The October bank holiday rolls round again, with Dublin awash with a marathon buzz.
The event - a 22,500 sell-out - attracts runners from right around the country and many more from far flung fields for Europe's 'friendly marathon’, with more than 330,000 spectators expected to line the streets of the capital.
Supporters will need to come prepared as Sunday morning looks set to a chilly one. A dry start to the day is likely to give way to patchy rain and drizzle, with widespread rain by the afternoon. For the runners, the west, northwest breeze will mean facing into a bit of a headwind for miles 1-7 and 13-15, coming out the Crumlin road.
Now in it’s 44th staging, it marks the final year of the priority entry system, which guaranteed a place to all those who entered the race the previous year, whether they showed up or not.
With demand outstripping supply - there were 40,000 entry requests - it is hoped a lottery-based ballot system from 2026 will increase women’s participation and first-time marathon runners. Of the 17,719 official race finishers last year, 69% were male.
And staying on the theme of numbers, just how many take to the start line will be keenly noted by organisers.
The past two years has seen a capacity 22,500 sign up and pay the €110 entry fee, but in 2023 only 16,540 (74%) made it to the start line. Last year that figure rose to 80%.
The select group that have competed in every event since it began in 1980 is now down to eight, with the only female among them, Mary Nolan Hickey, a marked absentee for Sunday due to injury.
Her story is a remarkable one, from pushing her late ex-husband Tony in a wheelchair around the course in 2017 to ensure he could complete his final marathon, to competing in 1988 while six months pregnant.
Fittingly, the winner of the women’s national title will now claim the Mary Nolan Hickey Perpetual Cup.
"Back in 1980, women out running on their own were viewed like aliens," she said. "We got a lot of stick, to be honest. In some towns you’d have fellas howling at you, but it never stopped me."
The 73-year-old says that while she could walk the course, it simply wouldn't be the same given her history with the event.
"That's not the way I want to do it. I'm happy to leave it with a decent result from last year (5:23:14)...it's been a blast."
Another person recognised for his efforts is Kevin Stynes. The 85-year-old will be honoured with the 2025 Lord Mayor’s medal as he prepares to run his 42nd consecutive and final appearance. The Dubliner dedicated each marathon to raising funds for worthy causes, but his efforts took on a more personal meaning in 2000 when his granddaughter Rachael was born with Down syndrome.
It will be a hectic day for Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley and his assistant Glenn Cronin, who will run for charity before getting a chopper to Derry for a 3pm kick-off at the Brandywell where his team will be crowned league champions if they avoid defeat.
At the business end of the race, defending national champion Ann-Marie Glynn will lead the charge in the women’s field this year with the Strabane AC athlete eyeing three-in-a-row.
The 45-year-old will face stiff competition from Nichola Sheridan, winner of this year’s Dublin half marathon, and Caitlyn Harvey of Roadrunners AC, while 19-year-old Ava Crean, a winner in Limerick earlier this year in the Charleville half, will seek to build on her growing reputation.
Those with sights set on overall victory include Ethiopia’s Tejinesh Tulu, winner of the Los Angeles marathon, who comes to Dublin following her 2:24:37 performance in Seville last year. Compatriot Ayantu Kumela, Kenya’s Lilian Jepkorir Chebii, three-time major champion Atsede Baysa and 20-year-old Lemlem Abebe of Ethiopia, winner of the 2025 Beirut marathon in 2:31:04, will also fancy their chances of success.
In the men’s elite field, Kenya’s Hillary Kipsambu will look to improve on his fifth-place finish last year (2:10:53), while Sweden’s Samuel Tsegaye has returned to form after a 2:09:29 performance in Hamburg earlier this year.
Closer to home, the inclusion of defending champion Hiko Tonosa - pictured above - is a major boon. The reigning national champion finished third overall last year where he set a new Irish record of 2:09:42, a time that has been lowered twice since.
Ryan Creech of Leevale, runner-up for the past two years for the national title, and ninth overall last year, could take advantage if Tonosa, who dropped out of the World Championships last month, is not back to full fitness. Paul O’Donnell, the sixth-fastest Irish marathon runner (2:10:17), Jake O’Regan and Seán Tobin are others in the conversation to be crowned Ireland’s best.
The total open prize fund exceeds €65,000, with the winning male and female receiving €13,800 and prize money awarded to the top eight finishers.
The national titles will see Ireland’s leading athletes competing for €3,500 for first, €2,500 for second, and €1,500 for third, while Irish performance bonuses of up to €4,600 are available for athletes breaking 2:12:00 (men) and 2:29:00 (women).
The wheelchair race (8.40am) will get the action underway on Leeson Street, with Scotland's Sean Frame back to defend his title. He was first across the line last year in a time of 1:45:14, with John McCarthy and Gerry Forde leading the Irish charge this time around.
