The Killarney parkrun is a great way to get out and about in Killarney National Park on a Saturday morning. The weekly event takes place at 9:30 every Saturday morning and is one of the hundreds of parkruns taking place across the world each week. Set in the magnificent surroundings of Killarney House & Gardens, parkrun will get your weekend off to a great start!
The parkrun story
Parkrun is a great example of how a simple idea can turn into an event and eventually a movement. Starting back in 2004 with a handful of runners in the UK, parkrun events are now running in 14 countries every weekend of the year. The concept is simple – A free, timed 5km run every week at the same time in the same place, which happens to be a park. All parkruns are organised and managed by volunteers, most of whom are parkrunners themselves.
Getting Ready
The Killarney parkrun started in the summer of 2015 and has become a well-established fixture every Saturday morning since then. The run goes ahead all year round and attracts runners and walkers of all abilities and shapes and sizes. Although the event is timed and requires (free) registration, it is not a ‘race’ as such, so it’s a great way for beginners to get a feel for running a timed event.
That is one of the main attractions of the parkrun – it is a timed event with other participants. While you don’t need to be competitive, there is a great motivating effect from being part of a tribe of parkrunners and you will feel yourself wanting to do your best every time you take part. So whether you are on your holidays in Killarney, visiting for the weekend or you’re a local resident, take some time to explore the Killarney parkrun next Saturday at 9:30 am!
How to Get There
The Killarney parkrun takes place every Saturday in the grounds of Killarney House & Gardens. There is parking available at Beech Road carpark with access to Killarney House available via a pedestrian entrance.
Killarney parkrun course
All you need to do to take part is to register on the parkrun website in advance. This is a once-off registration, you don’t need to register each time you run. After registration, you will receive your own personal bar code. You will need to print this and bring it with you on the morning of the parkrun.
Killarney parkrun is a 5km route comprising of two laps around the the grounds of Killarney House.
You can find full details of the course on the Killarney parkrun website here. As well as having a timed, organised 5km run, you will also get to experience some of the magic of Killarney National Park as you traverse the course. It is a completely flat course on paved paths throughout the route.The course finishes on the flagstones of the ‘promenade’ in front of Killarney House and your parkrun is done!
Find out more
The continuing success of the Killarney parkrun is very much dependent on a small team of volunteers who help to manage and marshal the event each Saturday. You can find out how to help out here or check out the Facebook page for regular updates.
Volunteers at the Finish Line
While there is no shortage of great 5k running routes in the Killarney area (there’s a quick guide to some of the best here), the Killarney Parkrun is great if you’re looking for something extra. Whether you’re pushing for a personal best or need a little extra motivation to put on the running shoes, the parkrun gives you the perfect excuse to get out and about on a Saturday morning.
For more information about the Killarney parkrun, visit the website or Facebook page.