Saturday brings two of the more distinctive race settings on the Irish calendar — Killarney National Park and Inishbofin Island — while Sunday spreads things across Dublin, Roscommon and North Cork. There is something on across four provinces this weekend.
Run Killarney — Saturday 9 May, Kerry
Half marathon: 8am start. 10k: 9:30am start. Both events sold out.
Both the half marathon and 10k start and finish near The Gleneagle Hotel on Muckross Road, heading out along the road before turning into Killarney National Park. The half marathon covers 21.1km with 145m of ascent; the 10k takes in 55m over its shorter loop through the same national park terrain. Both courses are predominantly tarmac with some variation underfoot in the park section. The last men's winner of the half marathon clocked 1:12:24; the women's race was won in 1:25:44. The 10k saw 33:17 and 37:11 respectively. These events sell out well in advance every year and draw over a thousand participants between them — if you are on the start line this Saturday morning, you booked your place months ago.
View the half marathon course map and elevation profile · View the 10k
Inishbofin Half Marathon & 10k — Saturday 9 May, Galway
Both distances start at 11am. Entry €80 (includes return ferry from Cleggan pier).
Getting to the start line here requires a ferry crossing from Cleggan pier on the Connemara coast — which is most of what makes this one worth writing about. The event takes place entirely on Inishbofin Island, with the half marathon and 10k both starting and finishing at the Inishbofin Community Centre. The half marathon carries 330m of ascent over its 21.1km — classified as very hilly — while the 10k has 130m over its shorter loop around the island's perimeter roads. Both courses are tarmac throughout, passing beaches and open bogland with the Connemara mountains across the water. The race is run in aid of Down Syndrome Galway, and participants are required to raise a minimum of €100 in sponsorship in addition to the entry fee. The post-race BBQ with live music is included in the entry. Last year the 10k was won in 42:25 by a man and 42:22 by a woman — the women's time edging it, which is a detail worth noting.
View the half marathon course map and elevation profile · View the 10k
Sportsworld Terenure 5 Mile — Sunday 10 May, Dublin
9:30am start. Entry €25.
The Terenure 5 Mile is one of the more reliable flat 5-mile races in the Dublin calendar. The course starts and finishes on Fortfield Road and runs two loops through Terenure village, Templeogue and Cypress Grove — residential southside roads that are almost entirely level, with just 18m of ascent across the full five miles. The finish is a straight sprint near Terenure College Swimming Pool. Last year's winner clocked 24:11 on the men's side and 28:54 on the women's. For anyone building towards a summer race and looking for a fast, well-organised Sunday morning benchmark, this is a reasonable choice.
View course map and elevation profile
Lough Key Legends Run — Sunday 10 May, Roscommon
Half marathon: 10am start. 10k: 11am start. Both distances sold out.
This is the inaugural running of the Lough Key Legends Run, taking place in Lough Key Forest and Activity Park outside Boyle in Co. Roscommon. Unlike the other events this weekend, both the half marathon and 10k are primarily trail rather than road — the course winds through woodland paths and lakeside trails inside the forest park, with only a small road section. The half marathon has 160m of ascent over 21.1km; the 10k takes in 80m. Runners will have views of Lough Key and its wooded islands for much of the route. The event supports the North West Hospice and both distances have sold out. Entry includes a T-shirt, finisher medal, race bag and free parking. As a first-year event there are no course records to reference, but the setting alone makes it one of the more interesting debuts on the 2026 calendar.
View the half marathon course map and elevation profile · View the 10k
Bweeng Trail Blazers 5k — Sunday 10 May, Cork
11am start. Entry €15.
The Bweeng Trail Blazers 5k has a reputation as one of the fastest 5k courses in Ireland, and the numbers back that up — the course record stands at 14:22 for men and 15:21 for women, with last year's winners clocking 14:53 and 15:21. The course starts roughly 500 metres from race HQ near Bweeng Community Centre, heads back through HQ and turns left onto the Lombardstown Road for an out-and-back format with the turnaround at 2.5km. The opening kilometre drops slightly, the middle section is largely flat with minor inclines, and the final kilometre descends gently to a fast finish. It is a chip-timed, well-organised local race that consistently attracts competitive fields and is priced accordingly at €15.
View course map and elevation profile
Full course maps, elevation profiles and race details for all of this weekend's races are on RaceRoutes. Always check the official race website before travelling as details can change.