Cormac Mc Donnell
Conseiller trail
Hey froggies ! je suis Cormac, passionné de nature, j’en ai fait mon métier. Je travaille pour le gouvernement Irlandais pour le développement des sports outdoor.
Je suis en duo avec Donncha pour organiser chaque étape de The Irish Trail. Mais notre rôle ne s’arrête pas là, nous sommes heureux de pouvoir échanger et partager ce séjour pour faire découvrir notre pays.
Toujours partant je vous invite autour d’une Guiness ou deux pour quelques chants Irlandais.
Testimonials
Jean Luc Lefevre
“Merci à Exaequo pour cette formidable organisation ;
Merci à « Courir avec » pour cette leçon de vie ;
Merci aux irlandais pour leur accueil chaleureux ;
Merci à Guinness de faire de la si bonne bière ;
Merci aux moutons qui ont égayés notre route ;
Et surtout Merci à toutes et tous pour votre sportivité ;
So long, see you later all over the world.”
Jimmy Desbrosses
« Merci à l’organisation pour le boulot que vous avez fait. On a pu découvrir l’Irlande et pratiquer notre sport dans les meilleurs conditions. Votre sympathie a permis une bonne entente dans le groupe. Merci à tous les coureurs pour votre bonne humeur. Je pense qu’une partie de notre récup est due à nos bonnes soirées au bar, à nos anecdotes, etc… »
This event will transport you to the heart of this endearing country. You will meet its population, appreciate its heritage and discover its traditions.
More than a stages race, THE IRISH TRAIL is a human adventure in a country full of history and its inhabitants always so welcoming. Join us and be sure to live 8 unforgettable days in Ireland!
Accessible by running on the 60km and 85km and by foot, only for the 60km, the race is open to everyone. The routes are designed on hiking trails, including the famous Wild Atlantic Way alongside the coast. Each stage will immerse you in astonishing and diverse landscapes, as well as different soils (paths, grass, rocks).
This trip is a great opportunity to discover this magnificent country via our touristic program which will enable you every afternoon to visit different places and each evening to enjoy a delicious Irish beer in warm and musical traditional pubs.
The Irish Trail is organized on the Western part of Ireland, the wildest part of the country.
The 1st race in the Irish Trail 2019 will be in a new running location in Southern Ireland called the Glens of Aherlow. This region contains some very scenic mountains and is rich in heritage and culture with lots of historic sites. The trails offers a great mix of open hills, forests trails and well established walking trails such as the Balyhoura Way, a long distance walking trail in this region. The trails also offers good views of the Galtee Mountains and are not too technical. This region is popular for hill walking and mountain biking and the local community are famous for being very friendly, so expect a warm welcome and some great trail running in the Glens of Aherlow.
Then, the race will take you to the Ring of Kerry, probably the most visited place of Ireland after Dublin. Our stage will link Kenmare to Killarney, cross the splendid Killarney National and finish in front of the famous Muckross House… A DREAM SETTING!
During the third stage, you will head to the beautiful Dingle peninsula, after a morning visit of this famous fishing village, renowned for its bright colors. This stage is a real marvel in the middle of a mountains chain, the Slieve Mish Mountains. You will run on the Mont Brandon (961m) which overlooks the sea. Once again, a majestic arrival along a descent of the Mount Brandon which leads to one of the smallest harbors in Ireland.
From County Kerry to the north of County Clare and the Burren, there is only one step!
A true limestone desert, once described by Oliver Cromwell as ” an area where there is not enough water to drown a man, not enough wood to hang him and not enough soil to bury him”. The Burren offers many open-air spaces as mysterious as captivating. You will find gray hills where some graves and churches are hidden. The trail designed on the Burren cliff peak will give you the feeling of being on the edge of a precipice overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
It was an obviousness to finish this trail at the Connemara! Is there a name more evocative of Ireland than Connemara? You will be captivated by the beauty of the mountains, peat bogs and lakes. The route crosses the “Maumturk Mountains” on the first part and then it takes us in the valley of the magnificent Lough Inagh.
After five days of racing, enjoy two days of rest and visits. First of all, in the Connemara where we will stay in the charming and unique town of Clifden. Then we will head to Dublin where we will end the trip by a boisterous evening and a last touristic day in the capital before going back to France.
DAY 1: SATURDAY
Departure from Paris CDG 12:35 / Meeting point at the airport
Transfer to the hotel (place to be confirmed)
Walk or touristic activity during the afternoon
General briefing, dinner and night at the hotel
DAY 2: SUNDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to the departure of the race
10:30: 1st stage : new stage (place and distance to be confirmed)
Lunch (place to be confirmed)
Transfer (2h) to Kenmare in early afternoon
Dinner and Night at the Kenmare Bay Hotel
DAY 3: MONDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
9h30: 2sd stage, Killarney National Park / 17km and 12km (short transfer from the hotel to the site
Picnic and discovery of Muckross House Gardens
Transfer (1h) from the hotel to Tralee
Evening show SIAMSA TIRE, music and traditional dances (optional)
Dinner and night at Brandon Hotel
DAY 4: TUESDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
Transfer from the hotel to Dingle, quick walk and visit
10:30: 3rd stage, Mont Brandon 16km or 12km
Picnic during the transfer to Ennistymon – Arrival around 5:00pm
Dinner and night at the Falls Hotel & Spa
Musical evening in Irish pubs
DAY 5: WEDNESDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
Transfer from the hotel to Burren
10:00 : 4th stage, The Burren Way / 18km – 12km
Lunch at Burren College of Art
Visit of Galway in the atfternoon
Dinner and night at Salthill Hotel in Galway Bay
DAY 6: THURSDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
Transfer from the hotel to Connemara
10:00 : 5th stage, Western way Connemara / 15km – 12km
Transfer and picnic at the Kylemore abbey + visit
Transfer by bus to the hotel at Clifden + free afternoon and evening
Night at Station House Hotel
DAY 7: FRIDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
Discovery of the Connemara : Cycling or visit of a salmon smokehouse
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer in bus to Dublin
Dinner and night at Sandymont Hotel
DAY 8: SATURDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
Free morning and lunch in Dublin
Transfer to the airport early afternoon
Flight/Departure from Dublin at 16h20 – Arrival in Paris at 19h30
THE IRISH TRAIL is obviously a race but it is also a great opportunity to discover and be immersed in the Irish culture.
FREE TIMES :
You will be able to enjoy some free times in each stopovers town in Kenmare, Dingle, Ennistymon, Galway, Clifden and Dublin.
For those spare times, we are not going to make a list of everything you can do, ‘Le Guide du Routard’ or other travel guides will do that much better. However, we do have our own opinion of the best pubs and unmissable traditional Irish concerts, which should be one of the main activities in the evenings.
In Dublin, you will be able to visit the ‘Guinness Storehouse’ or the ‘Jameson Distillery’, the ‘National Museum’, the exhibition of ‘Books of Kells’ at the Trinity college. You can also explore the city to discover the famous ‘Temple Bar’, ‘St Stephen’s Green park’, the Georgian architecture or the St Patrick’s Cathedral.
ORGANISED VISITS :
Suggested program: visit of the Muckross Manor in Killarney, the discovering the impressive Cliffs of Moher in the south of Burren, visit of a salmon factory or the Kylemore Abbey in Connemara. You will also have the opportunity to go to the Killbegan distillery as well as to explore through an exceptional bike ride the National Park of Connemara.
Details of the touristic program will be communicated beginning of the year 2018. However, this is already a fairly faithful overview of what you are going to experience!
RACE ORGANIZATION
- The marking out of the race reuses mostly the signage of the “National Trails Office”. This signage will be completed by us with flags and/or road markings when we consider it necessary. In some places, signalers may also be present but mostly to ensure your safety rather than indicate the way.
- A photocopy of OSI (Ordnance Survey Ireland) maps will also be given to every runner, even though it remains unlikely to get lost!
- Provisions of water and fruits will be available on the finish line. Participants will have the opportunity to fill their running backpacks at the start of the races.
- A medical team, including an ambulance, a doctor and all the first aid medical equipment necessary to the organization of a race in competition will be set up on every stage.
TRAVEL
The organization also manages the trip for all participants from Paris to the final destination Cork, with the exception of foreign residents who would like to travel to Cork by their own means from their country of residence. If you find yourself in this situation, please contact us at: contact@exaequovoyages.com
Departure from Paris CDG at 12:35, arrival in Dublin
Return from Dublin at 4:20pm, arrival 7:30pm
Please note that you can have a large suitcase (23kg max) and a hand luggage in the cabin (12kg max).
ADVICE
In addition to your runner equipment, you should take suitable outfits for outdoors activities, waterproof clothing, an umbrella and a hat. It will probably rain at least one time during the week. Welcome to Ireland!
ACCOMODATION
You will stay in 3* or 4* hotels. Couples will have a room with a double bed. Other participants will have a double room with two single beds. Most of the hotels have a swimming pool or even a spa.
CATERING
- Irish breakfast will be served at the hotel every morning.
- The lunches will be taken either in restaurants located near the finish line (drinks not included) or organized as picnics. The last lunch in Dublin will be at your convenience and at your own expenses.
- Dinners will be served at the hotels, except for the evening in Clifden (dinner at your convenience and at your own expenses) and the last dinner in Dublin (included).
VISA AND PASSPORT
An ID card suffices for EU citizens
VACCINES
No vaccine is necessary
MONEY
Reminder : The Euro is the currency of the Republic of Ireland
Most credit and debit card are accepted. Nevertheless, we advise you to have some cash with you.
COMMUNICATE FROM IRELAND
- Mobile phones work with the international option (depending on your operator). but it is quite expensive.
- The network covers pretty well all the counties and sites we will discover.
- To receive a call from France, families and friends should dial 00 353 followed by your mobile phone (without the 0).
- Locally, the access to Internet via your smartphones is quite expensive. However, hotels have an access to the Wi-Fi. Otherwise, you will be able to find Internet cafés easily.
The total number of participants in 2019 is limited to 60 people, split between the 60kms/89kms. The registration period is open from 18th october 2018 to 18th march 2019.
A single price is fixed at 1 890€ per participant + online payment fees (1,5% of the total price), so 28,35€.
GROUPE RATE
You can benefit from a group discount
- 5% starting from 5 people (1795,5€ per person, excluding online payment fees)
- 10% starting from 10 people (1701€ per person, excluding online payment fees)
The registration fee is the same for accompanying persons (over 16 years) who will benefit from most of the services listed above. Accompanying persons are allowed to walk on the 60km.
Our agency Exaequo Communication is registered in the register of travel operators and stays (Registration number: IM014180001)
THE REGISTRATION INCLUDES :
- Your bib and participation to the race
- Executive staff (about 10 people) for the organization of the trip, the race and touristic activities.
- The round-trip flight Paris CDG/Dublin with Aer Lingus
- Daily transfers by bus between sites, accommodation, leisure activities
- 7 nights in 3* or 4* hotel (double or twin rooms)
- Catering during the entire stay, except the dinner in Clifden and the lunch in Dublin
- Food supplies (water, fruits…) after each stage of the race
- Medical assistance during the race and the stay
- A medal and the t-shirt of the event
- Photos and videos souvenir sent after the trip
THE REGISTRATION DOES NOT INCLUDE :
- 2 meals: The dinner at Clifden and the lunch in Dublin
- Drinks when we eat in pubs
- Your personal consumption during touristic activities or free evenings
- Admission fees (if applicable) for sightseeing activities
As the total number of participants is limited, the organization will retain files according to the places available and will accept only complete applications before March 31th 2019.
POSSIBILITY TO PAY IN TWO TIMES BEFIRE THE 31TH MARCH 2019 (online and secure payment):
- 1st bank transfer of 500 euros + complete administrative file
- 2nd bank transfer of 1276,5 euros, balance to be made before the 31st March 2019
A confirmation email will be send to you by the organization, as well as your bank to confirm your registration and inform you of the debit on your account.
DOCUMENTS TO BE SENT TO THE ORGANISATION TO CONFIRM YOUR REGISTRATION
- The photocopy of your valid passport or ID card
- 1 ID photo (scan of an ID photo or photo taken with a phone are authorized)
- A medical certificate dating from June 2018, at the latest, of non-contraindication to the sport in competition (optional for walkers or the accompanying person).
- Your attestation of repatriation insurance is compulsory
- THE RACE
-
This event will transport you to the heart of this endearing country. You will meet its population, appreciate its heritage and discover its traditions.
More than a stages race, THE IRISH TRAIL is a human adventure in a country full of history and its inhabitants always so welcoming. Join us and be sure to live 8 unforgettable days in Ireland!
Accessible by running on the 60km and 85km and by foot, only for the 60km, the race is open to everyone. The routes are designed on hiking trails, including the famous Wild Atlantic Way alongside the coast. Each stage will immerse you in astonishing and diverse landscapes, as well as different soils (paths, grass, rocks).
This trip is a great opportunity to discover this magnificent country via our touristic program which will enable you every afternoon to visit different places and each evening to enjoy a delicious Irish beer in warm and musical traditional pubs.
The Irish Trail is organized on the Western part of Ireland, the wildest part of the country.
The 1st race in the Irish Trail 2019 will be in a new running location in Southern Ireland called the Glens of Aherlow. This region contains some very scenic mountains and is rich in heritage and culture with lots of historic sites. The trails offers a great mix of open hills, forests trails and well established walking trails such as the Balyhoura Way, a long distance walking trail in this region. The trails also offers good views of the Galtee Mountains and are not too technical. This region is popular for hill walking and mountain biking and the local community are famous for being very friendly, so expect a warm welcome and some great trail running in the Glens of Aherlow.
Then, the race will take you to the Ring of Kerry, probably the most visited place of Ireland after Dublin. Our stage will link Kenmare to Killarney, cross the splendid Killarney National and finish in front of the famous Muckross House… A DREAM SETTING!
During the third stage, you will head to the beautiful Dingle peninsula, after a morning visit of this famous fishing village, renowned for its bright colors. This stage is a real marvel in the middle of a mountains chain, the Slieve Mish Mountains. You will run on the Mont Brandon (961m) which overlooks the sea. Once again, a majestic arrival along a descent of the Mount Brandon which leads to one of the smallest harbors in Ireland.
From County Kerry to the north of County Clare and the Burren, there is only one step!
A true limestone desert, once described by Oliver Cromwell as ” an area where there is not enough water to drown a man, not enough wood to hang him and not enough soil to bury him”. The Burren offers many open-air spaces as mysterious as captivating. You will find gray hills where some graves and churches are hidden. The trail designed on the Burren cliff peak will give you the feeling of being on the edge of a precipice overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
It was an obviousness to finish this trail at the Connemara! Is there a name more evocative of Ireland than Connemara? You will be captivated by the beauty of the mountains, peat bogs and lakes. The route crosses the “Maumturk Mountains” on the first part and then it takes us in the valley of the magnificent Lough Inagh.
After five days of racing, enjoy two days of rest and visits. First of all, in the Connemara where we will stay in the charming and unique town of Clifden. Then we will head to Dublin where we will end the trip by a boisterous evening and a last touristic day in the capital before going back to France.
- THE PROGRAM
-
DAY 1: SATURDAY
Departure from Paris CDG 12:35 / Meeting point at the airport
Transfer to the hotel (place to be confirmed)
Walk or touristic activity during the afternoon
General briefing, dinner and night at the hotelDAY 2: SUNDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
Transfer to the departure of the race
10:30: 1st stage : new stage (place and distance to be confirmed)
Lunch (place to be confirmed)
Transfer (2h) to Kenmare in early afternoon
Dinner and Night at the Kenmare Bay HotelDAY 3: MONDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
9h30: 2sd stage, Killarney National Park / 17km and 12km (short transfer from the hotel to the site
Picnic and discovery of Muckross House Gardens
Transfer (1h) from the hotel to Tralee
Evening show SIAMSA TIRE, music and traditional dances (optional)
Dinner and night at Brandon HotelDAY 4: TUESDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
Transfer from the hotel to Dingle, quick walk and visit
10:30: 3rd stage, Mont Brandon 16km or 12km
Picnic during the transfer to Ennistymon – Arrival around 5:00pm
Dinner and night at the Falls Hotel & Spa
Musical evening in Irish pubsDAY 5: WEDNESDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
Transfer from the hotel to Burren
10:00 : 4th stage, The Burren Way / 18km – 12km
Lunch at Burren College of Art
Visit of Galway in the atfternoon
Dinner and night at Salthill Hotel in Galway BayDAY 6: THURSDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
Transfer from the hotel to Connemara
10:00 : 5th stage, Western way Connemara / 15km – 12km
Transfer and picnic at the Kylemore abbey + visit
Transfer by bus to the hotel at Clifden + free afternoon and evening
Night at Station House HotelDAY 7: FRIDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
Discovery of the Connemara : Cycling or visit of a salmon smokehouse
Breakfast at the hotel
Transfer in bus to Dublin
Dinner and night at Sandymont Hotel
DAY 8: SATURDAY
Irish breakfast at the hotel
Free morning and lunch in Dublin
Transfer to the airport early afternoon
Flight/Departure from Dublin at 16h20 – Arrival in Paris at 19h30 - TOURIST ACTIVITIES
-
THE IRISH TRAIL is obviously a race but it is also a great opportunity to discover and be immersed in the Irish culture.
FREE TIMES :
You will be able to enjoy some free times in each stopovers town in Kenmare, Dingle, Ennistymon, Galway, Clifden and Dublin.
For those spare times, we are not going to make a list of everything you can do, ‘Le Guide du Routard’ or other travel guides will do that much better. However, we do have our own opinion of the best pubs and unmissable traditional Irish concerts, which should be one of the main activities in the evenings.
In Dublin, you will be able to visit the ‘Guinness Storehouse’ or the ‘Jameson Distillery’, the ‘National Museum’, the exhibition of ‘Books of Kells’ at the Trinity college. You can also explore the city to discover the famous ‘Temple Bar’, ‘St Stephen’s Green park’, the Georgian architecture or the St Patrick’s Cathedral.
ORGANISED VISITS :
Suggested program: visit of the Muckross Manor in Killarney, the discovering the impressive Cliffs of Moher in the south of Burren, visit of a salmon factory or the Kylemore Abbey in Connemara. You will also have the opportunity to go to the Killbegan distillery as well as to explore through an exceptional bike ride the National Park of Connemara.
Details of the touristic program will be communicated beginning of the year 2018. However, this is already a fairly faithful overview of what you are going to experience!
- PRACTICAL INFO
-
RACE ORGANIZATION
- The marking out of the race reuses mostly the signage of the “National Trails Office”. This signage will be completed by us with flags and/or road markings when we consider it necessary. In some places, signalers may also be present but mostly to ensure your safety rather than indicate the way.
- A photocopy of OSI (Ordnance Survey Ireland) maps will also be given to every runner, even though it remains unlikely to get lost!
- Provisions of water and fruits will be available on the finish line. Participants will have the opportunity to fill their running backpacks at the start of the races.
- A medical team, including an ambulance, a doctor and all the first aid medical equipment necessary to the organization of a race in competition will be set up on every stage.
TRAVEL
The organization also manages the trip for all participants from Paris to the final destination Cork, with the exception of foreign residents who would like to travel to Cork by their own means from their country of residence. If you find yourself in this situation, please contact us at: contact@exaequovoyages.com
Departure from Paris CDG at 12:35, arrival in Dublin
Return from Dublin at 4:20pm, arrival 7:30pmPlease note that you can have a large suitcase (23kg max) and a hand luggage in the cabin (12kg max).
ADVICE
In addition to your runner equipment, you should take suitable outfits for outdoors activities, waterproof clothing, an umbrella and a hat. It will probably rain at least one time during the week. Welcome to Ireland!
ACCOMODATION
You will stay in 3* or 4* hotels. Couples will have a room with a double bed. Other participants will have a double room with two single beds. Most of the hotels have a swimming pool or even a spa.
CATERING
- Irish breakfast will be served at the hotel every morning.
- The lunches will be taken either in restaurants located near the finish line (drinks not included) or organized as picnics. The last lunch in Dublin will be at your convenience and at your own expenses.
- Dinners will be served at the hotels, except for the evening in Clifden (dinner at your convenience and at your own expenses) and the last dinner in Dublin (included).
VISA AND PASSPORT
An ID card suffices for EU citizens
VACCINES
No vaccine is necessary
MONEY
Reminder : The Euro is the currency of the Republic of Ireland
Most credit and debit card are accepted. Nevertheless, we advise you to have some cash with you.
COMMUNICATE FROM IRELAND
- Mobile phones work with the international option (depending on your operator). but it is quite expensive.
- The network covers pretty well all the counties and sites we will discover.
- To receive a call from France, families and friends should dial 00 353 followed by your mobile phone (without the 0).
- Locally, the access to Internet via your smartphones is quite expensive. However, hotels have an access to the Wi-Fi. Otherwise, you will be able to find Internet cafés easily.
- REGISTRATION
-
The total number of participants in 2019 is limited to 60 people, split between the 60kms/89kms. The registration period is open from 18th october 2018 to 18th march 2019.
A single price is fixed at 1 890€ per participant + online payment fees (1,5% of the total price), so 28,35€.
GROUPE RATE
You can benefit from a group discount
- 5% starting from 5 people (1795,5€ per person, excluding online payment fees)
- 10% starting from 10 people (1701€ per person, excluding online payment fees)
The registration fee is the same for accompanying persons (over 16 years) who will benefit from most of the services listed above. Accompanying persons are allowed to walk on the 60km.
Our agency Exaequo Communication is registered in the register of travel operators and stays (Registration number: IM014180001)
THE REGISTRATION INCLUDES :
- Your bib and participation to the race
- Executive staff (about 10 people) for the organization of the trip, the race and touristic activities.
- The round-trip flight Paris CDG/Dublin with Aer Lingus
- Daily transfers by bus between sites, accommodation, leisure activities
- 7 nights in 3* or 4* hotel (double or twin rooms)
- Catering during the entire stay, except the dinner in Clifden and the lunch in Dublin
- Food supplies (water, fruits…) after each stage of the race
- Medical assistance during the race and the stay
- A medal and the t-shirt of the event
- Photos and videos souvenir sent after the trip
THE REGISTRATION DOES NOT INCLUDE :
- 2 meals: The dinner at Clifden and the lunch in Dublin
- Drinks when we eat in pubs
- Your personal consumption during touristic activities or free evenings
- Admission fees (if applicable) for sightseeing activities
As the total number of participants is limited, the organization will retain files according to the places available and will accept only complete applications before March 31th 2019.
POSSIBILITY TO PAY IN TWO TIMES BEFIRE THE 31TH MARCH 2019 (online and secure payment):
- 1st bank transfer of 500 euros + complete administrative file
- 2nd bank transfer of 1276,5 euros, balance to be made before the 31st March 2019
A confirmation email will be send to you by the organization, as well as your bank to confirm your registration and inform you of the debit on your account.
DOCUMENTS TO BE SENT TO THE ORGANISATION TO CONFIRM YOUR REGISTRATION
- The photocopy of your valid passport or ID card
- 1 ID photo (scan of an ID photo or photo taken with a phone are authorized)
- A medical certificate dating from June 2018, at the latest, of non-contraindication to the sport in competition (optional for walkers or the accompanying person).
- Your attestation of repatriation insurance is compulsory