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sport · Sunday 2 August 2026 · 9:00am 
Limerick Half Marathon and 10K
At Start: TUS Old Cratloe Road, Finish: Thomond Park · Thomond Park, Limerick City, Limerick
At Start: TUS Old Cratloe Road, Finish: Thomond Park · Thomond Park, Limerick City, Limerick
Running a half marathon through a working Irish city, with the finish line inside a legendary rugby ground, is not something you forget. The Limerick Half Marathon and 10K draws over a thousand runners to the banks of the Shannon each summer, and the appeal is straightforward: a flat, well-marshalled course through real Limerick streets, a proper race-day atmosphere built around community volunteers, and a finish inside Thomond Park - home of Munster Rugby - that gives even first-timers a sense of occasion. The 10K distance is walker-friendly with a generous cut-off time, so this is not a race for elites only.
Both races start at TUS Limerick on the Old Cratloe Road at 9:00am. The half marathon (21.1km) loops through city streets, crossing the River Shannon via Sarsfield Bridge and passing landmarks including the Gaelic Grounds before sweeping back towards Thomond Park. The course is predominantly flat - good news if you are chasing a time. Three hydration stations are positioned along the route (at approximately 6km, 12km and 18km for the half; adjusted for the 10K), and volunteer marshals from local GAA clubs are out in force at every junction.
This is not a closed-road race, so runners share the street with light Sunday-morning traffic and should stay alert, particularly at junctions. Pacer groups target finish times of 1:30, 1:40, 1:50 and 2:00 for the half marathon, making it practical to run to a plan. Every finisher receives a custom commemorative medal, and there is a post-race celebration with refreshments and music at the finish. Free physiotherapy assessments from Caherdavin Physical Therapy are available on site. Race photography covers the finish line and sections of the course. Results and live tracking are available through JustRace Events. Number collection runs the day before (Saturday, 11am - 1pm) or on Sunday morning from 7:00am to 8:30am. Arrive at least an hour before the start.
Limerick city is well connected by road from Dublin (M7, roughly two hours), Cork (N20, about 90 minutes) and Galway (M18, just over an hour). Bus Eireann and GoBus serve Limerick from most major towns, with services arriving at Colbert Station near the city centre. On race morning, the start at TUS Old Cratloe Road has pay-and-display parking on site; parking is also available near Thomond Park but fills up, so carpooling is encouraged. A taxi or rideshare from the city centre to TUS is a short trip and avoids the post-race walk back to a car.
Limerick rewards a longer visit - the medieval quarter around King John’s Castle, the Hunt Museum on the quays, and the food and drink scene along the main thoroughfare all give you something to do once the race legs have recovered. There is more to see in Limerick and across Co. Limerick.
Heading to Start: TUS Old Cratloe Road, Finish: Thomond Park in Limerick? Limerick has plenty more to see. Read the Limerick area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.