50,000 runners take over streets of Cork and Dublin

More than 40,000 fundraisers will today pound the streets of Dublin in the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon.

And in Cork, 10,000 runners are expected to take part in the Bord Gáis Cork City Marathon. Sonia O'Sullivan is due to sound the start of the 26.2 mile event around now.

Organisers of the biggest all-women’s event of its kind in the world said charities will be the big winners.

More than €14m was raised by participants last year, bringing the estimated total donated since the race started in 1983 close to €100m.

Women of all ages representing every county in the country will walk, jog or run the 10km circuit, starting at Merrion Square at 3pm.

Many of Ireland’s leading female personalities, including politicians, broadcasters and journalists, will be among those thronging the city for charity.

Met Éireann said there would be a dry start to the bank holiday Monday in Dublin, but warned cloud and rain will spread from the south west during the morning and for the afternoon. Temperatures will be between 14C and 17C.

Nearly 740,000 women have taken part in the mini marathon since it started, with the number of participants soaring to more than 40,000 over the last three years.

Motorists are warned to expect road closures and delays around the route which goes along Mount Street Lower, past the RDS out to Merrion Road and up Nutly Lane to Donnybrook Road before weaving back towards St Stephen’s Green.