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Facilities

This parkrun takes place in a park with a caravan park next to it so toilet and changing facilities are available and are very good. Parking is available at the park and there is a bus from Newry every Saturday morning which should get you here in time for the bus.

Course

This is a hilly run, which is not surprising given that Rostrevor is nestled in the foothills of the Mourne mountains. The run consists of two laps of the course, and is mostly made up of gravel surfaces. Although it is a tough course, it is very enjoyable, with plenty of twists and turns; plenty to keep your mid occupied. As you go around the course you will be treated to some beautiful scenes and vistas, including a run along a riverbank, a run through a forest, and great views over Carlingford Lough on a clear day.

Coffee

Coffee is had in a cafe at the top of the park. There are large windows in this cafe with great views out over the park and the surrounding area.

X Factor

There is a great history and folklore to this place, with Finn McCool himself making an appearance as the person to have thrown the Cloughmore on top of the mountain behind the park. CS Lewis also had connections with Rostrevor, so much so that there are many Narnia inspired features in the park, including the door to Narnia, which you go through during the run, and the famous lamp post on the other side of the door.

Facilities

This is a rural parkrun, so it is not really accessible by public transport, though there is a bus that services the nearby village of Rathdrum. There is, however, a large car park at the location. There are also toilets next to the car park, but no changing facilities.

Course

This is a very hilly course, so I would not recommend coming here if you want to do a fast 5k. The hills are great training however, so if you want to build up your strength, give this course a go. The course is made up of two loops, which veer off in different directions from the start line. The first, smaller loop is to the right, and the second longer loop is to the left. The course surface is mostly gravel and chippings. It is a bit uneven in places, and after rainfall can be slippy, so watch your step. This run is located in a forest and you are almost always surrounded by trees as you make your way around the course, which provide shelter from the elements. The trees also provide some beautiful scents along the course depending on the conditions and the time of year. Despite the toughness of the course I found this run to be very enjoyable. The downhill sections can be quite fast, and there is the odd clearing in the woods which allows you to see how the course loops back on itself.

Coffee

There is a cafe in Avondale House located close to the start line, but this is only open during the summer months. It looks like it would be a lovely setting for a post run coffee. When it is not open there are a few options for a good breakfast and coffee in the nearby village of Rathdrum.

X Factor

I attended this event on the inaugural run, which was a first for me. There is a lot of hard work needed to set up a parkrun and it was great to see all this work come to fruition. This was also a special run for me personally as I got to meet for the first time some Irish parkrun royalty in the form of the other die-hard tourists in this country.

Facilities

This parkrun is easily accessible by bus as there are several routes that run along the nearby Malahide road. There is some on-street parking available next to the park but not a lot. Toilets and a changing room are available next to the start line.

Course

The run consists of three laps around the outside of the park, though I believe there are plans in place to change this to a shorter five lap course, due to regular flooding in one part of the park. The route is entirely paved and mostly flat except for one short pinch of a hill. There are also no sharp turns so this could be a good place for a PB attempt. The park mainly consists of open green fields with a nice pond in the middle.

Coffee

Parkrunnners enjoy coffee in a nearby clubhouse. This is a great opportunity to meet with everyone and discuss all things running.

X Factor

One of the more interesting features of this park is that there are horses grazing in the middle of it. This certainly makes this a unique place, and it was made even more special today when there was a foal born in the park. Spring is in the air!

Facilities

This a an easy parkrun to get to by public transport with buses and trains available to Malahide. There is a large car park near the start line also. Toilets are available about a five minute walk from the start line, but there are no changing facilities.

Course

The shape of this course is a little difficult to describe, but it is effectively one small loop followed by a larger loop. It’s easy to find your way around, not least because of the volume of people that take part in this run, but there are also permanent signposts for each turn along the run. The surface is a mixture between paved surfaces and tightly packed gravel, and the course is fairly flat, though there is a noticeable climb for the last few hundred metres. Despite this small climb I would recommend this course for a PB attempt because it is mostly flat, but also because of the large numbers of people that run here it is easy to find a running mate to push you along. The park surroundings are very beautiful, with tree lined avenues, open fields, ancient ruins, decorative houses, and of course the castle.

Coffee

There is a cafe about a five minute walk from the finish line which serves a delicious breakfast and parkrunners get a 10% discount. Beware, however, that a little patience may be required as the cafe gets through the large numbers that go there after parkrun.

X Factor

This event holds a very special place in the Irish parkrun community because it was the first parkrun in Ireland. The fact that it is still going is testament to the enduring strength of parkrun as an idea.

Facilities

There is a large car park available next to the start line of this run located in the forest park outside the town of Portumna. Because of the rural location public transport isn’t really an option here. There are toilets available near the start line, but no changing facility.

Course

The course consists of two laps on a loop around the park. There are a few turns but it is well signposted and fairly straightforward to follow. The route is paved throughout and though there are some slight inclines I think this would have to be classified as a flat run, so a good place for a PB attempt. Also, given that the route goes through a forest there is plenty shelter from the wind. There are a few long straight sections on the course, of at least 500 metres, which can be a little unnerving, and a good test of character.

Coffee

The post run coffee is had in a friendly cafe in the town, which is a drive away.

X Factor

The long straight sections of this course really test your resolve to keep going in a way that no other parkrun I know of does. Getting through this test is very satisfying.

Facilities

This parkrun is located close to the centre of Buncrana town in County Donegal, and so is within easy access for the town residents. For those driving to the run, there is a large car park, and for those who wish to take public transport there is a bus service that will get you to Buncrana on Friday evening. There are also toilets available close to the start line but no changing facilities.

Course

This parkrun is an out and back course which has a mixture of paved and gravel surfaces. The parkrun has an incredible setting on the coast with spectacular views out over Lough Swilly. There are also interesting historical features along the course including the 15th century “Keep” and a fort built to counter the threat of French invasion. The course is undulating with several short climbs and descents over the little dunes along the coast. Part of the course is on a public road, so care is needed, but this section is marshalled and cars are cautioned also.

Coffee

Parkrunners go to a cafe a short distance from the start line for coffee. Breakfast is available here too.

X Factor

The scenery and history around this course make this a very special parkrun. So much so that when you finish the course the first thing you want to do is to go back over the course to check it out, which is always a good sign. Also, the finish line is right next to the beach which offers a great opportunity for a refreshing dip after the run.

Facilities

There is ample parking space available at this parkrun, located in a rural village in County Galway. For those living in the village the park is within walking distance, and there is a bus service from Galway for those wishing to travel from further afield. There are toilets available in the GAA clubhouse close to the start line.

Course

The course consists of three laps made up of two concentric loops around the park. The first, shorter loop is flat, but the back section of the outer loop is twisty and undulating, which makes for a very fun run, but probably not the best place to attempt a PB. The course is entirely laid out in loose gravel. There are some nice, big mature trees at the back of the park, and the rest of the park has some open playing fields.

Coffee

Down the street from the parkrun is a thatch cafe/pub where parkrunners go for coffee after the run. There is a warm welcome and a hearty breakfast to be had there.

X Factor

This parkrun is located next to Lough Corrib, the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland. There are lots of sights to be seen in the area, including castles and great vistas. This parkrun is also located close to an Ghaeltacht offering you the chance to work on your Irish if you so wish. Mostly, though the surroundings are lovely, the encouragement offered by the parkrun volunteers and spectators as you run around the course made this a special event for me.

Facilities

This parkrun in the north Dublin suburbs is conveniently located for surrounding residential areas, being within a short walking distance. There is also a bus service to the park and the Broombridge rail station is close by. Parking is limited to on-street parking next to the park. There are no toilet or changing facilities.

Course

The course is made up of one big lap of the park followed by two shorter laps. The surface is entirely paved and is mostly flat. You could try a PB attempt here but the park is slightly exposed, so there may be wind to contend with, and there is one section of the course where there is a short but sharp decline and incline, in a W profile, which has to be passed three times. It’s almost as if the park is divided into two parts: there is the flat part where the course is laid out and there are some playing fields; and then there is the valley through which the Tolka river flows. As you run along the course you can look down into the valley and watch the river as it meanders its way toward the sea. This is a nice sight.

Coffee

After the race the parkrunners go to a nearby shopping centre for coffee.

X Factor

Although not part of the same park, Glasnevin cemetery is about a 20 minute walk away. This is the resting place of some of Ireland’s most prominent political figures in modern history, along with one million Dubliners. The cemetery has a museum and is a fascinating place to visit.

Facilities

This parkrun is located in the centre of Templemore and has plenty of parking available close to the start line. Templemore is also easily accessible by bus and rail. There are no toilet or changing facilities available at this course though.

Course

This course is made up of two and a bit laps on a track around the park. The surfaces is a mixture of fine gravel and tarmac. Although mostly flat, I’m not sure I would recommend this course for a PB attempt as there are a few small but steady climbs and a few tight turns. This is a lovely park to run around though. The course goes through a marshy woodland and circumnavigates a lake in the centre of the park.

Coffee

Coffee is enjoyed in a hotel in the centre of town, a five minute walk from the finish line.

X Factor

Templemore is best known as the location of the Garda training college. Needless to say, everyone is on their best behaviour on the town, :). There are some interesting historical features in the park including the Black Castle and a moated graveyard which is quite unusual.

Facilities

This parkrun is easily accessible by public transport and indeed this would be the recommended mode of transport to this run as parking spaces are limited around the park. There are Dublin Bus services that run nearby, and the red Luas line is a short walk away. Easily accessible too for locals as the park is located in the middle of a residential area. There are toilets available at the park, and also changing rooms.

Course

This is a flat course, paved throughout and so is a good spot for a PB attempt. The run consists of four laps around the outside of the park so it is quite easy to follow, but there are also signposts for the two turns that take you in off the outside path. Because this a a four lap course, however, it can get congested as the faster runners take over the walkers. The park itself has some football pitches in the centre of the park and some nice mature trees around the perimeter. The park is isolated from busy roads, so it can be quite peaceful here, which is a valuable thing in the middle of a busy city.

Coffee

Coffee is provided at the finish line after the run. This is a great place to have a chat and discuss the run with your fellow parkrunners.

X Factor

The volunteers as always provided very enthusiastic support to all the runners, which was very welcome, but I was especially impressed here to see the volunteers pick up some litter around the park before the run. This was a real demonstration of people caring about their community and the place they live, and it was very nice to see.