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Facilities

This rural parkrun is located in the John F Kennedy memorial arboretum south of New Ross town in Co. Wexford and has plenty of parking available but is not accessible by public transport. There are toilets close to the start line, which are large and clean so could be used for changing if needed.

Course

The course is made up of one and a half laps on the main path around the arboretum. The course does not have a lot of signage but it is fairly straightforward to follow. The start is followed by a relatively sharp descent which means the rest of the loop is made up of a long gradual climb, so this is perhaps not the place for a PB. The  park surroundings are magnificent. The arboretum contains over 4,000 types of trees, and is extremely pretty and tranquil. The different species are planted in separate areas so there are noticeable scents in the air as you go around, from the pines to the eucalypts. There is a visitor centre with a good audio visual display and some pictures and quotes from JFK.

Coffee

I was lucky to do this parkrun on the second anniversary of the first New Ross parkrun, which meant that there was some well deserved cake at the end of the run, along with tea and coffee. All the parkrunners enjoyed a cup and a good chat.

X Factor

Other than the beauty of this place there is a great sense of history here as the arboretum was founded in memorial of one of the most iconic figures of the twentieth century. The Kennedy ancesteral homestead is a few miles down the road from the arboretum and is well worth a visit.

Facilities

This parkrun, located on the University of Limerick campus, has plenty of parking and the campus itself is serviced by the city buses. The UL campus is very big, and the run is at the back of the campus, so it is a bit isolated. The start is located close to the UL boat house which has toilets, but may be closed. There are no changing facilities.

Course

The course is made up of one small lap followed by three big laps of a small circuit. The path is a mix of paved surface and tightly packed gravel. There is a small incline but nothing too challenging. The surroundings are fantastic. The campus is well adorned with big trees and the Shannon flows along next to it. The course goes down by the river where there are some very pretty cottages. There are a few sharp turns on the course and the incline probably means this is not a parkrun for a PB.

Coffee

There are some cafes on campus, though they weren’t open when I went there. Other than that you may need to travel a bit for coffee.

X Factor

This parkrun is located in the beautiful surroundings of UL. The big campus means that there are no big roads nearby, which means no traffic noise, and this gives great serenity to this urban event.

Facilities

There is no shortage of parking at this parkrun located on the seafront in the town of Tramore. There is a frequent bus service to Waterford city centre, with buses running every 30 minutes. There are toilets available close to the start line and these are big and clean so could be used for changing if needed.

Course

The shape of this run is hard to describe. It starts with an out and back section and then goes on to a pan shaped section. The course is well marshalled throughout and there are sign posts at every turn. The course has a mixture of surfaces. At a rough guess it is 70% paved, the remainder being gravel and sand. The course, being on the seafront, is quite exposed, so if there is any wind this is probably not a place for a PB. However, if it is windy and the sea is a bit rough the waves will crash against the quay wall and you might get a spray of salt water over you during the run. This is a real novelty. There are some great views of the sea, the town, and the surrounding countryside as you go around the course. Finally, there is one small climb, but the course is mostly flat.

Coffee

There are numerous cafes along the seafront so plenty of options for coffee. All are facing out towards the sea so there are some great views.

X Factor

Tramore has a lot of holiday homes, good cafes and restaurants and there are a lot of people who seem to get great enjoyment from the place. It is this sense of leisure that makes time spent in Tramore very enjoyable.

Facilities

This parkrun, located close to the centre of Castleblayney, has a good sized car park close to the start line, and has plenty of parking space along the side of the road as well. Castleblayney is serviced by the Dublin to Letterkenny and Dublin to Derry busses. There are no toilets or changing facilities available at this event.

Course

This fantastically varied run goes through a very picturesque woodland on Black Island. The wood is mostly pine which gives off a lovely scent, and because it is an island there are great views out to the water along the run. The run is made up of a two lap course around Black Island. The surface is a mixture of gravel and earth, which might get slippy in wet weather. The run has a significant amount of climbing in it, which at first I didn’t notice, but later realised when I heard the wheeze in my breath towards the top of the hill. There are flat sections where you can regain some rhythm. The course is relatively straightforward but where there are a few turns there are marshals to guide you. There are also permanent distance markers along the run.

Coffee

The parkrun gang meet in a hall next to the entrance of the park for a post run coffee and biscuit.

X Factor

There is a great community spirit at this run. I think most runners went for coffee and a chat after the run which was fantastic. There is also some serious running pedigree on show here with one of the organisers having run 30 Dublin marathons.

 

Facilities

This parkrun is located at the western end of Mullingar town. The town centre is well connected with rail and bus connections and it is about a 25 minute walk from the town centre to the parkrun. There is a car park nearby in the business park. No toilets or changing facilities available.

Course

This is an out and back course and it is flat as a pancake. It is paved throughout and is well sheltered so this is an excellent place to attempt a PB. The course is very straightforward, and a marshal shows the way at the u turn. There are also permanent distance markers. The course goes along by the banks of the Royal canal on the way out and back along a disused railway line. The railway has mature trees on either side and is very straight, giving a tunnel like effect.

Coffee

Coffee and tea are dished out at the finish line. I was here at Mullingar parkrun’s first birthday so there was also cake, which was a nice bonus at the end of a fast run.

X Factor

Two international music stars have cone from Mullingar: Joe Dolan and Niall Horan. There were no singers at the parkrun unfortunately, but there was a good community feel to this run with a big bunch of energetic volunteers.

Facilities

This run in the west of Galway city is located in a busy public park. There is a car park but it fills up quickly with other park users. There is a public bus service from Eyre’s Square in the city centre, close to the train station. The park is located in a residential area so it is easily accessible for locals. There is a large community centre at the park and there are toilets available here.

Course

This course certainly won’t let you take your mind off things, with a lot of twists and turns throughout. One of the unique features of the course is a staggered gate which acts as a chicane. The course is complex but is well marshalled and signposted. The course is mostly paved, but is uneven in places so watch your step. The course takes you around some playing fields and through some nice enclosed pathways surrounded by trees and shrubbery.

Coffee

Tá café ar fháil ins an ionad phobal in aice leis an pháirc carr tar éis an rás. Ní raibh mé ann ach bhí mé ag caint leis na hóglaigh agus bhí siad an caidreamh.

X Factor

There is a sense of wilderness about this place. Maybe it is it’s proximity to the Atlantic or the furze bushes that are scattered throughout the park. Whatever the reason, this sense sets this parkrun apart from others. Adding to this uniqueness is the amount of Irish I heard spoken in the park. This was great and I’ve made my own contribution above.

Facilities

This run, located in Kilarney National Park, has a large car park right next to the start line. There is no public transport to this rural location. There are toilets available, but no changing facilities.

Course

This undulating course is mostly paved and is pan shaped. The far end of the loop in the run goes through a wooded area and along by the lake, before coming back to the open fields near the handle. For every clearing in the trees there are fantastic views to the mountains. The course is well sign posted and marshalled. Because of the many small climbs on this course it may not be the place for a PB, but it makes for a nice challenging run. One unique feature is this course is the amount of “horse apples” (to borrow a phrase from the Shawshank Redemption) on the ground. So watch your step as you go around.

Coffee

There is an cafe and craft centre near the main house very close to the finish line. The coffee is nice, and the surroundings are incredible. You can sit down and look out over the flowers in the walled garden, with the McGillycuddy Reeks mountains in the background.

X Factor

The location of this course makes this a very special parkrun. The magnificent scenery is what has made Kilarney the  tourist destination it is today and this scenery is on full display at this run. The well maintained ground of the National park add to the aesthetic beauty of the place. The history of the main house also adds to the intrigue of the place with Queen Victoria being one of its most famous visitors.

Facilities

There is a large car park at this parkrun, and a good bus service, so very easy to travel here. The car park fills up quickly though with the large participation.  The run is situated next to a large residential area and is easy for residents to get to. Toilets are available close to the start line.

Course

This run follows a lollipop course, out and back with a small loop at the end. The run is on a wide flat paved surface. This is a great parkrun to attempt a PB, but fine weather is needed as this is a windswept location. The course looks out on to the Firth of Forth which means that there are some great views to be had, but also some strong winds to deal with on an unpleasant day, I would say.

Coffee

There is a cafe along the route, which I think I can best describe as a bit groovy. Tasty treats and coffee can be had here.

X Factor

There is a huge participation at this parkrun, which makes for a good buzz at the start line. The organisers set up a speaker which plays out music before the run, adding to the atmosphere. There are some very fast runners at this run which adds to the competitive edge of this event. Great views over the Firth of Forth as well.

Facilities

This parkrun is located at the end of a cul de sac, and there is a small car park there. With a large crowd the car park would fill up pretty quickly, but cars could park along the side of the road. The start of the run is right next to Ballina Soccer Club, and I believe that the toilets in the clubhouse are available to parkrunners after the run. The run is located about a ten minute walk from the centre of Ballina, so is accessible to the town residents. Finally, Ballina is serviced by a rail link from Foxford, Castlebar and Westport.

Course

This run is an out and back course. There are several spurs off the main path so it is worth paying attention to where you are going, but I think it is pretty straightforward. The course is paved all the way, but can get muddy after a heavy rainfall with run-off from the surrounding woodland. The course is mostly flat with a few “pinch” climbs. The course goes through a mature woodland that skirts along the river Moy, which makes for very beautiful surroundings.

Coffee

Unfortunately, my schedule did not allow me to enjoy a post run coffee at this event.

X Factor

The park that this run goes through is very picturesque. It has an interesting history, not least the fascinating story of the SS Crete Boom which is lying on the bed of the river Moy. The run is organised by a large, friendly and enthusiastic group of volunteers which is always nice to see.

 

Facilities

There is plenty of car parking space for this run with a small public car park close to the start line and a larger shopping centre car park across the street. The run is also serviced by public transport and is located close to a residential area so is accessible to a lot of people. There are no toilet or changing facilities however.

Course

This is a pan shaped course, with a two lap loop preceded and followed by an in-and-out section. The course is mostly paved, and mostly consists of running around the open park with some groves along the way. There is a hill which is long and has to be climbed twice, so this is probably not a course for a PB. The park itself is quite expansive and open, which was great on the nice sunny morning that I was running here, as I could see all the other runners as we went around. However, I can imagine that this may be an uncomfortable run on a windy, wet, winter’s morning. The view from the top of the park is spectacular.

Coffee

Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be a café nearby so I got some coffee on my trip home. It was a little too hot.

X Factor

The course that this run takes is quite intriguing, looping around an undulating park. Every time you take a look around it looks different, almost like a trick on the eye. This was an interesting feature. The area surrounding Sligo town is very picturesque. This is Yeats country and you can see why the poet would want to spend time in this part of the world.