Great Limerick Run

Location: Limerick
Country: Ireland
Website: https://greatlimerickrun.com/
2025 Marathon Date: 04/05/2025
2026 Marathon Date: 03/05/2026
Winning Time 2025: 02:25:54
% Sub-3s: 5–10%
# Sub-3s: 50–99
Total Runners: 1k–3k

The Great Limerick Run, held annually on Ireland’s May Bank Holiday weekend, includes a full marathon that attracts a loyal domestic following and a growing number of international runners. The race offers a city-centre start and finish, with a mixed course that includes riverside segments, residential areas, and campus roads.

The marathon follows a two-lap route, starting on Pery Square and taking in various parts of Limerick City and its outskirts. While the course is not entirely flat, elevation changes are mild and spread over long distances, making it manageable for runners targeting sub-3. Surfaces are tarmac throughout, with wide, well-maintained roads and few sharp corners.

Weather conditions in early May are usually mild and overcast, with race-day temperatures conducive to long-distance running. Rain is a possibility, but heavy winds are less common than in coastal races. The early start helps mitigate any late-morning warmth.

Crowd support is enthusiastic in the city centre and around the University of Limerick, which forms a key part of the course. Elsewhere, support is more intermittent but never absent. The race has a strong community feel, with ample volunteer presence and efficient marshalling throughout.

For sub-3 runners, the Great Limerick Run presents a good balance of pacing opportunity and tactical challenge. The two-lap format can be mentally demanding, but it allows runners to plan their splits more precisely. The field size is moderate, offering enough company to avoid isolation without creating congestion.

Overall, this is a solid race for those looking to run fast in Ireland without the scale of Dublin or the remoteness of rural marathons. The Great Limerick Run delivers a well-supported course, consistent organisation, and a warm Irish welcome.