Economic & Organisational Highlights

Huge economic impact: The 2024 Irish Life Dublin Marathon contributed a staggering €63 million ($71 million) to the local economy, ranking Dublin 19th globally among the top 50 marathons in financial impact .

Meanwhile, a separate assessment pegged the local impact at €23.8 million, highlighting benefits across hospitality, transport, accommodation, and local businesses. Every €1 spent reportedly generated €2.29 in added economic activity .

Expo venue change: For the 2025 edition on October 26, the runner expo has been moved from the RDS to the larger National Show Centre in north Dublin, citing logistical concerns and participant feedback .

Elite & Irish Performances

2024 marathon winners:

Moses Kemei (Kenya) took the men’s crown in 2:08:47 and earned US$15,000 .

Asmirach Nega (Ethiopia) shattered the women’s course record with 2:24:13, to claim victory .

Sorome Negash (Ethiopia) finished second in 2:24:45, achieving a personal best and defending her title from 2023 .

Home-grown record-breaker: Ireland’s own Hiko Tonosa Haso, Ethiopian-born but now an Irish citizen since 2020, placed third outright and set a new Irish men’s marathon record with 2:09:42 . In January 2025, he also matched the Irish half‑marathon record in Seville (1:00:51) .

Irish women’s contenders:

Ann-Marie McGlynn placed sixth overall among the women in 2024 (time ~2:34:05) .

In the 2025 Dublin City Half Marathon, Nichola Sheridan won in a flat 78 minutes, dedicating her performance to her late father .

Expanding the Series: Dublin City Half Marathon

Huge demand: The inaugural Dublin City Half Marathon (21.1 km) on March 30, 2025, sold out nearly 12,500 entries in just 90 minutes, with registration queues causing site crashes and wait-times over 30 minutest.

Race results & community response:

Killian Mooney claimed victory in 1:05:40, while Sheridan topped the women’s field with a 78:00 time.

Wheelchair categories were won by Patrick Monahan (50:59) and Jade Hall (57:07) .

Future format changes: Organisers are now discussing introducing a lottery-based entry system from 2026, to manage the huge interest .

Charitable & Community Engagement

Charity fundraising remains central: Marathon runners typically raise over €9 million annually for charities .

Groups like GCN, Ireland’s LGBTQ+ media, have slots for runners in 2025 to raise funds while highlighting community services .

Mustard Seed Communities is recruiting fundraisers with charity entries, committing to at least €1,500 per runner for the October 26 event .

The ISPCA (Irish animal welfare) is also part of the marathon charity programme, with structured fundraising tiers and support for participants .

Looking Ahead: Dublin Marathon 2025 & Beyond

The 2025 marathon date is set for Sunday, October 26, with pre-race expo on October 24–25 at the National Show Centre

Considering the exponential growth of the Half Marathon, organizers plan to fine-tune logistics and may expand elite participation and format options through 2026 and beyond .

The strong economic return, record-setting elite performances, and expanded race series indicate Dublin’s event is evolving into a world-class, community-anchored sporting spectacle.

Summary

The Dublin Marathon continues to expand its influence: from record-breaking performances (Kemei, Nega, Tonosa) to massive economic gains and charity-driven participation. The addition of the Half Marathon has proven remarkably successful, prompting format optimisations for the future. As October approaches, all eyes will be on how Dublin builds on its sporting, economic, and cultural success.