(Organised by Gneeveguilla AC as part of their 5k Spring Series. Updated for 2015)
Directions...Each race in held in the Demesne at the western side of Killarney...
If you're not sure of the exact location then the easiest way to get there is from the Bypass which runs to the north of the town itself. The most westerly junction on the Bypass is the Ballydowney Roundabout. Take the 2nd left here and head south...
After 600 metres on the Port Road, the Old Monastery is on the left just after the next junction...
If you are coming from the other direction i.e. the South...then the Old Monastery is about 200m after the Cathedral. See course map below for a clearer view.
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| Registration at the Old Monastery |
Course Map...
The race starts on a quiet path near the children's playground...
After a few hundred metres, you'll pass Deenagh Lodge...
From here, the path starts to go downhill with a backdrop of the Reeks in the background...
This downhill section at about 0.5 miles is the fastest section of the course. The key here however is that you don't need to run back up it later. i.e. The course has a slight net drop which means it's very fast.
At the bottom of the hill, you come to a crossroads. This is where the race will finish later.
The course now levels off with more views of the mountains...
At 0.8 miles, you cross over a small bridge and continue straight ahead.
At about the one mile mark, you come to the start of the small loop on the course. Right for now.....
At about 1.8 miles as you approach Ross Castle, you turn left into the car park and out onto Ross Road.
At 2.3 miles, you turn left off Ross Road and head for home.
After completing the small loop, you head back towards the small crossroads and the finish line before you climb the hill.
The course....Essentially it's a very scenic and fast 5k course set in Killarney National Park, a course that most towns in Ireland would love to have. Suitable for runners of all abilities...from serious to joggers. People come from all over the world to visit this location. If it's on your doorstep then make the most of it.
