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.
This IMRA trail race in Bansha Woods is a few kms to the south-east of Tipperary Town and is coming up on Sunday 4th February 2024. As with all IMRA events, annual membership of IMRA costing €10 is required for insurance reasons.
This one is 8kms long with 260m of ascent and would suit someone who can comfortable run 16k/10m on the roads.
MANDATORY KIT: Level A - Basic - Showerproof, windproof jacket. All runners must bring the above items to the race. The actual kit to be carried during the race will be finalised on the day, depending on conditions etc., and clearly advised at Registration. You should also have the means to carry all the kit in case required. Failure to have the required items may lead to you being denied entry to the race, or disqualification. Random checks may be carried out.
ENTRY CLOSES: Saturday 3rd February 2024, 18:00 ENTRY COST: €7 for seniors, €5 for over 65s and under 18s
The big trail race last weekend in Munster was the IMRA 7.3km event in Glengarra Woods in Co Tipperary with a total of 84 runners taking part.
Top 3 men & women... 1 Marcus Bishop1630M 28:32 Kildare 2 Nick Hogan838M40 28:38 Cork 3 Barry Quinn1124M35 31:43 Tipperary 1 Faye O'Riordan921FJ 34:33 Carraig na bhFear ACCork 2 Barbara Gill1443F40 37:37 Clare 3 Helen O'Callaghan350F50 38:47 Cork
IMRA are holding an 8km trail race in Glengarra Woods in Co Tipperary on Sunday 21st January 2024 at 11am.
Glengarra Woods is on the southern slopes of the Galtee Mountains and is just off the old Mitchelstown to Cahir road. This is one of the easier IMRA events and would be suitable for anyone used to running 10k on a result basis.
Annual membership of IMRA costing €10 is required for insurance purposes.
DESCRIPTION: Glengarra Woods COUNTY: Tipperary DATE: Sunday 21st January, 2024 TIME: 11:00CLIMB (M):187 DISTANCE (KM): 8.00 RACE MARKING: Only major junctions marked - Only major junctions marked GPS ALLOWED: Yes LEAGUES: Coillte Winter/Spring Trail League, Munster MANDATORY KIT: Level A - Basic - Showerproof, windproof jacket All runners must bring the above items to the race. The actual kit to be carried during the race will be finalised on the day, depending on conditions etc., and clearly advised at Registration. You should also have the means to carry all the kit in case required. Failure to have the required items may lead to you being denied entry to the race, or disqualification. Random checks may be carried out. ENTRY CLOSES: Saturday 20th January 2024, 18:00 ENTRY COST: €7 for seniors, €5 for over 65s and under 18s ROUTE DESCRIPTION: Forest trail and fire road.
ORGANISERS INSTRUCTIONS: Early start 10.30am* Parking in the GAA grounds. Please follow the instructions of the stewards. Under IMRA rules for competitor's safety, it is mandatory to bring and carry a jacket that is shower and wind proof for the entire race and also a working charged mobile phone. Any competitor seen not carrying or wearing their jacket at any stage in the race will be disqualified. There are no exceptions to this rule!
IMRA MEMBERSHIP PROCEDURE FOR 2023! All competitors must be IMRA members. IMRA membership costs €10 for a calendar year. PRIZEGIVING LOCATION: Lisvernane community center
From IMRA... "A choice of two races on the Galtees coming up this Sunday 13th August with Cush and Galtymore Races in the Galtees, Co. Tipperary. The Galtymore Race is the final race in the Irish and Munster Championship series."
COUNTY: Tipperary DATE: Sunday 18 June, 2023 TIME: 12:00 CLIMB (M): 580 DISTANCE (KM): 8 RACE MARKING: Only major junctions marked - Only major junctions marked GPS ALLOWED: Yes ENTRY CLOSES: 2023-06-17 18:00:00 ENTRY COST: €7 for seniors, €5 for over 65s and under 18s
ROUTE DESCRIPTION: The race starts and finishes in Kilcash village. Car parking will be available and signposted to a field in the village. The distance of the race is 5.05 miles. The minimum elevation is 448 feet and the maximum elevation is 2351 feet. The race start time is 12 noon. The route takes you on the road up through the village, then taking a left turn you continue to 0.6 of a mile where another left turn takes you up onto the trail. After going through 2 gates and passing the Holy Cross which will be on your right, you are now on the mountain trail. Follow this up to the cairn on the summit, go clockwise around the cairn, and return down the mountain following the same route to the finish in the village. A shorter junior race route is also available.
The event car park is located in Kilcash village, which is situated just off the Kilkenny/Clonmel road (N76). It will be signposted and stewarded on the way into the village. A local landowner has kindly allowed us to use his field .The car parking is free and will be stewarded on the day. We would ask all attendees to use this facility as it reduces the inconvenience placed upon the local community (such as blocked access, noise, general increase in activity) within the village itself.
ORGANISERS INSTRUCTIONS: Under IMRA rules for competitor's safety, it is mandatory to bring and carry a jacket that is shower and wind proof for the entire race. Any competitor seen not carrying or wearing their jacket at any stage in the race will be disqualified. There are no exceptions to this rule!
IMRA are holding their Clonmel Trail Half-Marathon on Saturday the 25th of March 2023. Note that this one is reasonably challenging with a total ascent of 826-metres.
The maximum elevation is only about 400m which isn't that high compared to local mountains so it's not a case of running to a top of a mountain and back down again. It's the undulating course that is responsible ascent of 826m.
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 Irish Mountain Running Association (IMRA) are holding their final event in Munster for 2021 at the Glanageenty Woods in Co. Kerry. This is just north of the main road between Castleisland and Tralee.
There are a choice of three trail courses on Saturday the 11th of December...
1) Trail Marathon -8:30am - 42.2 kms & 1300m of ascent - limit of 100 entries - €45 - Enter HERE
2) Trail Half-Marathon - 9:30am - 21.1 kms & 650m of ascent - limit of 150 entries - €35 - Enter HERE
3) 9.1km Trail - 10:30am - 9.1kms & 318km of ascent - limit of 140 entries - €25 - Enter HERE
As with all IMRA events, annual membership costing €10 is required.
The main running event in Munster last weekend was the IMRA Glen of Aherlow Trail Half-Marathon on Saturday the 18th of September 2021 which attracted a field of 130 runners. Tom Blackburn was the first man home while the first woman finished in second place overall.
Top 5 men & women... 1Tom Blackburn413M55 1:40:08Mooreabbey MilersLimerick 3Conor Murphy195M45 1:43:29Cork and Kerry Trail RunnersKerry 4Gearoid Kennedy2151M401:44:23 5Peter Kehoe1524M451:45:13Roscommon 6Sam Hand529M1:45:40 Limerick 2Sophie Daly902F1:42:41 Kerry 29Trish Dorgan1125F401:58:47 Cork 40Miriam Beasley361F452:01:35 Star of the Laune ACKerry 43Aoife Courtney2070F2:04:55 Mooreabbey MilersTipperary 46Cora Fenton1590F502:06:29 Kilmallock ACLimerick
This event is coming up on Saturday the 17th of September in Co.Tipperary and there is a choice between a 13.1 mile half-marathon, 26.2 mile marathon and a 39.3 mile ultra-marathon.
The course is a 13.1 mile loop. You complete it once for the half, twice for the full and three times for the ultra.
From the organisers.......We are happy to roll out the 3rd edition of the Glen of Aherlow Loop de Loop Race.
The race start/finish this year will be in the village of Lisvernane in the Glen of Aherlow.
As with our other long distance races, sign up will include: Hot showers afterward, Full meal, Tech Tee shirt and aid stations. Route is fully marked and is chip timed.
This years race will be Sat 17th Sept 2016. Ultra (3 loop) start 8am €60 Full Marathon (2 loop) start 10am €50 Half Marathon (1 loop) start 12noon €40
For registration visit www.imra.ie and follow following instructions : 1. Create an imra ID, login and password 2. Join imra for 2016 €10. This will generate a number for rest of year. 3. Purchase race of preference.
**We will issue you with a physical number on the day provided you are registered. No registration on the day. No cash on day.
1 2001 Tom Blackburn M50 0:57:55 2 2026 Henry Browne M 0:59:26 3 2527 James Pittam M 0:59:56 4 2531 Jordan Richards M 1:00:20 5 1056 Conor Murphy M40 1:01:00 6 2007 Mark Horvarth M40 1:01:53 7 2032 Edward Casey M 1:02:15 8 2534 Stephen Mangan M 1:02:50 9 2028 Joe O'Leary M40 1:03:05 9 10 2034 Keith Ryan M50 1:03:09 11 2085 Enda Fitzmaurice M 1:04:26 12 2033 Ger Griffin M50 1:04:42 13 2139 Sean O Lionard M50 1:04:42 14 1051 Rob McEvoy M 1:04:52 15 2526 Brian Corbet M50 1:05:52 16 182 Micheal Mc Sweeney M40 1:06:04 17 2134 Richard Murray M40 1:06:54 18 2031 Linda O Connor F 1:07:53 19 60 Kieran Lynch M40 1:08:26 20 2533 Ben Geary M40 1:08:34 21 2535 Sebastien Wojs M 1:08:53 22 2013 David Bossonet M40 1:09:09 23 2503 Michael O Mulla M40 1:09:20 24 2095 Mary Louise Ryan F 1:10:11 25 2044 Michael Halahan M50 1:10:13 26 2121 Raymond Walsh M40 1:10:36 27 2035 Gary Healy M40 1:10:43 28 2055 Robbie Williams M 1:10:47 29 2046 BarryWilliams M50 1:12:24 30 2027 Willie O Donoghue M50 1:12:56 31 2076 Jeremy Kelleher M40 1:13:26 32 2504 Patrick Moynihan M40 1:13:27 33 2118 Robert Cunningham M 1:14:20 34 2525 Micheal O Donoghue M60 1:14:58 35 2091 John O Donovan M50 1:15:10 36 2005 Ewan Cunningham J 1:15:45 37 2510 Richard Forrest M40 1:16:11 38 2524 Anthony Russel M60 1:16:23 39 2017 Ide D Kelleher F40 1:16:52 40 2094 Michael Kilkelly M40 1:16:53 41 2059 Derek Whelan M 1:17:34 42 481 Marie O Shea F 1:18:17 43 2528 Damien Courtney M40 1:18:19 44 2530 Niall O'Rahilly Drew M 1:19:24 45 2018 Matthew Branch M40 1:19:57 46 844 Tina Reed F50 1:21:58 47 1052 Evin Allen M 1:22:43 48 429 Barry McCarthy M40 1:24:05 49 2514 Denis Carroll M50 1:24:10 50 2074 Liam O Buachalla M50 1:25:15 51 2522 Pat Cleary M60 1:26:26 52 2096 Fiona Roberts F40 1:26:29 53 2126 Jerry Twohig M60 1:26:39 54 2532 Kerana McCarthy F 1:29:20 55 2523 Liam Ellis Roberts M 1:30:10 56 1274 Dusan Vucen M 1:30:29 57 2109 Ita Kirwan F40 1:35:15 58 2056 Tommy Sheehan M60 1:36:20 59 2064 Debbie McCarthy F40 1:36:23 60 2052 Mary Cotter F50 1:45:36 61 2536 Michelle O Grady F 1:45:45 62 2003 Patricia Ryan F 1:46:15 63 2116 David Kiely M50 1:47:53 64 372 Honor Hayes F 1:51:50
Photos... 1) The IMRA have a gallery up on their website HERE
Conditions for this years Ballyhoura Mountain Marathon were less than ideal with wet and windy conditions for most of the day. A total of 111 runners completed the course.
Due to some markers being removed or being blown away, those taking part ended up running an extra mile or two. In other words, the Ballyhoura Mountain Marathon became the Ballyhoura Mountain Ultra! ;o)
Most marathon courses are measured by a Jones Counter on a bicycle to make sure a course is 26.2 miles. That is of course not possible off road so it is measured by GPS and the course is made slightly too long...i.e. the course may be something like 26.5 miles so to be sure that everyone completes the marathon distance.
While the extra bit at the end might be a bit of a drag, at least everyone knows that they covered the full marathon distance. The 'mortal sin' for marathons is when they are short. People pay the entry and put in the effort only to find that they have not run the full marathon distance.
The Ballyhoura is organised by the Munster Mountain Running Association. The aim of the event is to put on a endurance mountain race at a modest price.
Tom Blackburn...1st man home in the 2015 Ballyhoura Mountain Marathon
THE BALLYHOURA MOUNTAIN MARATHON RESULTS - 2ND MAY
1 TOM BLACKBURN 3:39:58 3:40:04 M40 2072
2 ADRIAN HENNESSY 3:42:47 3:42:47 SM 1120
3 BARRY HARTNETT 3:48:07 3:48:06 SM 323 7 SUZANNE KENNY 4:25:28 4:25:24 SF 633 32 HELEN WEIR 5:05:57 5:05:54 F40 448 34 RACHEL BURGESS 5:08:56 5:08:50 F40 1075
From the organisers...."The junction where we re-entered the ballyhoura way on the fire road unfortunately had tape which had been removed. We waited until the night before to mark the course and we couldn't have done anymore than that. Apologies to any runners who felt hard done by but that was not our intention. Next year we will release the mapping 2 weeks in advance and anyone who wants to recce the course is more than welcome. The full distance was 44.6km but maybe if you took the unmarked turn it was possibly more. MMRA will endeavour to learn from each new race we do and try to correct any issues for the following year. Please understand people that this is a voluntary organisation. This is why we can organise these races without you feeling ripped off and also have nice things like showed/food/tshirt etc.
It will be bigger (not the mileage) and better in 2016 and I hope to see you all there. It was a great effort by everyone who completed given the harsh conditions.
Thank you Robbie"
Some runners picked up a 'little friend'
Photos..... 1) The MMRA have a number of small albums...1...2...3...4...5..
2) Ballyhoura Active have a gallery HERE
3) Kevin O'Connor has a gallery on Flickr HERE
This 26.2 mile mountain marathon takes place on Saturday the 2nd of May 2015 on the Ballyhoura Mountains on the Cork - Limerick border. The race starts and finishes in the town of Kilfinane and weaves it's way through narrow country roads and up forest trails as it takes in a large loop. Runners usually finish from 4-6 hours, and the walkers coming in anything up to 9 hours.
Saturday 2nd May@9:30am
Pre reg essential
Fully marked course
Showers and meal afterwards
Race T-shirt
Finishers mug
1. The first 200 entered will be accepted.
2. Please note that this year it is PRE ENTRY ONLY.
3. You MUST be a 2015 registered IMRA member to enter.
4. The www.imra.ie will handle both the membership and the race registration (you can do this in the one transaction).
The entry fee is €35 and it costs €10 to register with the IMRA for the year.
This 8 km mountain race in the Galtees was held on the 10th of March in somewhat wet conditions.
NAME CAT TIME CLUB COUNTY 1 Tom Blackburn M40 30:04 Moorabbey... Limerick 2 Mike Cunningham M40 31:55 Bilboa AC Limerick 3 Keith Ryan M40 32:04 Limerick 4 Brian Flannelly M 33:26 Tipperary 5 John Paul Daly M40 34:11 Eagle AC 7 John Hallahan M40 36:17 Leevale Cork 8 James Burke M40 37:29 Bilboa AC Limerick 9 Michael Hallahan M40 37:38 Middleton... Cork 10 Kevin Wilkinson M 37:51 11 Brian Mahoney76 M 38:46 12 George Murray 1 M 39:31 13 Sean O'Neill Clare M60 40:13 Clare 14 Justin O'Connor M 40:43 15 Deirdre Finn F40 41:03 Tipperary 16 David Bosonnet M40 41:25 17 Patricia Blackburn F40 41:40 Bilboa AC Limerick 18 Mark Morrissey M40 41:55 19 Tim O'Callaghan M40 42:15 20 Chloe McCarthy F 42:26 21 Michael Mackessy M 42:28 22 Loretto Duggan F 44:24 St. Marys... Clare 23 Patrick Cleary M60 44:50 Kerry O Kerry 24 Finbarr McCarthy M40 44:59 25 Barry O'Brien M 45:29 Limerick 26 Shane Mc Carthy M50 45:35 27 Sharon Lucey F 46:30 Cork 28 Peter Bishop M50 49:02 29 Jennifer Murray F 49:53
Just to catch up on one old result....the Irish Mountain Running Association had a 11k race in the Galtees on Sunday, the 17th of Feb 2013. The course went from Combaun Wood to Temple Hill and attracted 36 people.
1 Mike Cunningham M40 35:42 Bilboa AC Limerick
2 Keith Ryan M40 36:21 Limerick Limerick
3 Brian Flannelly M 36:40 Cork Orienteering Club Tipperary 1 Mary Louise Ryan F 42:22 Bilboa AC Limerick 2 Loretto Duggan F 45:15 St. Marys AC Clare 3 Maggie Chojan F 46:44 Cork
This IMRA 8km hill run in Cratloe Woods had 47 runners which is on the upper scale for this type of event.
# NAME CAT TIME CLUB COUNTY 1 Mike Cunningham M40 28:34 Bilboa AC Limerick 2 Tom Blackburn M40 29:40 Moorabbey... Limerick 3 Keith Ryan M40 30:43 Limerick Limerick 4 Vinnie O'Brien M 30:45 Limerick Limerick 5 Sean Harte M 31:00 Cork orie... Waterford 6 Shane Mullaney M 31:14 Thurles C... Tipperary 7 John Hannon M 31:27 Olympic H... 8 Thomas Klimas M 32:49 8 Mark Murray M 32:49 Clare 10 John O'Shea M50 34:15 Limerick 11 Joe O'Leary M 34:24 Kerry 12 Kieran Collins M 34:40 Leevale Cork 13 Nicholas Moloney M 34:54 North Cork 14 Mike Mullins M40 35:06 North Cor... Cork 15 Loretto Duggan F 35:22 St. Marys... Clare 16 Andreas Wust M40 35:29 Clare Cru... 17 Jim O'Neill M40 35:31 18 Paul Rice Limerick M 36:22 West Limerick AC Limerick 19 John Daly M40 36:31 Limerick 20 Shane Liddy M 37:14 21 Brian O'Connor Limerick M 22 Deirdre Finn F40 37:50 Tipperary 23 Padraig O'Sullivan M 38:24 Cork 24 Brian Quain M 38:42 25 Colm Phelan M40 39:29 Tipperary 26 Shane Doyle M 39:39 Waterford 27 Alan McDevitt M 39:42 28 Sean Fogarty M40 40:00 Tipperary 29 Barry O'Brien M 40:09 Limerick 30 Susan Seager F 40:10 Crusaders AC Dublin 31 Tim O'Callaghan M40 40:56 32 Barry Murphy Munster M 33 Declan Fitzgerald M 43:07 34 Thomas Dowling M 43:17 35 Sinead O'Sullivan F 44:44 Limerick 36 Fionnuala Keogh F40 44:56 Limerick 37 Declan Drummey M 47:44 38 Bernard Collins M60 48:27 Limerick 39 Catherine Quinn F 48:37 40 Joe Laffan M60 55:40 Limerick 41 Dom Glynn M 59:0 42 Catriona Pearl F 61:00 43 Dearbhaile O'Brien F 68:00 43 Frances O'Regan F 68:00 43 Roisin O'Halloran F 68:00 46 Tom Fleming M40 70:00 Bridge Milers Clare 46 Christina Organ F40 70:00
