The big outdoor track meetings have come and gone, but the Irish athletics calendar is far from empty. Cross country gathers pace in October, Dublin hosts the national marathon championships, and December brings both a European championship and the first indoor meetings of the new season.
For athletes and supporters alike, there is plenty to follow between now and the turn of the year.
Cross Country Gets Going in October
The first major date on the domestic cross country calendar is Sunday October 18th, when the Autumn Open International takes place in Dublin. Senior mixed cross country relays and national juvenile club relays are scheduled for the same day.
The Autumn Open offers an early look at the distance runners moving from the track to the grass. Club, county and provincial races then build towards the national championships in November. It is a different sort of racing from a summer 1500m: less concern about splits, more concern about staying upright when the course starts to cut up.
Dublin Marathon Brings a National Title
The Irish Life Dublin Marathon takes place on Sunday October 25th, with the national marathon championships held within the race.
That gives the autumn road season a major domestic championship, alongside the thousands of club and recreational runners who will be working towards the same finish line. It is a useful reminder that the end of the outdoor track season does not mean the end of big Irish athletics weekends.
A New Cross Country League in Northern Ireland
Clubs north of the border have a new six race Athletics NI Cross Country League to follow across the winter.
It begins with the Bobby Rea Cross Country at Billy Neill MBE Country Park on Sunday October 25th and runs through to the NI and Ulster Senior Cross Country Championships at Lurgan Park on Saturday February 20th, 2027. The first four eligible finishers from each club score in a round, and a club's best five results count towards its league total. The Lurgan finale carries double league points, so the title could remain in play into February.
National Cross Country Titles in November
Sunday November 22nd brings the National Senior and U20 Cross Country Championships to Dublin. The national juvenile even age championships are scheduled for the same day at Abbotstown. With individual and club honours at stake and the European championships just three weeks away, it is one of the defining dates of Ireland's distance running season.
Ireland Heads to Belgrade in December
The national novice and juvenile uneven age cross country championships are scheduled for Sunday December 6th. One week later, on Sunday December 13th, the European Cross Country Championships take place in Belgrade.
Ireland has plenty to follow after last year's championships in Portugal. Nick Griggs won the men's U23 title and helped Ireland to team gold, the senior men took silver, and Emma Hickey won bronze in the women's U20 race. Those results set a high bar, though the team for Belgrade has yet to be selected.
The Indoor Track Returns Before Christmas
There is no need to wait until January for the first indoor meetings. Athletics Ireland lists Track and Field Live events in Dublin on Wednesday December 2nd and Wednesday December 16th.
Those evenings begin the shift back towards track competition while the cross country season continues. The bigger indoor championships will follow in the new year, with the European Athletics Indoor Championships scheduled for Valencia from March 4th to 7th, 2027.
The summer track season may be finished, but Irish athletics has a busy few months ahead: club races on the grass, a national marathon title in Dublin, another European cross country campaign and indoor racing before Christmas.
Dates for the Diary
- Sunday October 18th: Autumn Open International and cross country relays, Dublin.
- Sunday October 25th: Dublin Marathon and national marathon championships; Bobby Rea Cross Country opens the Athletics NI league.
- Sunday November 22nd: National Senior and U20 Cross Country Championships, Dublin.
- Wednesday December 2nd: First Track and Field Live indoor meeting, Dublin.
- Sunday December 6th: National novice and juvenile uneven age cross country championships.
- Sunday December 13th: European Cross Country Championships, Belgrade.
- Wednesday December 16th: Second Track and Field Live indoor meeting, Dublin.
- Saturday February 20th, 2027: NI and Ulster Senior Cross Country Championships and Athletics NI league finale, Lurgan Park.
Fixture details may change. Check the organisers' calendars closer to each event.
