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sport · Saturday 8 August 2026 · 11:00am 
Cootehill 5k and 10k Road Race 2026
At Main Street, Cootehill · Main Street, Cootehill, Co. Cavan
At Main Street, Cootehill · Main Street, Cootehill, Co. Cavan
The Cootehill 5k and 10k Road Race is one of the most popular community running events on the Cavan calendar, drawing participants from across Cavan, Monaghan and beyond each August. Organised by East Breffni Athletic Club and run in aid of Cootehill Cancer Care, it is the kind of event that feels genuinely local - a town that turns out for its own, with the Main Street as both starting line and finish. Runners and walkers who want a chip-timed challenge with a warm atmosphere and a cause worth running for will find this is a good day out, whether they are lining up for the 10k or taking the 5k at their own pace with the family.
Both the 5k and 10k are chip-timed, with the route beginning and finishing on Main Street, Cootehill. The 10k is the competitive distance, with prizes awarded to the first three male and female finishers. The 5k is open to all abilities - runners and walkers alike - and works well as a first-race option or a family outing. Registration and number pick-up takes place from 9:30am at Hub Muinchille, the former Ulster Bank on Main Street, with collection closing at 10:45am before the 11:00am start. The first 200 entrants receive a free race t-shirt, which is a good reason to book early. Entry starts from €10 via EventMaster.
The event has Athletics Ireland permit approval (cert. no: 26/85), so results and performances are officially recognised. Cootehill Cancer Care is the designated charity - a local support service for people and families in the town and surrounding area affected by cancer, which gives the race its particular sense of purpose.
Cootehill is a market town in north County Cavan, sitting on the R188 roughly 20km north of Cavan town and about 15km from Monaghan town. By road, it is easy to reach from the N2 (Dublin - Monaghan) or N54. Bus Eireann serves Cootehill on the regional Cavan - Monaghan corridor, though services are limited on weekends, so driving or car-sharing is the practical option for most. Parking is available in the town’s car parks off Main Street and on surrounding side streets.
Cootehill is a quiet, handsome market town with an unhurried pace - good for a post-race coffee and a walk along the lanes around the estate lands of Bellamont Forest, a short drive out. There is more to see in Cootehill and across Co. Cavan.
Heading to Main Street, Cootehill in Cootehill? Cavan has plenty more to see. Read the Cootehill area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.