One week on from the 2023 Irish Life Dublin Marathon and already plans are being made for next year's edition of the hugely popular race.
Last Sunday on the streets of the capital city, over 16,000 participants completed the 26.2 mile course, with Ethiopian athletes Kemal Husen and Sorome Negash winning the men's and women's titles.
Husen's victory came in a new course record time of two hours, six minutes and fifty-two seconds.
Belfast's Stephen Scullion, who represents Clonliffe Harriers in Dublin, and Tullamore native Ann-Marie McGlynn, who now represents Letterkenny AC in Donegal, won gold medals in the national races.
Millions of euro was generated for the local economy and for charities from the race, dubbed by many as 'the friendly marathon, which seems to captivate the city annually.
Despite the rain, our incredible supporters still lined the streets of Dublin to show the #PowerOfSupport!
You waved, you cheered, you clapped .. you legends are the foundations of our Friendly Marathon .. and we LOVE each & every single one of you! 🥰#IrishLifeDublinMarathon pic.twitter.com/LLQJ2Li7zL— Irish Life Dublin Marathon (@dublinmarathon) October 29, 2023
However, now it is feared that some of that could be under threat as Dublin Marathon officials are claiming that the local authority has told them to find a new venue outside the city centre for the start and finish of the 2024 race.
According to today's Sunday Independent Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan and the National Transport Authority are unhappy about the “disproportionate adverse impact” the race has on public transport services.
Mr Keegan wants the marathon start moved away from Merrion Square North next year, with marathon organisers, including race director Jim Aughney, getting the Sports Minister Thomas Byrne to intervene.
Despite the requests of the city council and NTA, race organisers were not willing to make any concessions in terms of moving the start and finish.
Applications for next year’s event via a lottery system went live last week but a route has not yet been confirmed.
A review of this year’s race will get underway in the coming weeks and will include an examination of the start and finish locations which will potentially lead to a discussion about changes.
It seems we could be in for a very different Dublin Marathon experience in 2024.
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