Warriors Run

What to Expect

The Warriors Run marks its 40th anniversary on Saturday, 22 August 2026, starting from the Cannon Gun at the beachfront in Strandhill. It is one of Ireland’s toughest one-day road races, sending around 1,200 competitors on a 15km loop that leaves the beach on tarmac, climbs roughly 700 feet of loose gravel, unsurfaced track and heather-covered fields to the top of Knocknarea, circles Queen Maeve’s Cairn, and descends back down to finish where it started. Roughly nine of the fifteen kilometres are paved road and the remaining six cross the mountain’s rough terrain, so it suits runners who want a genuine off-road challenge rather than a flat road 15k. Every finisher receives a bespoke event medal.

Alongside the main run, the event also includes the Warriors Walk, a 10km fun walk for those who prefer to cover the ground on foot, and the Young Warriors Run, a 5km event for entrants aged 12 to 17 with prizes for the first male and female finishers across three age categories. Main Warriors Run entries for 2026 are already sold out, so most people joining on the day will be taking part in the Walk or the Young Warriors Run, both of which had separate registration windows.

Good to Know

• Saturday, 22 August 2026, starting and finishing at Strandhill beach, Co. Sligo
• 15km hybrid route: tarmac road out of Strandhill, then rough mountain terrain over Knocknarea and around Queen Maeve’s Cairn
• Warriors Run entry (€55) is sold out for 2026; Warriors Walk (10km) entry is €20 and includes a technical t-shirt and medal
• Young Warriors Run is a separate 5km event for ages 12 to 17, entry €15
• Registration and full route details via warriorsrun.ie

Getting There

Strandhill is about 8km west of Sligo town on the R292, with beachfront parking and regular local bus links into Sligo. Anyone travelling for the day should allow extra time around the village, since race traffic and parking fill up quickly on the morning.