Record number finish Dublin marathon as over €5m raised

Ethiopian athletes win both men and women's Dublin Marathon titles

Updated / Sunday, 25 Oct 2026 13:19

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Ethiopian athletes Abay Alemu Lesa and Zenebu Fikadu Jebesa are the 2026 men and women's Dublin Marathon champions.

Abay Alemu Lesa won the men's title of the 45th Irish Life Dublin Marathon, finishing in 2 hours 10 minutes.

After he completed the marathon, he said that he was very happy but that the windy conditions made it a difficult run. It is his first time winning the Dublin marathon.

Hugh Armstrong from Co Mayo was the first Irish man to cross the finish line when he completed the marathon just four minutes later in 2 hours 14 minutes.

He was followed then by Killian Mooney and Stephen McCauley.

Zenebu Fikadu Jebesa of Ethiopia was the first woman to cross the line, finishing in 2 hours 24 minutes.

The first Irish woman to complete the marathon was Judith Storm who completed the marathon in 2 hours 35 minutes.

Kildare paralympian Patrick Monahan won the wheelchair race, finishing in 1 hour and 46 minutes.

The 45th Irish Life Dublin Marathon is still under way, with thousands of runners taking part and many thousands of supporters expected to line the route through the city centre and suburban areas.

There are a number of road closures and diversions are in place across the capital.

A record 19,190 participants are taking part in this year's marathon, including elite athletes, wheelchair participants and charity fundraisers.

Oganisers have said that more than €5 million has been raised so far.

The event got under way just after 8am, with the Dublin Lord Mayor Daryl Barron's Medal presentation.

A woman from Cavan, who has completed more than 600 marathons and continues to run while undergoing treatment for an incurable cancer, has received the Lord Mayor's medal at the start line of the marathon on Leeson Street.

Brenda O'Keefe was diagnosed in 2023 with AL Amyloidosis, a rare, incurable disease affecting multiple organs, but has continued to run despite it.

She said that she could not believe she was at the marathon and said "I'll keep going to keep the dream alive".

Ms O'Keefe urged other runners to enjoy the day. "No matter what, just get to the finish," she said.

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Watch: 'No matter what, just get to the finish'

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The first wave to take off was the wheelchair participants at 8.40am, and they are expected across the finish line at Pepper Cannister Church just after 10.30am.

The elite runners began at 8.45am, followed by three more waves of the thousands of other runners, up to 9.45am.

The gruelling 26.2 mile course begins at Leeson Street, then goes through the historic Liberties before runners enter the Phoenix Park at the 6K point and on through Chapelizod, Inchicore and Terenure.

The final 10km will bring participants on a hilly route on Milltown Road and Clonskeagh before the infamous downhill challenge along Fosters Avenue.

Then it is on to the N11 down Nutley Lane and along the Merrion Road, past the RDS, before the finish line at Pepper Cannister Church.

The course route will be open for seven hours and there are many road closures on the route itself and in and around the start and finish points.

Transport for Ireland has advised public transport users to take note of the disruption, while Irish Rail has advised that there is no Dart service between Grand Canal Dock and Bray due to major works.