The Irish Life Dublin Marathon will bring 22,500 runners onto the capital’s streets on Sunday, October 25th, as the event celebrates its 45th edition and reinforces its position as one of Ireland’s biggest annual sporting occasions.
What began with 1,300 runners in 1980 has grown into a major participation event, supported this weekend by 2,000 volunteers, thousands of spectators and a network of commercial and charity partners.
TG4 will broadcast the race live from 08:00, with coverage also available internationally through the TG4 Player. The wheelchair race starts at 08:40, followed by the first wave of elite runners at 08:45.
Elite Field Chasing Dublin Honours
The marathon retains its World Athletics Elite Label status, with a strong international field competing alongside Ireland’s leading distance runners.
Ethiopia’s Abay Alemu Lesa, with a personal best of 2:06:50, and Sweden’s Ebba Tulu Chala, at 2:07:38, lead the men’s challenge. Ethiopia’s Askale Alemayehu Adula is the fastest woman on paper, with a personal best of 2:22:56.
The race also incorporates the National Marathon Championships, where Dundrum South Dublin AC’s Hiko Tonosa will target another Irish title. Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC is among his challengers.
Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill of West Limerick AC, Meghan Ryan of Dundrum South Dublin AC and Judith Storm of City of Derry Spartans are among the leading Irish women.
The total prize fund is €120,000 across the event.
€4.7 Million and Counting for Charity
Beyond the elite competition, the marathon continues to demonstrate the fundraising power of mass participation sport.
More than €4.7 million has already been raised through the official realbuzz and Eventmaster fundraising campaign, involving over 100,000 contributors.
More than 200 charity partners are involved this year, with annual fundraising through the marathon estimated at approximately €9 million.
The event’s #EveryBibHasAStory campaign has highlighted some of the remarkable personal journeys behind the fundraising.
Brian Ellison and members of Coolock Running Club are completing a 125km challenge while pushing his cousin Luke O’Keeffe in an adapted running chair to support Stewarts Care Respite Services.
Brain tumour survivor Kirsty Cully will run her first marathon to support Beaumont Hospital Foundation, while Team Archie continues to raise awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy in memory of Archie Naughton.
Eight Originals Still Going Strong
Eight runners will be among Sunday’s field who have completed every Dublin Marathon since the inaugural event.
Known as the Originals, the group includes Martin Kelly, who was just 18 in 1980, and Peadar Nugent, now 83.
Mary Nolan Hickey, the only woman to complete every edition between 1980 and 2024, will present the Mary Nolan Perpetual Cup to the winner of the elite women’s race.
Major Platform for Commercial Partners
The scale of the Dublin Marathon creates an extensive activation platform for its commercial supporters, extending well beyond race day itself.
Title sponsor Irish Life will again deliver its Irish Life Mile experience on the home stretch, while Official Retail Partner Sports Direct will provide a cheer zone and DJ at mile 15, alongside its official pacing programme.
Official Apparel Partner Ronhill will be at the Marathon Expo at RDS Simmonscourt on Friday and Saturday, offering race preparation, coaching, retail and charity engagement.
Fifteen designated supporter zones will help bring the course to life on Sunday.
Race Director Jim Aughney said local communities remain central to the experience.
“The atmosphere created by spectators and communities across the city is at the heart of what makes the Irish Life Dublin Marathon so special, and we look forward to seeing that support out in force on Sunday.”
Sport for Business Perspective
The Dublin Marathon is a powerful example of how participation sport can deliver value across multiple levels of the sporting economy.
The commercial proposition extends from naming rights and retail activation to live broadcasting, charity engagement and the wider economic activity generated by thousands of runners and supporters travelling to the capital.
The TG4 broadcast adds a further dimension, taking an event rooted in mass participation to national and international audiences.
Perhaps its greatest strength is the connection between elite performance and everyday participation. International athletes chasing course records share the occasion with first-time runners, charity fundraisers, and veterans who have taken part for more than four decades.
That combination creates an authenticity sponsors increasingly value, allowing brands to connect with communities through an event where participants are the central attraction.
Forty-five editions on, the Dublin Marathon stands as one of Irish sport’s most successful examples of participation, commercial partnership and community engagement working together.
Irish Life, the Dublin Marathon Group, TG4, Sports Direct and Dublin City Council are full members of Sport for Business.
If you would like to join the Sport for Business community and see your organisation in our content, on our stages, and in the daily conversation around the commercial world of Irish Sport, email us today and let’s see what is possible.
Image Credit: Dublin Marathon Group
ABOUT SPORT FOR BUSINESS
Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies, and public institutions through high-quality content, events, and insights.
Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, and how your story can be part of ours.
Through analysis, storytelling and convening the sector, it helps leaders understand trends, share best practices, and make better-informed decisions. It positions sport not just as entertainment but as a vital contributor to Ireland’s social and economic fabric.
Find out more about becoming a member today.
Or sign up for our Daily Sport for Business Snapshot email bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover.
Sign up for our News Bulletins here.
