Connemara Marathon

GWC Annual Walking Marathon & Half Marathon

Saturday 8th August 2026

  • Meeting Point: Maam Community Centre, Teernakill North, Connemara, Co. Galway,  H91W635. 
  • Time: Meet at 7.30 am for the Full Marathon, bus departs 08.00 am.  Meet at 8.45 am for the Half Marathon, bus departs at 09.30 am. Buses from Centre to Departure point.
  • Price: €50 per person which includes a meal in the Community Centre after you finish.
  • Walking boots, wet gear and sunblock, food and refillable water bottle, long distance walking stamina. No dogs allowed. Leave no trace, please.
  • Pre-Registration is required.  Book early to avoid disappointment!

Mainly a flat walk, the highest point Máméan at 259 m, on green road, forest track, one third on minor roads, with spectacular views of Killary Fjord, the Maumturks and the Twelve Bens, a terrific way to experience Connemara.  For further information please contact jerrylalor@gmail.com

Route  Description  – The Marathon is waymarked from start to finish.

42.2 km     Total Ascent 554m taking about 8 – 9  hours

FIRST HALF  22.0 km/13 mi; 193 m  (ascent) about  4 hours

1     Road junction  (L 819 605) Start time about:  8.30 am.   Follow L5102 (Tullycross) from N59, for 4.5 km along north shore of Lough Fee.  Be aware of traffic coming from behind. 

2     Road junction (L 778 624)  Take the minor road to the right to Rosroe Pier, going north for 3 km.

3     Rosroe (L 771 649)  Checkpoint 1.   Follow the track eastwards beside Killary Harbour [Caoláire  Rua] for 4 km, to a minor road for another 3 km, to rejoin the N 59 road.  Be aware of traffic on N59.  Turn left ,walk for 100m to the Quarry on the right.

4     Disused Quarry (L 823 607) Checkpoint  2  Water Refill Station.  15.3 km/9.5 mi  walked. Walk along the N 59 north eastwards for just 650 m.  Watch out for the fast traffic coming towards you!

5    Road junction (L 827 612) Sharp turn to the right on to a minor road L51021 (Glencroff).  After 600 m you meet the “Western Way”, which is way-marked with ‘Yellow Walker’ posts. Follow the Western Way for the rest of the walk. A  short boardwalk leads to a footbridge over a stream, then southwards on a forest road for 4 km.

SECOND HALF Follow the Yellow Walker  20.2 km/12.5 mi; 361 m  (ascent)  about  4 hours    

The Half Marathon walkers join the route here, walking back to Maam Community Centre.

6     Tooreenacoona (L 825 572)  Checkpoint 3  This is at a small bridge over a stream just after leaving the forest. Continue along the Western Way, now a well-defined track across dry open peatland, for 5.5 km to the Checkpoint 4.  Binn Bhriocáin [ Leitir Breacáin]  (668 m) and Cnoc na hUilleann (605 m) on your left, at the heart of the mighty Maum Turks ridge.

7     Uillinn(L 859 534)  Checkpoint 4  Water Refill Station. 27.4 km/17.02 mi walked

You can avail of a lift back to base from here. The Western Way track joins a minor road at this elbow for the next 5 km, to Checkpoint 5.

The middle Maum Turks ridge continues on your left, passing underneath Binn idir an Dá Log [ Mulnahogue] (702 m), Barr Sliabh na Ráithe (659 m) and finally Binn Chuiní [ Binn Chaonaigh] (634 m) as you approach the car park. 

8     Mám Éan (Car Park) (L 892 495) Checkpoint 5 Cut-off at 5.00 pm. Water Refill Station.  32.6 km/20.25mi walked

You can avail of a lift back to base from here.

The Western Way swings sharply to the left (north east) for the main climb of the day … climbing 150 m steadily uphill on a rocky track over a 1.5 km distance to reach the Mám Éan Oratory. This is followed by a corresponding ramble downhill, for 3 km, on a grassy dry bog track until it joins a minor road to cross the Failmore River.

9     Failmore River (Bridge) (L 925 524)  Checkpoint 6  Water Refill Station. 37.4 km/23.2 mi walked. (Teernakill River).  You can avail of a lift back to base. The Western Way continues uphill along the minor road, climbing 60 m. Then downhill to meet a T-junction at An Chorr [Cur] (L 936 534). Turn right and follow the minor road for 3 km until you arrive back at the base.

10   Maam Community Centre  (L 962 523)  FINISH

Be sure to sign out and collect your Certificate. 

Hot food, tea & coffee … to end a great day!  Walking boots, wet gear and sunblock, food and refillable water bottle, distance walking stamina. Water is available at all checkpoints, bring your own bottle.     

Emergency number:  112 –  Mountain Rescue

Please, Leave No Litter … banana skins, orange peel, sweet wrappers, paper tissues, etc.