How the Dublin Marathon affects Dublin's roads

Dublin Marathon is a huge event for the city, and certainly an exciting one. Crowds gather in their scores to watch the 20,000 marathon runners as they stampede through the streets (some dressed normally, others in full costume). But all this excitement can result in road closures. Below, you can find out more about when the marathon is and the roads/areas that could be affected.

When is the Dublin Marathon?

The Dublin Marathon is due to take place on 30th October 2022, with an estimated start time of 08:45am. Runners are expected to finish within seven hours, meaning the race should finish around 5 or 6pm (depending on their start time).

The Dublin Marathon Route

The Dublin Marathon is due to start on Fitzwilliam Street Upper, near to Fitzwilliam Square. The marathon is one continuous lap, meaning you will finish on Merrion Square North, not far from where you started.

The route takes you out of Dublin city centre, over the River Liffey via the James Joyce bridge. From here, you will head to Phoenix Park, passing near to Dublin Zoo, and continue through the park for around two miles (Miles 5 and 6). You will leave the park via Chapelizod Road, recross the Liffey via Chapelizod Bridge and continue along Inchicore Road, past Dublin’s famous Kilmainham Gaol (Mile 11).

Then you will travel over Dolphins Barn bridge towards Brickfields Park. The route continues through the city roads, towards Bushy Park (Mile 17). From here, you will carry on running along a series of roads until eventually you will reach Roebeck Road. This will take you around the perimeter of University College Dublin (Miles 22 and 23). Next, you will pass Elm Park golf course and carry on north along Northumberland Road and Mount Street Lower to reach your final destination, after 26.2 miles, to Merrion Square for the finish line.

You can find the entire route below:

• Fitzwilliam Street Upper
• Fitzwilliam Place
• Leeson Street Lower
• St Stephen’s Green South
• Cuffe Street
• Kevin Street Lower
• Kevin Street Upper
• Patrick Street
• Nicholas Street
• High Street
• Bridge Street
• Ushers Quay
• Blackhall Place
• Stoneybatter
• Manor Street
• Aughrim Street
• North Circular Road
• North Road
• Spa Road
• Lord’s Walk
• Chesterfield Avenue
• Castleknock Road
• College Road
• Tower Road
• Knockmaroon Road
• Upper Glen Road
• Chapelizod Road
• Chapelizod Bridge
• St Laurence Road
• Sarsfield Road
• Inchicore Road
• South Circular Road
• Dolphins Barn
• Crumlin Road
• Drimnagh Road
• Walkinstown Road
• Cromwellsfort Road
• Kimmage Road West
• Fortfield Road
• Templeogue Road
• Terenure Road East
• Orwell Road
• Orwell Park
• Dartry Road
• Milltown Road
• Clonskeagh Road
• Roebuck Road
• Fosters Avenue
• Stillorgan Road
• UCD Flyover
• Nutley Lane
• Merrion Road
• Northumberland Road
• Mount Street Lower
• Merrion Square North

Which roads are closed during the Dublin Marathon?

There are a number of areas and roads in the city that will be affected by the marathon. Use the below to check whether you will be affected and make plans to find an alternative route. Please note, the times may be subject to change.

City Centre road closures

The following roads will be closed for more than one day in the run up to the marathon:

• Merrion Square North - 7:30pm Friday 28th Oct to 4pm Monday 31st October
• Merrion Square South - 6am Saturday 29th Oct to 8pm Sunday 30th October

The following roads will be closed on Sunday 30th October only:

• Fitzwilliam Square West, Kildare St, Merrion Row, Cumberland Rd and Lad Lane - 3:30am to 11am
• Herbert St, Herbert Lane, Herbert Place, Clanwilliam Place, Warrington Place, Baggot St Lower - 3:30am to 12pm
• Fitzwilliam Square North, South and East, Fitzwilliam Place, and Fitzwilliam Street Upper - 3:30am to 1pm
• Fitzwilliam Lane, Verschoyle Place, Grattan St, Grattan Court, Hagan's Court, Wilson’s Place, Grant’s Row, Pembroke Row and Power's Court - 3:30am to 5pm
• Merrion St Upper - 3:30am to 5:30pm
• Clare St - 3:30am to 6:30pm
• Merrion Square West and East, Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Mount St Lower and Upper, Stephen’s Place, James St East and Stephen’s Lane - 3:30 to 7:30pm
• Holles St - 3:30am to 9pm
• Pembroke St Lower - 4am to 11am
• Leeson St Lower - 7:45am to 10:15am
• St. Stephen’s Green South, Cuffe St, Kevin St Lower and Upper, Patrick St, Nicholas St. High St, Bridge St and Usher’s Quay - 8:15am to 10:15am

North Dublin City

The following roads will be closed on Sunday 30th October only:

• Blackhall Place, Stoneybatter, Manor Street and Aughrim Street - 8:15am to 12:45pm
• Chapelizod Road  - 8:15am to 1pm
• North Circular Road - 8:15am to 2pm
• St Laurence Rd and Sarsfield Rd - 8:30am to 2:45pm
• Castleknock Rd, College Rd, Tower Rd, Inchicore Rd, Templeogue Rd and Roebuck Rd - 8:45am to 4:45pm

South Dublin City

The following roads will be closed on Sunday 30th October only:

• Dolphins Barn - 8:45am to 1:30pm
• South Circular Rd and Walkinstown Rd  - 8:45am to 1:45pm
• Crumlin Rd - 8:30am to 2pm
• Orwell Rd, Orwell Park - 8:45am to 3:30pm
• Cromwellsfort Rd - 9am to 2:30pm
• Kimmage Rd West - 9am to 2:45pm
• Fortfield Rd - 9:15am to 2:30pm
• Terenure Rd East - 9:15am to 2:45pm
• Dartry Rd - 9:30am to 3:15pm
• Clonskeagh Rd - 9:30am to 4pm
• Milltown Rd - 9:35am to 3:15pm
• Nutley Lane - 9:45am to 4:55pm
• Northumberland Rd - 9:45am to 6:45pm

Additional Road Closures

There may be some additional road closures to be aware of on the day of the marathon. They are as follows:

• North Rd, Spa Rd, Cabra Gate and NCR Gate - 7:55am to 11am
• Chesterfield Avenue - 6:40am to 11am
• Survey Ave, Knockmaroon Rd, Upr Glen Rd and Acres Rd - 8:25am to 12:20pm
• Castleknock Gate - 8:10am to 11:35am

There are some additional diversions too. Any traffic coming into Dublin city centre via Finglas Road and Ballymun Road will be diverted via Whitworth Road, Dorset Street and Gardiner Street. Traffic that is coming into the city centre via Rock Road or Merrion Road will be diverted via Strand Road, Ringsend Road and Pearse Street.

Pedestrians will still be able to get through.

How to travel into Dublin on Marathon Day

Coming to the city for the marathon? Below, you can find more information about getting into the city on the day.

By car

If you’re travelling by car, you can enter the city from the west via the Chapelizod Bypass. You can also enter the city from the south via Stillorgan Road and then follow the diversion in place along Rock Road. If you’re entering from the north, most roads will be unaffected, though you may experience an increased level of traffic, so do leave additional time for this.

If you wish to park in the city, there’s a special marathon discount on parking in all Q-Park locations in Dublin (excluding Q-Park Four Courts and Q-Park Grand Canal). Get 25% off by pre-booking online and using promo code ILDM25. The offer is only available for the marathon weekend (29th to 31st October 2022).

Luas

If travelling via the Luas system, normal Sunday trains are running, with extra trams in between. There will be Red Line trams in operation at Blackhall Place. If it’s not possible for them to go this way, they will come out of the city at Heuston. There will be Green Line trams between waves at Cuffe Street.

By train

Train details for the day of the marathon have not yet been announced. Please keep an eye on http://irishrail.ie/for info.

By bus

Bus details for the day of the marathon have not yet been announced. Please keep an eye on https://www.dublinbus.ie/ for info.