It’s been twenty-three years since Adidas first moved the Dublin Marathon away from its old plaque-style finisher’s award and introduced something that every runner still treasures today, the medal. With the exception of 1997, when a first simple silver medal was presented to finishers, Dublin Marathons participantes received a finisher's plaque, usually prominently featuring a Dublin landmark.
Since that first (well technically second) medal in 2003, we’ve seen twenty-three designs marking each edition of the race. Over the years, the Dublin Marathon medal has evolved from a simple, almost anonymous design into something that captures the heart and heritage of the city, from the River Liffey and the bridges that cross it, to the three castles of Dublin, and even the marathon’s changing sponsors.
Some years are beautifully ornate, others a bit of a head-scratcher, but each tells its own small story about the race and the time it was held.
For this piece, we’ve gathered every Dublin Marathon medal from 2003 to 2025. In a few cases, we’ve had to create visual mock-ups where no decent photo existed, and use some upscaling software, but they’ll still give you a faithful idea of what the medal looked like on the day.
So here it is: over two decades of Dublin Marathon history, told through the medals that thousands of runners have earned, cherished, and maybe still have hanging proudly in the hallway.
2003
The first-ever Dublin Marathon medal. Adidas switched the race from a plaque to a proper medal, keeping things simple with their logo and two small runners in the lettering.
2004
A bright and bold follow-up for the marathon’s 25th anniversary. Adidas kept their logo dominant but added a splash of colour and a nod to the milestone year, making this medal feel more like a celebration than just a finishers’ token.
2005
A striking red medal that introduced the three castles of Dublin for the first time. Still under Adidas, it blended bold colour with city symbolism, a sign the medal designs were starting to find their identity.
2006
Adidas switched to deep blue and featured runners crossing the Ha’penny Bridge, one of Dublin’s most iconic sights. It was the first medal to properly link the marathon to the city’s landscape, setting a new tone for future designs.
2007
Featuring the Custom House, this medal kept the familiar Adidas layout but added a more detailed city backdrop. It marked another step in linking the marathon’s identity with Dublin’s most recognisable landmarks.
2008
The first year of the Adidas and Lifestyle Sports partnership featured a sleek black medal with the five iconic lampposts from Mountjoy Cross in Phoenix Park. A subtle nod to Dublin’s character and fun fact: those lamps have been burning continuously since 1825.
2009
In the second year of the Adidas and Lifestyle Sports partnership, the medal featured the Spire rising above Dublin’s streets. The bright red design gave a clean, modern snapshot of the city to celebrate the 30th edition.
2010
The final year of the Adidas–Lifestyle Sports partnership featured the famous Molly Malone statue, a fittingly Dublin touch. It wrapped up the Adidas era with a simple black design that leaned into local charm rather than flash.
2011
The sole year under National Lottery sponsorship brought a new look — a rectangular medal featuring the Samuel Beckett Bridge and a seagull in flight. Bright and playful, it stood out from the darker Adidas years before it.
2012
One of the most detailed designs yet and notably, the first without a title sponsor. It features the Phoenix Park stag and the Wellington Monument above, with runners in front and the Ha’penny Bridge faintly in the background. A medal that perfectly captured the spirit and scenery of the Dublin route.
2013
Another sponsor-free year, this medal marked the centenary of the 1913 Dublin Lockout, featuring Jim Larkin’s statue outside the GPO. Below him are a collection of city landmarks, the Custom House, Convention Centre, and the Dublin Wheel, tying the marathon to a moment of Dublin’s proud social history.
2014
The first year under SSE Airtricity sponsorship marked 1,000 years since the Battle of Clontarf. The medal featured a Viking longboat sailing on Dublin Bay, with familiar city landmarks, the Custom House, Convention Centre, and Dublin Wheel along the bottom. A striking blend of Dublin’s ancient and modern history.
2015
SSE Airtricity’s second year brought a classy silver design featuring Dublin’s coat of arms. The medal marked 300 years of the Mansion House, tying the race to one of the city’s oldest and most historic buildings.
2016
Marking 100 years since the Easter Rising, the medal featured the GPO — the rebellion’s central landmark — framed by a Celtic border. It was SSE Airtricity’s third year as sponsor, and the design stood out for its simple, powerful nod to Irish history.
2017
SSE Airtricity’s fourth year featured a bust of Jonathan Swift, celebrating the 350th anniversary of the famed Dublin writer. A literary touch for the marathon, tying the race once again to the city’s cultural heritage.
2018
The final year of SSE Airtricity sponsorship featured Constance Markievicz, marking 100 years of women’s suffrage in Ireland. Behind her are runners and Dublin landmarks like the Custom House, Convention Centre, and Samuel Beckett Bridge, a powerful blend of history, equality, and the modern city.
2019
A new era began with KBC Bank as sponsor. To mark 40th edition of the marathon, the bronze finish and Ha’penny Bridge design paid homage to the original 1980 finisher’s plaque, a perfect mix of nostalgia and celebration.
2020
The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic brought the first of two virtual Dublin Marathons. Limited to a 5km radius, it featured Christ Church Cathedral on the medal, a nod to the city at a time when runners were kept close to home.
2021
KBC continued their sponsorship for the second virtual edition due to the COVID-19. The medal featured Dublin Castle as its centrepiece, a regal design for a race many completed solo, marking an unusual chapter in the event’s history.
2022
Irish Life took over as sponsor for the marathon’s long-awaited return after three years. Dublin Castle reappeared in a refined silver design, symbolising both a fresh start and a nod to the city’s enduring history.
2023
Irish Life’s second year featured W.B. Yeats, marking 100 years since his Nobel Prize in Literature. A classy tribute, but not without hiccups. The medal quoted a line Yeats never said on the front, and even misspelled “Nobel” as “Noble” on the back, a poetic blunder worthy of its own verse.
2024
Designed by NCAD student Myla Sirvyte, this medal broke new ground with a rotating disc and intricate depictions of Dublin landmarks along the route.
2025
And finally we arrive at this year's medal! It is divided into four quadrants, each celebrating a piece of Dublin, from Trinity College and the Custom House to the Samuel Beckett and Ha’penny Bridges, with James Joyce and Molly Malone completing the scene. A detailed and fitting tribute to the city’s culture and history.
And there you have it...
From the simple Adidas debut in 2003 to the intricate, story-packed design of 2025, the Dublin Marathon medal has come a long way. Over the years, we’ve seen tributes to writers, rebels, bridges, castles, and even a few historical mishaps along the way. Each medal tells a little piece of the marathon’s story and of Dublin itself.
Whether you’ve earned one, twenty, or are still chasing your first, there’s no denying the pride that comes with hanging that ribbon around your neck at the finish line on Merrion Square.
💬 What about you?
Which year’s medal is your favourite — and how many Dublin Marathons have you run? Let us know in the comments or on our socials, we’d love to see your collections!