Dublin half marathon: Winners cross the line as road closures remain

An estimated 13,000 runners are taking part in the 2026 Dublin city half marathon.

The 21.1km course started on O’Connell Street at 8.30am and finishes on Guild Street in the north-east inner city.

Seán Tobin of Clonmel AC, from Tipperary, crossed the finish line in a time of 1:03.11 to win the men’s race, and Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill of West Limerick AC, Limerick, won the women’s race, both setting new course records on the way to securing their wins.

Tobin (31) won his first competitive ‘half’ in 63 minutes and 11 seconds after a tough tussle in the elite men’s field. He eventually came home 32 seconds clear of Dundrum South Dublin’s Paul O’Donnell (63:43) and Donore Harrier’s John Travers (63:54).

Schoolteacher Nic Dhomhnaill (41) from Newcastlewest, Limerick won the women’s title in 71 minutes and 25 seconds. This was a course record and over six and a half minutes faster than the time run by last year’s winner, Nichola Sheridan.

The women’s runner-up, Maebh Brannigan (Galway City Harriers), made her first major podium in a personal best time of 74:47 and third-placed Sheila O’Byrne, from Wicklow, who trains alongside Nic Dhomhnaill at Dublin Track Club, knocked over three minutes off her personal best.

In the men’s wheelchair Patrick Monahan was a clear winner in 51:38 from Tian Bosch 62:13.

Runners in the second staging of the annual event followed the route through Phibsborough, Drumcondra, Beaumont and Artane, passing landmarks including Croke Park, the tree-lined avenues of Killester and Raheny, the Clontarf coastline and the Five Lamps, before a North East Inner-City finish at Guild Street, near The Convention Centre.

With thousands of participants and strong community support along the route, the event celebrates