Reduced entries and a new category for 2023 Irish Life Dublin marathon

The 2023 Irish Life Dublin marathon will have reduced entries from last year, while a new category will be introduced for the race to allow athletes to enter as nonbinary as well as male or female.

First held in 1980, the iconic race will have a capacity of 22,500 entries, down from 25,000 in 2022.

Speaking at today's launch, race director Jim Aughney explained that while the number of entries permitted has been reduced, changes in the applications process could see more people take to the start line on the Sunday morning of the October Bank Holiday weekend.

In 2022, given the two years of roll-over entries, there was a higher than normal no-show rate, and for a number of reasons, just 14,784 crossed the finish line.

This year’s race, already a sell-out, will have a transfer option in place for the first time, allowing existing entrants to transfer their place to another runner. This will be opened in July.

"We had a larger number of no-shows than previously because of Covid, but we expect it to be back to a normal rate. The running rate will probably be a bit higher this year because of the transfer window."

There will be a window provided to allow 2023 participants to change their entry to the nonbinary category should they wish to do so.

"We don’t know as yet how many will avail of this new category and it won’t be available until August of this year because we’re waiting for the refunds and the transfer window to finish," Aughney explained.

"We’ll sit down and consult when we get entries in with a view to improving on it year on year as the category grows."

Olympic silver medallist John Treacy has been chosen as the official race starter to mark the 30th anniversary of his win in the 1993 Dublin Marathon, with Martin Hoare