Western Way – Maam to Leenane
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About the race
The Western Way Ultra is a 62.5 km out-and-back mountain ultra in County Galway on Saturday 14 November 2026. The route starts and finishes in Leenane and follows the Western Way to Maum, with a new out-and-back section ascending to Binn Chuiní. Total climb on the course is 1800 m. Race marking is limited to only major junctions and GPS devices are allowed.
The event is the final race in the Irish Ultra Championships and entry is limited to 50 places by permit. Entries open 5 October and close 7 November. There is an overall time limit of 10 hours and a mid-race cut-off of 5.5 hours at Maam Community Centre (32.5 km).
Mandatory kit is Level C - Advanced and must be carried as required; random kit checks may be carried out and failure to have required items can lead to denial of entry or disqualification. Required items include:
- 62.5 km
- waterproof jacket with integrated hood and taped seams
- hat or buff
- gloves
- whistle
- charged mobile phone with emergency number stored
- foil blanket or bivvy bag
- waterproof full leg cover
- means to carry minimum 500 mL water
- emergency food
- map of route/area
- compass
Prizegiving for the race, the Connacht Championships, and the Galway 2026 league will take place in Leenane Hotel after the race, with hot food and a social gathering. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
