Course Map
Elevation Profile
Course Details
- Course type
- Loop
- Elevation gain
- 216m
- Elevation loss
- 214m
- Highest point
- 71m
- Lowest point
- 2m
- Net drop
- 2m
- Start
- Fitzwilliam Square West
- Cutoff time
- 7h 0m
About this Race
The Irish Life Dublin Marathon is a single-loop tour of the historic capital city, starting near the elegant Georgian terraces of Fitzwilliam Square West before tracking north across the River Liffey and straight into the expansive, scenic stretches of Phoenix Park. The route then winds its way south through the historic neighbourhoods of Chapelizod, Kilmainham, and Crumlin, passing iconic landmarks like the Royal Hospital and the Grand Canal before delivering a grand, fan-lined finish at Merrion Square North. Affectionately known as "The Friendly Marathon," the course is defined by its legendary, wall-to-wall community support and relentless spectator energy, with residential areas like Terenure and Clonskeagh offering exceptionally loud, local encouragement. It draws a large, highly passionate field that blends international destination runners with Ireland’s National Championship contenders, all competing via a high-demand general ballot system. It suits first-timers and seasoned racers alike who are chasing a world-class atmosphere over a perfectly flat course, rewarding runners who pace themselves intelligently through its rolling, undulating terrain and save enough energy for the infamous incline up Heartbreak Hill near mile 21
Course Insight
The Fitzwilliam Square start gives you immediate adrenaline on flat roads, but you enter the wide stretches of Phoenix Park within the first few miles; the gradual climb up Chesterfield Avenue is a classic pacing trap where fresh legs make an incline feel flat, so back off your target pace here and save energy for later. The descent out of the park through Chapelizod offers a gentle gravity assist, but do not chase free speed as the course enters a series of twisting turns around Kilmainham and Crumlin that can break your rhythm. The halfway mark near Dolphin's Barn opens into dense residential areas where the famous local crowds are at their loudest, tempting an early surge that you must resist. The true defining test begins around mile 21 (34km) on Roebuck Road with the infamous "Heartbreak Hill"—a steady, half-mile incline that arrives precisely when you hit the wall and where many runners visibly slow. Over the crest, you are rewarded with a roaring wall of sound through Clonskeagh and a welcome downhill trend back toward the city centre. Crowds are thickest in the suburban villages of Terenure and Rathgar and thinnest inside the vast expanses of Phoenix Park. Run the tangents precisely on the sweeping city corners; following the center of the road blindly will add unnecessary distance to your race.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to tough late hills.
Course Records
Race History
The Dublin Marathon began in 1980 as the brainchild of a small group of runners led by Noel Carroll, drawing a maiden field of 2,100 participants who paid a £5 entry fee to race through the capital's historic streets. Dick Hooper and Carey May claimed the inaugural titles, setting the stage for a race that transitioned from its original Bank Holiday Monday slot to a Sunday fixture to accommodate massive international growth. Over the decades, it evolved from a local road race into a premier global event, famously earning its reputation as "The Friendly Marathon" due to the dense, wall-to-wall community support that lines the entire loop. Now serving as the prestigious host of the Athletics Ireland National Marathon Championship, the event sells out its 22,500-runner field annually via a high-demand general ballot, attracting participants from around the globe to its iconic city-centre course.
Plan Your Trip
Dublin City Centre for start/finish walking distance and every hotel grade available, Ranelagh or Ballsbridge for quieter residential options still on the course, and Malahide for a scenic coastal base with direct rail into the city.
- Nearest airport(s)
- DUB Dublin Airport
- Best area to stay
- Dublin City Centre for start/finish walking distance and every hotel grade available, Ranelagh or Ballsbridge for quieter residential options still on the course, and Malahide for a scenic coastal base with direct rail into the city.
- Getting to the start
- The start is on Fitzwilliam Street in the city centre, walkable from most central hotels; Dublin Bus, the Dart, and Luas all serve the city on race morning for those staying further out.
- Race expo
- Royal Dublin Society (RDS), Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (Friday, Saturday before Marathon)