The first Irish woman to cross the finish line in the Irish Life Dublin Marathon today only competed in her first competitive marathon earlier this year.
More than 22,500 entrants, including elite athletes, club runners, wheelchair participants and charity fundraisers, have taken part in this year's Dublin Marathon.
Nineteen-year-old Ava Crean of Back 2 Boston running club in Limerick said she started training for Dublin around four months ago and said the atmosphere, especially around Templeogue, was amazing.
Ms Crean competed in her first marathon in April in Manchester and ran Limerick a week after.
She said she will be celebrating later with "pizza, burgers and doughnuts".
"I couldn't do it without my coach and my family or my friends. I saw my friends in the last 200 metres."
Daniel Mesfin won the men's race in a time of 2:08.51, while David McGlynn was the first Irish athlete to cross the finish line in sixth place, posting 2:11.01.
Ireland's David McGlynn was the first Irish Athlete to cross the finish line in the Dublin Marathon @rtenews #irishlifedublinmarathon pic.twitter.com/Q3ZkE5qNC9
— Eleanor Burnhill (@ElMcM) October 26, 2025
The Waterford Athletics Club member said the support in Dublin was unbelievable: "it's hard to put into words, really. It's a bit emotional when you see friends and loved ones on the course".
He said he was now looking forward to "a feed of pints of Guinness".
A number of road closures and diversions were implemented across the city ahead of the 44th edition of the event, which got under way at 8.45am and will finish any time up to 5pm.
Around 330,000 spectators were also expected to gather on the streets to watch the race.
The Irish Life Dublin Marathon starts on Leeson Street Lower and is overseen by more than 200 volunteers on the route, which traverses Dublin city centre, the Phoenix Park, goes around University College Dublin and ultimately finishes on Mount Street Upper.
And they're off! The starting gun fired on the Dublin City Marathon @rtenews pic.twitter.com/uoIljlK1Wk
— Eleanor Burnhill (@ElMcM) October 26, 2025
Last year, a UCD study found the marathon had generated almost €24 million for the economy across hospitality, accommodation and local businesses.
This year, €9m is projected to be raised for more than 120 charities.
Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne crossed the line in 2.55.33 and said this was a double celebration as Catherine Connolly won the race to the Áras last night. He was at Dublin Castle last night and enjoyed the run through the Phoenix Park today.
President-elect Connolly's two sons are also competing.
Watch: Marathon runners competing for charitable causes
Mary Nolan Hickey, the only woman to have run every marathon, until last year, presented a new perpetual cup named in her honour to the winner of this year's women's elite race, Eebbissee Addunyaa of Ethiopia.
Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley and assistant coach Glenn Cronin ran the race to raise money for Oscar's Kids, a childhood cancer charity.
The pair had written the names of their respective children, Josh and Aoife, who had both suffered cancer, on their arms ahead of the race. Both children received successful treatment.
Bradley and Cronin were understood to be travelling to this afternoon's League of Ireland Premier Division game in Derry (3pm kick-off) by helicopter.
The new Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly was among those competing in the marathon.
He was forming a blue line in the race along with competitors from other forces including the PSNI and the NYPD.
Members of the Director of Public Prosecutions and 100 others with links to the emergency services were also running.
Six runners from Dublin Fire Brigade were also competing in their full fire fighting gear, adding extra weight to what is an already gruelling race.
Stephen Gallagher and Sean Kane completed the marathon carrying oxygen tanks.
Stephen said the second half was particularly painful and he ran with a support runner to help him through the dehydration due to the extra weight carried on his back.
The race's organiser had warned that there "may be some delays to public transport services" to facilitate the marathon, urging people to allow extra travel time.
The Luas was suspended between Heuston Station and Connolly Station from 8.45am to 10.45am while Dublin Bus said a number of diversions were in place across several routes from early this morning.
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