Mooney Set to Defend Title in Dublin City Council Dublin City Half Marathon Field

Killian Mooney (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.) is set to defend his men’s title in the 2026 Dublin City Council Dublin City Half Marathon on Sunday, May 3rd.

Mooney returns after winning the inaugural race in 1:05:40. Since then, the 31-year-old improved his personal best to 1:03:59 at February’s Napoli City Half Marathon, the second fastest Irish half-marathon time this year. In March, he debuted in the marathon with a 2:17:46 in Barcelona and earlier finished fifth in the Raheny 5 Mile with 23:43.

Mooney’s clubmate Paul O’Donnell (DSD A.C) is also a top challenger, having run 2:09:19, the third fastest marathon ever by an Irishman, at February’s Sevilla Marathon. The 27-year-old’s half-marathon best is 1:04:46 from Berlin in 2022.

Kevin Kelly of St Coca’s A.C., who finished runner-up last year in 1:07:02, returns to the start line but has been battling an injury in the lead-up to the race, which is likely to impact his ability to contend at the top of the field. Also lining up will be the Michael Fox (Letterkenny A.C.), who finished third last year in 1:07:24. This year, Fox placed second in the Omagh Half Marathon with 1:08:48. Oisin Martyn is also in form, running 1:04:21, the fourth fastest Irish time this year, at Den Haag in March.

Among the first-time half-marathoners are Seán Tobin (Clonmel A.C.), 31, and Ian Guiden (Clonliffe Harriers A.C.), also 31, who recently won the national 10K in 30:13.

With 2025 winner Nichola Sheridan (Bohermeen A.C.) now living in Australia the women’s race is wide open. There will be a battle between 32-year-old Meghan Ryan (DSD A.C.), who ran 1:16:27 in Barcelona this February, and Maebh Brannigan (Galway City Harriers A.C.), 29, who set a personal best of 1:15:09 at the Bohermeen Half Marathon in March. Brannigan also finished second at the 2025 Irish Life Dublin Half Marathon in 1:18:53, where she was closely followed by Fiona Stack (Raheny A.C.), 42, who is also set to line up.

Edel Gaffney (Trim A.C.) brings depth, recently running a 1:18:54 PB at Paris to take third in the female master’s race. Cliona Murphy (Dublin City Harriers A.C.) is also in strong form, with a 1:18:53 season’s best at Omagh, finishing fourth overall.

Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (West Limerick A.C.) takes on her second major half-marathon and first since 2020, adding unpredictability.

In the wheelchair race, Irish Paralympian Patrick Monaghan returns to defend his title, while South Africa’s Tiaan Booch makes his Dublin debut.