Date Released: March 20th, 2025
Event: 2025 Dublin City Half Marathon
Run Together – Thrive Together
The inaugural Dublin City Half Marathon is set to take place on Sunday, March 30th, 2025, marking an exciting new addition to the city’s running calendar. Organised by the experienced team behind the Irish Life Dublin Marathon and Race Series, in collaboration with Dublin City Council official event partner, the event highlights the city’s commitment to supporting major sporting events that inspire community participation and active lifestyles.
The race will begin at 8:30 AM on O’Connell Street, guiding participants through the northside of the city before finishing in the city centre. With the valued support of Irish Life, a dedicated advocate for health and wellness, the event aims to celebrate fitness, community, and the growing demand for half marathons in Dublin. Under the theme “Run Together – Thrive Together”, runners, spectators, and the wider community are invited to come out and support runners on the route.
Race Day Instructions for Runners
Waves: To ensure a smooth race day experience, participants have been assigned wave starts, with Wave 1 (Orange) beginning at 8:30 AM, Wave 2 (Green) at 8:45 AM, and Wave 3 (Blue) at 9:00 AM. A wheelchair start will take place at 8:20 AM. Wave times may be subject to change, and runners are advised to arrive by 8:00 AM and follow steward instructions. The participants may drop down to a later wave if needed, moving up to an earlier wave is not permitted.
Baggage Areas: There is designated drop-off locations based on wave colours. The Orange baggage area will be on Commons Street, while green and blue baggage areas will be located near the National College of Ireland. Participants are reminded that baggage is left at their own risk, and valuables should not be stored.
Hydration Stations: The 21km course will be fully marked, with water stations at 5K, 10K, 14K, and 18K, and Lucozade available at 18K.
Pacers: There will be pacers available for target finish times ranging from 1:30 to 2:50 hours, helping runners achieve their race goals. Prize presentations for the top three male and female finishers will take place at the finish line, with all other category prizes sent by post following the event.
Finishers: At the finish line, competitors will receive a specially designed technical T-shirt, a commemorative medal, and a 100% compostable goody bag.
Designated Meet Up Zone: There is a meeting area for family and friends which will be located on Mayor Street Lower near the CHQ building.
Key Safety: For safety reasons, the use of earphones and headphones is strongly discouraged, and baby strollers or buggies are prohibited on the course. First aid stations are located at 5K, 10K, 15K, 20K, and the finish line, ensuring medical support is readily available. In the event of a withdrawal, participants must report to the nearest medical station to have their race number recorded. Participants must complete the race within 3.5 hours, after which normal road traffic rules will apply. A one-way system will be enforced in the finish area for safety of all participants.
Clocks for Forward: As the event coincides with the beginning of daylight-saving time, runners are reminded that clocks will move forward by one hour at 2 AM on race morning.
Transport: Runners are advised to plan-ahead and consider using public transport where possible. Dublin Bus, Luas, and Irish Rail services may have altered routes or schedules. Please check with individual operators for the latest updates:
Get Social: For the latest updates follow the Dublin City Half Marathon Instagram Account
Tracker: Family and friends can track runners progress https://track.rtrt.me/e/TDL-DUBLINCITYHALF-2025
Spectators: Spectators are encouraged to line the route and cheer on the runners, creating a great race day atmosphere for participants. Key viewing spots include O’Connell Street for the exciting start, Croke Park (Jones’s Road & Clonliffe Road), Raheny and the Clontarf promenade. Additional highlights such as the FM104 Music Zone and dedicated Cheer Zone will add to the vibrant energy of the day, with celebrations culminating at Guild Street as participants cross the finish line.
Parking Discount: Event attendees can avail of a special 25% discount on parking, thanks to a partnership with Q-Park. By using the code RACE25, participants and spectators can enjoy discounted parking at several key locations across the city.
- North Side Car Parks: ILAC, Parnell & Smithfield
- South Side Car Parks: Christchurch and Fleet Street