Abay Alemu Lesa wins 45th Dublin Marathon as Hugh Armstrong takes Irish men's title

Men's race and late drama

Abay Alemu Lesa of Ethiopia won the 45th Irish Life Dublin Marathon on Sunday, 25 October, crossing the line in 2:10:29 in very windy conditions. The Irish Times put his margin over Sweden's Ebba Tulu Chala at six seconds. Lesa said he was very happy with the win but that the wind made the run difficult, and it was his first time winning the Dublin race.

Kenya's Enock Kipkemboi had been apparently on course for the €15,000 first prize when he fell near the RDS with three kilometres to go, after feeling unwell. He recovered and finished fourth, while Lesa and Chala had been closing in on him from behind.

Women's race and Irish finishers

Zenebu Fikdau Jebesa of Ethiopia won the women's race in 2:24:24, according to the Irish Times. Judith Storm of Derry Spartans was the first Irishwoman home, in 2:35:44, just a few strides ahead of Sorcha Nic Dhómhnaill. Killian Mooney placed ninth overall, and Letterkenny AC's Stephen McAuley was the third Irishman across the line.

Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC, a 32-year-old An Post accountant, finished eighth overall and was the first Irish man home. The Irish Independent gave his time as 2:14:51, while the Irish Times reported 2:40:50, so the two figures disagree. Armstrong said he had been at many finals that Mayo lost before this season.

“I had been to plenty of finals when we lost. So that was a special day.”

A promise made in Croke Park

Armstrong, a former Knockmore footballer, was in Croke Park when Mayo won the All-Ireland football final, and he said he decided then that he would win the national marathon title. He had won the national half marathon in 2024. He attended secondary school in Crossmolina with Conor Loftus and James Carr, and played alongside Mayo vice-captain Darren McHale at primary school and for Knockmore.

Hiko Tonosa withdrew through injury before the start, which opened the national race. At halfway, Armstrong and Mooney held a 10-second lead over Stephen McAuley and Jake O'Regan. Armstrong made his decisive move around mile 21, and he had beaten Mooney at the Great North Run six weeks earlier. He became the second Providence scholarship runner in a row to take the national title, after David McGlynn in 2025.

Race day across the city

The event got under way just after 8am with a medal presentation by Dublin Lord Mayor Daryl Barron. The wheelchair race started at 8.40am, the elite runners at 8.45am, and three more waves followed up to 9.45am. Organisers recorded a record 19,190 participants, and said more than €5 million had been raised so far for charity. Road closures and diversions were in place across the capital.

Kildare paralympian Patrick Monahan won the wheelchair race in 1:46:03, his ninth title. Brenda O'Keefe, a woman from Cavan who has completed more than 600 marathons, received the Lord Mayor's medal at the start line on Leeson Street. She urged other runners to enjoy the day.

“No matter what, just get to the finish.”

The 26.2 mile course runs from Leeson Street through the city centre and suburbs, finishing at Pepper Cannister Church.