BnM Tullamore Harriers Half Marathon

The BnM Tullamore Harriers Half Marathon is one of the most respected road races in Leinster - a well-organised, chip-timed event that doubles as the Leinster and Offaly Half Marathon Championships. Held on the August bank holiday weekend, it draws competitive club runners from across the country alongside those using the 13.1 miles as a dry run for the Dublin City Marathon in October. The presence of pacemakers for targets ranging from 1:30 to 2:10, plus a generous three-hour cut-off, means it suits a wide spread of ability levels.

What to expect

The race starts on Charleville Road, about 300 metres from Tullamore Harriers’ club grounds, at 10:00am. The route heads out through the countryside around Mucklagh, Killurin and Cloonagh on closed roads before returning to finish with a lap of the stadium track - a satisfying, crowd-lined end to the effort. The course is broadly flat with some gently rolling hills; fast enough to target a personal best, varied enough to keep you honest.

Six water stations are spaced along the route, with portaloos at the half-mile and 8.5-mile marks. Chip timing is in use and results appear on the MyRunResults app as soon as you cross the line. Every finisher receives a medal, a goody bag and a voucher for tea or coffee at the stadium. Prize money runs deep - six overall places and age-category prizes for O40, O50, O60 and O70 runners - and the winning club teams take home the Quinlan Cup and the Phyllis Delaney Cup. There is also a bonus of €100 for anyone who breaks the course records: 1:05:49 (men) and 1:18:15 (women).

A walkers’ start goes off at 8:45am for those covering the distance at a steadier pace.

Getting there

Tullamore sits at a natural crossroads in the Irish Midlands, roughly equidistant from Dublin (90km), Galway and Limerick. From Dublin, the M6 motorway feeds into the N80 - allow an hour to an hour and a quarter. Bus Eireann runs regular services from Dublin, Portlaoise and Athlone into Tullamore town centre; Tullamore train station on the Dublin-Galway line puts you about a 15-minute walk from the Harriers Stadium. If driving, ample free parking is available at the stadium grounds.

While you’re in Tullamore

Tullamore is the county town of Offaly and worth a look beyond the finish line. The Tullamore D.E.W. Heritage Centre tells the story of Irish whiskey through a building that was once a bonded warehouse, and the Grand Canal runs through the town if you want a calm walk before or after the race. There is more to see in Tullamore and across Co. Offaly.

Good to know

• Date: Saturday, 29 August 2026 at 10:00am (walkers from 8:45am)
• Price: Entry fee via Eventmaster.ie - check the race website for current pricing; entries sell out ahead of race day
• Register: tullamorehalf.com or eventmaster.ie
• Cut-off: 3 hours (roads reopen at 1:00pm)
• Minimum age: 18 years
• No deferral policy - entries cannot be carried to a future year
• Bag drop available at the stadium (show your race number)