Wicklow Half Marathon & 10km
The Lowdown
The Wicklow Half Marathon & 10km is an early-season coastal race held in Wicklow Town, County Wicklow, just 40 minutes south of Dublin. Runners start along South Quay at Wicklow Harbour and follow a scenic route tracing the coastline before finishing inside the courtyard of Wicklow's historic 18th-century gaol, a distinctive finish that has earned the race its long-running nickname, the 'Gaol Break'. The half marathon (21.1 km) and 10km distances share the same start/finish area, with rolling terrain organizers describe as combining coastal beauty with a countryside challenge. The event has sold out most years since it began, drawing more than 3,500 runners and walkers to Wicklow Town for what has become a popular season-opener on the Irish road-racing calendar. The next edition is scheduled for Sunday, March 21, 2027, with the half marathon starting at 10:30am and a 3.5-hour course cut-off. Every finisher receives a bespoke Wicklow-themed medal. The race is organized by Bear Races, which also runs the Wexford and Clontarf half marathons as part of its 'Trilogy' series, and has carried different title sponsors over the years, Codling Wind Park in 2024 and 2025, Volkswagen Financial Services in 2026, while keeping its neutral event name.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Good crowd energy
South Quay, Wicklow Harbour — start
Wicklow Gaol — finish, in the historic courtyard
Wicklow coastline — course runs along the coast before turning inland
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Wicklow, County Wicklow, Ireland
IE
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age 18 for the Half Marathon, per standard Irish road race convention (no explicit minimum published by the organizer)
Required Documents
- Photo ID for race number (bib) collection
Entry Methods
- Online registration via Bear Races / the event's ticketing platform
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Entries are non-transferable to a later year and generally non-refundable, in line with standard Irish road race entry terms; no official policy page was found for this specific event
Part of the Bear Races Trilogy Series alongside the Wexford Half Marathon/10km and Clontarf Half Marathon/10km
Title sponsor has changed year to year: Codling Wind Park (2024-2025), Volkswagen Financial Services (2026); some directories still use the older nickname 'Wicklow Gaol Break Half Marathon & 10km'
Organized by Bear Races
Certified, professionally measured course with chip timing
Parking available at Wicklow Council Offices and the train station
Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
Community Reviews
Learn from fellow runners and share insights that will help the next person toe the line.

