This website contains information about some of the road races in the counties of Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Waterford in Munster, Ireland. For races in Cork, see the Running in Cork website which is the largest athletics website in Munster. That site also contains plenty of national and international news items as well.
The Irish Mountain Running Association (IMRA) are holding a series of trail races in various woods in counties Cork, Limerick and Tipperary from May to October 2022.
These are easier than the usual type of IMRA mountain race and would make for a good introduction to trail running for experienced runners.
IMRA membership for 2022 is required (€10) for insurance purposes.
There are 8 races in the trail league and they are...
1) Cork... Sun 29th May 2022... IMRA Curragh Woods 8km... €7...
2) Cork... Sun 12th June 2022... IMRA Kilworth Wood 7km... €7...
3) Limerick... Sun 10th July 2022... IMRA Keeper Hill 6km... €7...
4) Tipperary... Sun 24th July 2022... IMRA Sliabhnamuck 7km... €7...
5) Cork... Sun 31st July 2022... IMRA Garryduff Woods 7km... €7...
6) Tipperary... Sun 28th August 2022... IMRA Scarragh Woods 7km... €7...
7) Limerick... Sat 17th September 2022... IMRA Cannon Sheehan 14km... €7...
8) Cork... Sun 2nd October 2022... IMRA Curraghbinny Woods 5km... €7...
There were 94 finishers in this years Mile Curley Cunningham 4-miler in Galbally, Co Limerick. This is down 53% on the 200 that cross the finish line back in 2019.
1 Declan MooreBilboa 20:33SM274 2 Ian O HalloranBoru Tri 21:00SM257 3 Paddy CumminsMoycarkey Coolroo 21:03SM317 5 Dymphna RyanDundrum 22:47SF279 10 Niamh MooreLeevale 23:40SF249 18 Julie McCarthyBilboa 25:24SF269
172 runners took part in this 5k race near Dungarvan in Co Waterford.
Place Time Name Team Category Pace KM No 1 0:16:06 MURPHY, Noel Waterford A.C. Male Sn 03:13.2 180 2 0:16:10 O'BRIEN, Craig Ferrybank A.C. Male Sn 03:14.0 93 3 0:16:20 SHEIL, Niall St Killians A.C. Male 45 03:16.0 109 25 0:19:30 FITZGERALD, Kelly West Waterford A.C. Female Sn 03:54.0 98 32 0:19:48 BURKE, Ciara West Waterford A.C. Female Sn 03:57.6 69 45 0:20:35 DROHAN, Eveleen West Waterford A.C. Female 40 04:07.0 13
Ballinroad is in the eastern suburbs of Dungarvan town.
Info from West Waterford AC... "THE AHS TUNING IRELAND TO SPONSOR 7th ANNUAL BALLINROAD 5K KICK STARTS SUMMER RACE PROGRAMME.
Our first race in the new look summer road race programme for 2022 will get underway with the AHS Tuning Ireland sponsored Ballinroad 5k on Friday May 13th at 7.30 pm.
Firstly our sincere thanks to John Coleman of AHS for his continued sponsorship of this race which he has sponsored for the past 7 years. All at our club wish John and his team ever success in his new premises out on Coolagh road where he has recently moved to a bigger premises with his successful AHS Tuning Ireland business.
This year once again after a two year break due to covid we are delighted to be able to help and support the local community in Ballinroad as the local soccer club Ballinroad A.F.C. will be the benefactors of the race , with monies donated towards their Pitch fund.
The race will incorporate a fun run/walk with proceeds from them going towards the clubs fund for this project.
Starting at 7.30 pm with Ballinroad community hall as the race H. Q.
A huge turnout is expected if last year is anything to go by as we deem the race to be the fastest flattest 5k course around. As you know in West Waterford AC we like to cater for all and have different prize structures in all our races, for the Ballinroad race we will have prizes for the top 5 men and women with lots and lots of spots for down the field finishers.
The entry fee is 10 euro pre entry online.
The course chosen for the race is an excellent out and back course which is very flat so if it’s your first attempt at the 5k distance or you’re looking for a fast time on a flat- fast course this is your opportunity to shine.
There are six races in this years West Waterford AC Summer Series with most of them in or to the west of Dungarvan. Each race costs just €10 to enter or you can enter the series for €50.
From West Waterford AC... "After a break for the past 2 years we are delighted to annunce our Summer Schedule of races starting in Ballinroad with our very popular 5k race and finishing in Ballinameela on the 22nd July in another very popular 5k route with all past participants.
This is an unique opportunity to enter all 6 races in advance and just turn up on the night to each race and run! So get your entries in quickly and be ready for a super summer of racing once more. "
Please note that you must pre-enter these races online.
This IMRA event is quite a challenge and is real mountain run. While the distance is quite modest at about 10kms, there is about 700m of ascent.
You would probably need to be able to handle the half-marathon distance comfortably before undertaking a race like this.
The most interesting part of the run is the loop around the Devil's Punchbowl with some amazing views out over the lakes of Killarney.
COUNTY:Kerry DATE:Sunday 8 May, 2022 TIME:13:00 CLIMB (M):700 DISTANCE (KM):9.60 ENTRY CLOSES:2022-05-07 18:00:00 ENTRY COST:€7 for seniors, €5 for over 65s and under 18s
The annual Great Limerick Run was held on Sunday the 1st of May 2022 with thousands taking part between the full marathon, half-marathon & 6-mile.
Marathon...
Top 5 men 1353 SergiuCiobanuMale1M35+1CLONLIFFE HARRIERS A.C. 02:21:21 1143 SeanHehirMale2M35+2METRO/ST. BRIGID'S A.C. 02:26:30 1897 TudorMircea MoldovanMale3M35+3CLONLIFFE HARRIERS A.C. 02:29:01 2198 JohnKinsellaMale4M35+4BILBOA A.C. 02:32:47 1679 MylesGibbonsMale5M45+1SLIABH BHUIDE ROVERS A.C. 02:34:19
Top 5 women 1899 CaitrionaJenningsFemale 1F35+ 1LETTERKENNY A.C. 02:41:09 1109 NeasaDe BurcaFemale 2F45+ 1GALWAY CITY HARRIERS A.C. 02:58:47 1142 SiobhanLeeFemale 3F35+2 GALWAY CITY HARRIERS A.C. 02:59:48 1043 KatarzynaBobkaFemale 4F35+ 3AN BRU AC 03:08:38 1172 ClareColemanFemale 5F35+4 DOONEEN A.C. 03:16:35
Top 5 men 6623 PeterSombaMale1MSEN1 01:04:39 6452 TimO DonoghueMale2M35+1 EAST CORK A.C. 01:05:06 5188 ConorMc CauleyMale3M35+2 LEEVALE A.C. 01:08:24 5919 JohnShineMale4M35+3 LEEVALE A.C. 01:10:26 6381 MossyBrackenMale5MSEN2 MOYCARKEY COOLCROO A.C. 01:11:06
Top 5 women 6757 CourtneyMc GuireFemale1FSEN1 01:20:55 4145 SiobhanO DohertyFemale2F35+1BORRISOKANE A.C. 01:21:12 4585 CatherineThorntonFemale3F35+2CRUSADERS A.C. 01:21:4935 4051 LindaO SullivanFemale4F45+1WATERGRASSHILL A.C. 01:22:13 6728 AngelaMc CannFemale5F45+2CLONMEL A.C. 01:24:36
Top 3 men & women 10560 Jose IgnacioGimenez PerezMale1MSEN1ENNIS TRACK A.C. 00:29:33 12380 NiallShanahanMale2M35+1 00:30:30 13568 JasonFahyMale3M35+2 00:30:46 12099 JessicaCoyneFemale1FSEN1LEEVALE A.C. 00:35:20 9001 CiaraPeeloFemale2F35+1CLONLIFFE HARRIERS A.C. 00:40:31 13509 ClodaghGalvinFemale3FSEN2CLONLIFFE HARRIERS A.C. 00:40:37
There are 3 race distances on offer as part of the Ballyhoura Trail Marathon event which takes place on Saturday the 30th of April 2022 in the Ballyhoura Mountains on the Cork - Limerick border.
The events start and finishes in the town of Kilfinane and the routes weave their way through narrow country roads and up forest trails as they loop through the countryside. Runners usually finish from 4-6 hours.
Please visit the individual event pages (click on links below) on www.imra.ie for further details on each event and on how to register: There is also information on the Ballyhoura Trail Marathon Facebook page.
This race takes place on Tomies & Purple mountain to the south-west of Killarney in Co.Kerry.
DESCRIPTION: Killarney Open Mountain race COUNTY: Kerry DATE: Sunday 3 April, 2022 TIME:11:00 CLIMB (M):867 DISTANCE (KM):12.50 ENTRY OPENS:2022-03-26 18:00:00 ENTRY COST:€7 for seniors, €5 for over 65s and under 18s
Annual membership of the IMRA for 2022 is required (€10).
The big race in Munster this weekend was the Adare 10k in Co. Limerick with a total of 737 runners crossing the finish line.
First 3 men in the Adare 10k ...(L-R) Barry Donovan, Cork Track Club 3rd, Jake Regan, St Johns AC 1st & Declan Moore, Bilboa AC 3rd
Top 5 men & women...
1Jake O'REGAN30:0918MMSSt Johns AC 2Declan MOORE32:3010MMSBilbao AC 3Barry DONOVAN32:5116MMSCork Track Club 4Kenneth RODGERS32:5617MMSSt Johns AC 5Andrew NEVIN34:02170MMSMullingar Harriers 9Grace LYNCH34:329FFSIveragh AC 14Dymphna RYAN35:28991FF40Dundrum AC 19Mary MULHARE35:5415FFSPortlaoise AC 24Siobhan O'DOHERTY36:281FFSBorrisokane AC 27Una BRITTON36:4822FFSKilcoole AC
The big race in Munster this weekend was of course the John Treacy Dungarvan 10-mile road race with over 2,400 runners taking part.
Lead group near the 1-mile mark
In the women's race, Aoife Cooke from Youghal set a new course record with a time of 54m 19s.
Top 10 men & women...
1Hugh ARMSTRONG00:48:5100:48:513119MMSBallina A.C. 2Conor DUFFY00:49:3100:49:313117MMSGlasbugh Harriers 3Tim O'DONOGHUE00:49:4500:49:45470MMSEast Cork A.C. 4David MANSFIELD00:50:0600:50:063116MMSClonmel A.C. 5David MCCARTHY00:50:4100:50:41332MMSWest Waterford A.C. 6Ger FORDE00:50:5200:50:523121MMSKilkenny City Harriers A.C. 7Conor MCCAULEY00:51:5800:51:583115MMSLeevale A.C. 8Kane COLLINS00:52:2700:52:27446MMSDonore Harriers 9John KINSELLA00:52:2800:52:283142MMSBilboa A.C. 10Pat HENNESSY00:52:5500:52:553118MMSWest Waterford A.C. 14Aoife COOKE00:54:1900:54:193132FF35Eagle A.C. 59Ruth FITZGERALD00:58:1000:58:101157FFSWaterford A.C. 65Siobhan O'DOHERTY00:58:4400:58:441201FF35Borrisokane A.C. 70Courtney MCGUIRE00:58:5800:58:581415FFSClonmel A.C. 88Hannah STEEDS00:59:3000:59:301112FFSClonmel A.C. 158Niamh DEVLIN01:02:0601:02:061231FF35Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 163Angela MCCANN01:02:1401:02:181429FF50Clonmel A.C. 181Linda O'SULLIVAN01:02:4801:02:531327FF50Watergrasshill A.C. 220Julie KIRWAN01:03:5401:04:022130FF40 250Tara KENNEDY01:04:4801:04:491286FF45Raheny Shamrocks A.C.
The next IMRA event is coming up in the south-east corner of Tipperary on Sunday the 6th of February 2022.
Lisvervane is located about 4kms east of Galbally which in turn is about 15kms to the north of Mitchelstown.
DESCRIPTION:Trail run in Lisvernane COUNTY:Tipperary DATE:Sunday 6 February, 2022 TIME:12:00 CLIMB (M):313 DISTANCE (KM):11.50 ENTRY CLOSES:2022-02-05 18:00:00 ENTRY COST:€7 for seniors, €5 for over 65s and under 18s
The Great Limerick Run Half-Marathon is coming up on Sunday the 1st of May 2022.
While there are plenty of generic 'one size fits all' plans about, many if not most are of little value. Every person is different and any proper training plan should be specific for each individual.
A 14-week training programme for the Limerick Half-Marathon starts on the 23rd of January 2022 and costs €79.
A 12-week programme for those doing the 6-mile event starts of the 6th of February and cost €69. There is also the option of making it 14-weeks for €79 if someone wants a bit more time to get ready.
Each programme is sent out weekly and is tailored for each individual. Weekly feedback by email is required.
If interested, send an email to johndesmondrunning AT gmail DOT com
The IMRA Ballyhoura Winter Moonlight Challenge was held on Friday evening the 14th of January 2022 with an impressive 176 runners finishing the course. That's pretty amazing for a 28km trail race that was run in the dark in the middle of January.
Top 5 men & women... 1Barry McEvoy118M2:06:43 Laois 2Raivis Zakis652M402:07:49 West Waterf...Waterford 3Michael Lyons497M352:21:25 Grange Ferm...Cork 4Paul Tierney (Tipp)846M402:24:35 GoTri Adven...Tipperary 5Sam Hand141M2:24:58 Kilmallock ...Limerick 13Laura O Driscoll731F402:39:15 North East ...Louth 34Michelle Nolan186F502:52:00 Cork 40Elaine Collins235F2:55:05 Cork 42Roisin Howley716F2:55:58 Clare 68Cora Fenton677F503:08:27 Kilmallock ...Limerick
The annual Adare 10k road race is coming up on Sunday the 27th of February 2022 at 1pm.
Organised by West Limerick AC, this is a hugely popular race and attracts a large field of about 700 runners, way beyond the usual 200 or so that most races get. It sells out every year.
Update 18th Jan 2022: This race has now sold out! It's really impressive to see such strong demand for this race with 1000 places filled. While many races struggle to attract runners, others are going from strength to strength.
The first batch of 600 went on sale on the 4th of November 2021 and filled out within days. The second batch of 400 went on sale on the 14th of January and sold out in about three days.
The Bill Fox Memorial 10k run is coming up in the village of Ballylanders in SE Limerick on Sunday the 6th of March 2022. - Please note this has been changed from the original date of the 9th of January.
Details... Bill Fox Memorial Run (10k) taking place on the 9th of January. Online registration only. Entry fee €15 plus booking fee. Starting at the Ballylanders GAA clubhouse. Money raised will be in aid of Marymount Hospice and Ballylanders GAA.
The village of Ballylanders is situated in the south-east corner of county Limerick and is located on the R513 road which runs from Limerick City to Mtchelstown. It is located about 12kms from the M8 motorway (exits 12 & 13).
The 10k course takes in a large loop to the south-west of Ballylanders.