Wicklow Round
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 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)
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)
StartMilitary Road – Featherbed Track junction
1Kippure
2Carrigvore
3Gravale
4Duff Hill
5Mullaghcleevaun East Top
6Mullaghcleevaun
7Moanbane
8Silsean
9Oakwood
10Table Mountain
11Camenabologue
12Lugnaquilla
13Corrigasleggaun
14Carrawaystick Mountain
Check-pointDrumgoff
15Mullacor
16Derrybawn
17Camaderry
18Tonelagee
19Scarr
20Knocknacloghoge
21Luggala
22Djouce
23War Hill
24Tonduff (also called Tonduff North)
25Prince William's Seat
26Knocknagun
EndMilitary 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 Sullivan29 May 200922:58:30[9][6][10]
Eoin Keith30 May 200917:53:45[2][9][10][4]
Paul Mahon5 June 200919:39:25
Paul Nolan5 June 200919:39:25
Jason Reid5 June 200919:39:25
Adrian Tucker25 June 200922:18:45
Greg Byrne2 June 201220:56:00
Billy Reed2 June 201220:56:00
Finbar McGurren2 June 201220:56:00
Richard Nunan8 June 201321:57:02
Jeff Fitzsimons8 June 201321:57:02
Zoran Skrba8 June 201321:57:02
Gareth Little9 June 201323:39:36
Laurence Colleran30 May 201520:45:00
Liam Vines30 May 201520:45:00
Paul Morrissey14 June 201523:47:32
Andreas Kusch14 June 201523:47:32
Pol O'Murchu21 June 201523:25:03
Mike Jordan4 July 201523:21:00
Sam Scriven4 July 201523:21:00
Brian O'Meara4 July 201523:21:00
Kevin Shannon4 August 201521:59:36
Mark Shannon4 August 201521:59:36
Paul O'Callaghan28 May 201621:25:00
Adrian Hennessy6 June 201619:36:00
John Ryan Preston19 June 201621:06:00
Liam Vines11 December 201622:56:00
Karina Jonina6 May 201722:37:43[4]
Joseph McConaughy6 May 201817:09:44[2][9]
Paul Keville23 June 201822:59:00
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'Leary13 April 201916:27:20[1][10][4]
Shane Lynch21 April 201916:23:32[1][10]
Gavin Byrne18 May 201915:04:30[10]
John Murray 2 June 2019 22:05:23
John Murray 3 August 2019 23:41:08
Daniela Lubiscakova 24 July 2020 23:14:26
Philip O'Connell 24 July 2020 23:14:26

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. 1 2 3 4 5 Ian O'Riordan (22 April 2019). "Shane Lynch breaks The Wicklow Round record". Irish Times. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 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. 1 2 3 4 5 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}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  6. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 4 "Watch: Joe McConaughy Smash Eoin Keith's Wicklow Round Record". Outsider Magazine. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Robbie Britton (4 June 2019). "Good lines on the Wicklow Round – Gavin Byrne interview". Fast Running. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  11. 1 2 "THE IMRA WICKLOW ROUND". The Irish Mountain Running Association (IMRA). Retrieved 16 July 2019.


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