Irish Life Dublin Marathon

Dublin may be a small capital, but its cosmopolitan bone fides have been firmly established. Beyond its impressive collection of museums and galleries, and its choice of food from all four corners of the globe – in both restaurant and market form – this is a city that conspicuously embraces diversity and has been transformed by two decades of multiculturalism. It used to be said that ‘real’ Dubs had to be born within the canals like their parents and grandparents before them: these days, you’re as likely to meet a Dub whose parents were born in Warsaw, Lagos or Beijing.With that being said, the Dublin Marathon is the place to be!!The Dublin Marathon is an annual marathon in Dublin, Ireland, normally held on the last Monday in October, which is a public holiday in Ireland. Held each year since 1980, in 2007 there were about 11,000 race participants, half of whom were from overseas.The course is generally reasonably flat. It starts at Fitzwilliam Square in the city center and concludes at Merrion Square. Exact routing varies, although in recent years the race has proceeded in an anti-clockwise direction around the city, including passing through the Phoenix Park.The Irish climate is influenced by the prevailing light South Westerly winds of the Gulf Stream. The average temperatures for October are around 12 – 14°C (53 – 57°F). Dublin has only about 30 inches of rain annually–ideal for running.