The buzz ahead of the 2025 Irish Life Dublin Marathon has hit an unexpected early sprint with the news that this year’s Marathon Expo is on the move. After years of setting up camp in the central RDS, the Expo will now take place at the National Show Centre, near Dublin Airport, and runners have been quick to share their opinions on the change.
Organisers said the new location was chosen following a review of both participants' feedback and the overall logistics of the event. While not quite Ballsbridge, the National Show Centre is "conveniently located just off the R132, adjacent to Dublin Airport, the M50 and M1 with unlimited free parking".
The Expo opening hours will be Friday, 24th October from 12:00 pm-7:00 pm, and Saturday, 25th October from 9:00 am-7:00 pm. A shuttle bus service will run from Malahide DART Station on Friday between 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Runners should expect peak busy periods from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Friday and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Saturday.
The shift to the National Show Centre has stirred up some mixed feelings. While the RDS offered a city-centre experience has been a staple for many years, the new location could prove easier for many travelling runners, particularly those arriving via Dublin Airport or driving to the capital from around the country with support crews. Although we suspect the majority would still prefer to converge on the RDS.
The 2024 Dublin Marathon saw 22,500 registered runners, with over 18,000 making it to the start line on the day and 17,719 finishers.
