Dingle Marathon

The Dingle Marathon is one of Ireland’s best-known destination road races, combining a challenging marathon with the spectacular coastal scenery of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. First staged in 2009, the event offers both a full marathon and half marathon and has developed a reputation as an experience-focused race where the landscape is as much a part of the attraction as the running itself. The event is professionally managed by ⁠Approved Productions, an Irish event-management company founded by Brid and Tadhg Moriarty that says it exclusively manages the Dingle Marathon.

The race takes place in Dingle (An Daingean), County Kerry, Ireland, on the country’s famous Wild Atlantic Way. Both the marathon and half marathon begin together in Dingle Town before heading west toward Ventry and onto the dramatic Slea Head Drive. Runners pass coastal cliffs, beaches and historic sites while enjoying expansive views across the Atlantic toward the Blasket Islands. The route continues through Dún Chaoin (Dunquin), after which the half-marathon runners finish while marathon runners continue north toward Baile an Fheirtéaraigh (Ballyferriter) and Gallarus before turning south for the journey back to Dingle.