The race takes place in the tiny village of Gortroe in East Cork. It is located just 1km south of the road between Killeagh and Youghal...
Directions.....The course map below shows the area in more detail. The point where you turn off on the main N25 road is called Gortroe Cross. This is about 5km from the church at the eastern end of Killeagh and 1.2kms from the start of the Youghal Bypass.
If you are coming from the direction of Killeagh then the cross is just 450m beyond the Green Barn Garden Centre / Cafe / Bistro.
Follow the race stewards instructions on the night on where to park.
The village is tiny and basically consists of a few houses, a shop, a church and a national school. This is the view from the crossroads...
As you can see, the shop is at the crossroads...the church is just up the road...and the school is just beyond that.
The race HQ is at the National School...
....and the start line is 350m to the west.
Course description from the organisers....
Start area...
From the off, the route heads gently uphill back towards the school...
At the crossroads in the village you'll be turning RIGHT....
Mile 1 is clocked at the end of this road just before a LEFT turn onto the R633 eastbound...
Next you'll be heading in the direction of Redbarn/Beanfield Cross. Traffic will be diverted so we have the left hand lane reserved for the event - be aware of oncoming traffic on the opposite side of the road - this will be slowed and separated by cones. KEEP close to the LEFT on this road at all times.
At Redbarn/Beanfield Cross you'll again be taking a LEFT...
The road climbs about 12 metres in the final mile with most of it coming after the Youghal & District Nursing Home....
Mile 3 will clock just as you re-enter the village. Next it's straight through the village crossroads...
...to the FINISH near the Church...
Overall........A 5k race on quiet roads in East Cork. There are some small pulls but they are pretty minor. The Ordnance Survey map shows the route going above and below the 10 metre contour but gets as high as 20m or as low as sea level. As 5k courses go, it's faster than most.
