Notice: Bandon AC 5k road race - Thurs 24th Apr 2025

Following on from the success of the inaugural Bandon AC 5k last year, the second edition is coming up this year on Thursday 24th April 2025 at 7:30pm.

Entries HERE

Bandon AC are currently developing a full size 400m athletics track and all proceeds from the race go towards this project.

Latest info from the organisers: "Registration and number collection: Colaiste Na Toirbhirte from 6pm last number collection 7:00pm

Late registrations: This option will not be available if race sells out. it will be €25 on the night and will be accepted up to 7pm.

Start line: Colaiste Na Toirbhirte, the race will start at 7:30pm SHARP

Finish line: Mart / Old Still

Race route: The race will start adjacent to Colaiste Na Toirbhirte and run up in the direction of Kilbrittain Rd (The race will not be turning onto any part of the bypass), the race will turn left once on the Kilbrittain Road for approx. 500m and will stay on the left hand side of that road, it will then take another left off the main road to Curraveda East, it will go through crossroads here and again between the Monarone / Tullyland road, it will turn left onto the Mill road and will finish before reaching the junction by the Old Still and the Mart.

Parking: NO PARKING ON THE RACE ROUTE, We advise anyone that is taking part tomorrow to park at St Patrick's Church Car Park, here there will be enough space for all participants. There is limited amount of parking at Bandon GAA, parking also near the finish and in Car parks around the town. Parking can be a 15/20 minute walk mostly uphill so plan accordingly to be at the race start on time.

We ask all to only park in the designated parking areas and to AVOID parking on the bypass and in nearby housing estates and to obey general road safety rules. 

If you have any questions please feel free to respond to this email and I will do my best to answer your query. 

We have been overwhelmed with the support locally and this has been a huge help for us in organising prizes and paying for the event.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU on Thursday 24th"

Artists impression of the new athletics track

Course... The 5k course uses a lot of the old course that was used for the 5-miler on New Years Day some years ago.

The race start just off the Bandon Relief Road and the first 500m is downhill to a junction with the Kilbrittan Road, a very fast start. Then there is a short 500m gradual climb until you turn off left  after the 1km mark and onto a quiet country road.

For those of you who remember the old 5-mile course, you had to basically climb the hill on the Kilbrittan Rd all the ways from the town. On the 5k route, you essentially come out halfway up the hill.

From memory, I don't remember anything especially tough or hard about the section from 1 to 3kms. When it was part of the 5-mile race, I just remember running through some crossroads on narrow country roads and it was reasonably flat.

Just after the 3km mark, there's a turn left and then it's very gradual downhill through a glen to the finish line. Despite what the profile above might suggest, you're following a stream all the way down a glen for the last 2k so there is no climbing here.

It's probably one of the fastest finishes of any race as you don't lose that height advantage in one burst, it's more of a gradual 2km downhill stretch which is ideal.

Overall, a nice fast 5k course on quiet country roads to the south of Bandon.

Track under development - Dec 2024