Wicklow Round

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Wicklow Round
Lugnaquilla from Glenmalure.jpg
Lugnaquilla, highest peak on the Round at 925 metres (3,035 ft); highest mountain in Leinster.
Length100 kilometres (62 mi)
depending on actual route
LocationWicklow Mountains, Ireland
Established2008
TrailheadsFetherbed Track Junction
UseHiking, Fell running
Elevation
Elevation changecirca 6,000 metres (19,685 ft)
depending on actual route
Highest pointLugnaquilla at 925 metres (3,035 ft)
Lowest pointDrumgroff at 50 metres (164 ft)
Hiking details
SeasonAll year round
Hazardssinkholes amongst heather
Surfacebogland, moorland, sheep paths, roads
WebsiteIMRA

The Wicklow Round is a long-distance hill running challenge in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland.[1] The route follows a proscribed 100-kilometre circuit of 26 mountains, which must be completed in a fixed order, that total over 6,000 metres (20,000 ft) of elevation; there is some flexibility on route-choices between peaks.[2] Rounds completed outside of a cut-off time of 24-hours are not generally recorded.[1][3] Irish ultra-runner Joe Lalor is credited with the creation of the Round.[4][5]

The first person to complete the Round was Moire O’Sullivan, in a time of 22:58:30 on 29 May 2008; O'Sullivan went on to write a book about her experience on the Round called Mud, Sweat, and Tears.[6][7][8] Eoin Keith set a new record of 17:53:45 on 30 May 2009, which stood for nine years until it was beaten by U.S. runner, and Appalachian Trail record holder, Joe McConaughy, in a time of 17:09:44 on 6 May 2018.[2][9] Several other runners have set records for the fastest Round.[1][4] Between April and May 2019, the men's record was broken across three consecutive attempts, by Paddy O'Leary, Shane Lynch and Gavin Byrne. These attempts were featured in the short documentary film, "Coming Home - Ag Teacht Abhaile".

As of July 2019, the record is 15:04:30, set by Irish IAU Trail World Championships contestant, Gavin Byrne on 18 May 2019.[10]

Route[]

Mullaghcleevaun, 2nd-highest peak on the Round at 849 metres (2,785 ft); second highest mountain in Wicklow.

The 26 mountains of the Wicklow Round must be completed in the order as outlined below, as well as the check-point in the forest of Drumgoff.[11]

Sequence Goal (peak or check-point)
Start Military Road – Featherbed Track junction
1 Kippure
2 Carrigvore
3 Gravale
4 Duff Hill
5 Mullaghcleevaun East Top
6 Mullaghcleevaun
7 Moanbane
8 Silsean
9 Oakwood
10 Table Mountain
11 Camenabologue
12 Lugnaquilla
13 Corrigasleggaun
14 Carrawaystick Mountain
Check-point Drumgoff
15 Mullacor
16 Derrybawn
17 Camaderry
18 Tonelagee
19 Scarr
20 Knocknacloghoge
21 Luggala
22 Djouce
23 War Hill
24 Tonduff (also called Tonduff North)
25 Prince William's Seat
26 Knocknagun
End Military Road – Featherbed Track junction

Completions[]

Summit of Luggala above Lough Tay; neighbouring summit of Knocknacloghoge is behind (left)

The Irish Mountain Running Association (IMRA) record the following sub-24 hour completions of the Wicklow Round:[11]

  Men's record holder (most recent record is the current record holder)
  Women's record holder (most recent record is the current record holder)
Name Date Time
Moire O Sullivan 29 May 2009 22:58:30[9][6][10]
Eoin Keith 30 May 2009 17:53:45[2][9][10][4]
Paul Mahon 5 June 2009 19:39:25
Paul Nolan 5 June 2009 19:39:25
Jason Reid 5 June 2009 19:39:25
Adrian Tucker 25 June 2009 22:18:45
Greg Byrne 2 June 2012 20:56:00
Billy Reed 2 June 2012 20:56:00
Finbar McGurren 2 June 2012 20:56:00
Richard Nunan 8 June 2013 21:57:02
Jeff Fitzsimons 8 June 2013 21:57:02
Zoran Skrba 8 June 2013 21:57:02
Gareth Little 9 June 2013 23:39:36
Laurence Colleran 30 May 2015 20:45:00
Liam Vines 30 May 2015 20:45:00
Paul Morrissey 14 June 2015 23:47:32
Andreas Kusch 14 June 2015 23:47:32
Pol O'Murchu 21 June 2015 23:25:03
Mike Jordan 4 July 2015 23:21:00
Sam Scriven 4 July 2015 23:21:00
Brian O'Meara 4 July 2015 23:21:00
Kevin Shannon 4 August 2015 21:59:36
Mark Shannon 4 August 2015 21:59:36
Paul O'Callaghan 28 May 2016 21:25:00
Adrian Hennessy 6 June 2016 19:36:00
John Ryan Preston 19 June 2016 21:06:00
Liam Vines 11 December 2016 22:56:00
Karina Jonina 6 May 2017 22:37:43[4]
Joseph McConaughy 6 May 2018 17:09:44[2][9]
Paul Keville 23 June 2018 22:59:00
Warren Swords 22 July 2018 23:13:45
Brian Kitson 22 July 1028 23:13:45
Paul O'Callaghan 21 December 2018 23:38:00
Paddy O'Leary 13 April 2019 16:27:20[1][10][4]
Shane Lynch 21 April 2019 16:23:32[1][10]
Gavin Byrne 18 May 2019 15:04:30[10]
John Murray 2 June 2019 22:05:23
John Murray 3 August 2019 23:41:08

Books & Films[]

  • Moire O'Sullivan (July 2011). Mud, Sweat and Tears: An Irish Woman's Journey of Self-Discovery Paperback. ISBN 978-0615505152.
  • Dooster Film (July 2019). Coming Home - Ag Teacht Abhaile. Award-winning documentary film.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Ian O'Riordan (22 April 2019). "Shane Lynch breaks The Wicklow Round record". Irish Times. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Aaron Rogan (9 May 2018). "Peak performance: record-holder helps young pretender conquer toughest race". The Times. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  3. ^ Moire O'Sullivan (July 2011). Mud, Sweat and Tears: An Irish Woman's Journey of Self-Discovery Paperback. ISBN 978-0615505152.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Lindie Naughton (15 April 2019). "Paddy O'Leary smashes Wicklow Round record – weekend round-up". Fast Running. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Outsider Awards 2018: Most Devoted Individual". December 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2019. Joe Lalor (65) has given a lifetime of service to Ireland’s trail running community. The secretary of IMRA for six years, the creator of the Wicklow Way Relay, the Wicklow Way Round and the Nav Challenge Series, active volunteer and fundraiser for Mountain Meitheal, Joe deserves a huge round of applause! Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Running is a luxury few can do". Irish Times. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Mountain runner's new book". Irish Independent. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  8. ^ Ellen Barr (10 April 2018). "Derry's Moire talks 'Bump, Bike and Baby' in new 'warts and all' book". Derry Journal. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Watch: Joe McConaughy Smash Eoin Keith's Wicklow Round Record". Outsider Magazine. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Robbie Britton (4 June 2019). "Good lines on the Wicklow Round – Gavin Byrne interview". Fast Running. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "THE IMRA WICKLOW ROUND". The Irish Mountain Running Association (IMRA). Retrieved 16 July 2019.

External links[]


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