The Cape Clear Island Races
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The Cape Clear Island Races
The Cape Clear Island Races take place on Cape Clear Island, West Cork on 29 August 2026. The event offers trail running on island lanes and long sections of natural trail in a Gaeltacht area with a small resident population and local island activities.
Distances available:
- Half Marathon with Raceboat or Non Raceboat option
- 10km with Raceboat or Non Raceboat option
Raceboat entries include a chartered ferry to and from Cape Clear Island from Baltimore harbour. Non Raceboat entries provide race entry only; participants must make their own way to and from the island by their own means. The event is explicitly multi-terrain and organisers note that road shoes will not suffice.
The course uses a mixture of island hiking trails and rarely used lanes, with views across Roaringwater Bay, toward Fastnet Rock Lighthouse about 6 km west of the island, and eastwards toward Sherkin Island and the mainland. Mandatory kit includes trail running shoes, waterproof jacket, waistpack or backpack, foil blanket, whistle, a re-usable cup, a mobile phone with emergency numbers stored, and emergency food.
Age limits for the event are 17 or older up to 75 or younger relative to the event date. Entries open 18 December 2025 and close 16 August 2026. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
