often high so it is best to apply early. You can apply for a charity place on the Real Buzz website.

Good for Age entries

Runners who are especially fast for their age can apply for a Good for Age entry. There are a few requirements in order to qualify for this. Each age group has a certain time participants need to be able to prove they will be able to complete the marathon within.

You will require the following information:

• Athletic Ireland Membership Number (ensure you have the exact details on their database as you are using to enter).
• You use the race number from the Irish Life Dublin Marathon 22 to qualify (available on our results page).
• If you use any other Marathon, a link directly to your result.

Entries opened in early 2023.

Race day essentials

Once runners are ready to head on down to the start line, there are a few important things they need to remember.

• Don’t start too early, as starting the race before it officially begins could end up with you being removed from the race.
• Remember your number! Your race number must be worn on the front and not the back. Failure to do this could result in your being stopped mid route. Don’t put pins through your time tags. You can collect your number from the Irish Life Dublin Marathon Expo in the Main Hall of the RDS Dublin 4 – open from 12 to 7pm on Friday 27th and 9 to 7pm Saturday 28th.
• Baggage areas – The four Baggage Areas are located in Merrion Square South. Please allow time to walk to the start zones. 15 minutes for Green and Blue numbers. 20 minutes for Purple numbers. Only official Irish Life Dublin Marathon bags will be accepted. No rucksacks, holdalls or any other type of bag can be used.
• Toilets – At the start of the race toilets are located in each wave zone. There are also more toilets along the route.
• Water stations – Water stations are located at different points along the route.
• First Aid facilities will be available at the Finish Area and at the 3, 5, 9½, 11, 13, 16, 19, 21 and 24 mile marks. 

Spectator information

Behind every great runner there’s a legion of supporters. If you are planning to head down to cheer on your loved one there are a number of places where you can cheer from the side lines. The route starts on Fitzwilliam Street Upper and ends on Merrion Square North – both will be popular spots for supporters. There are also a number of supporter stations along the way including near Bushey Park and University College of Dublin. Make sure to bring your camera to capture the runners in action!

Marathon fundraising tips

The Dublin Marathon is a great way to fundraise for charity or a personal cause. Once you know what you would like to fundraise for it’s important to start the process as soon as possible to give yourself a long lead time. Once you have your place you can set up a GoFundMe fundraiser and start collecting donations. As you progress in your training you can share updates with your supporters on how you are getting on. Posting updates keeps donors engaged and can encourage even more donations. What are you waiting for, get training and fundraising today!