Dublin Marathon to retain city centre start and finish

A general view of the start of the 2023 Irish Life Dublin Marathon. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

This year’s Irish Life Dublin Marathon will start and finish in the city centre despite previous calls from Dublin City Council and the National Transport Authority (NTA) to move it elsewhere due to public transport disruption.

The race on Sunday, October 27 will begin on Lesson Street Lower and finish on Mount Street Upper, with both the start and finish remaining within the Dublin 2 area. The course will follow a similar route to 2023 and it will be released once it’s signed off by all statutory bodies.

Last year’s event started in Fitzwilliam Square and finished in Merrion Square North, with tensions arising between organisers and Dublin City Council and the NTA due to the impact of the event on public transport. 

Last November, the Sunday Independent reported that Owen Keegan, the outgoing Dublin City Council chief executive, had sought a commitment from organisers that the race would be moved away from Merrion Square North in 2024, a request supported by the NTA.

However, that has not come to pass. "We are thrilled to confirm that the Irish Life Dublin Marathon will be on the streets of Dublin's city centre,” said longtime race director Jim Aughney. 

“Running the marathon is a momentous occasion for participants and being in the heart of the capital city makes that moment even more special for them and their families and friends who come out to support them. We also need to ensure a safe experience for everyone involved. We have worked closely with Dublin City Council on finalising the start and finish location. We are grateful for their support and look forward to making this event a success."

Dublin City Council CEO Richard Shakespeare said: "We are very proud as a city to host the fifth biggest marathon in Europe in Dublin City. The event brings celebration and vibrancy as well as significant social and economic benefits for the city. It is also a substantial operational undertaking that requires careful management. Together with the Dublin marathon organisers, we have developed a comprehensive plan that works for everyone."