After 5 years of absence, where the team went to explore other regions of the world, the 2nd destination Exaequo Voyages is back in 2025, for a 7th edition of The Irish Trail.

This event will transport you to the heart of this endearing country, to meet its people, its heritage and its traditions. More than a stage race, The Irish Trail is a human adventure to be experienced both between participants but also with this country steeped in history and its welcoming inhabitants… This stay will be punctuated by moments suspended out of time, with impressions of the end of the world when you run to warm and convivial moments during evenings in the pubs. Ireland’s unspoilt nature and its sense of hospitality and celebration will not leave you indifferent!

“8 unforgettable days in the heart of Ireland!”

The Irish Trail is organized mainly on the western part of Ireland, the wildest and most unspoilt region of the island. This running trip will also be an opportunity to discover Irish folklore with many visits, discoveries of towns and villages. Every evening will also be an opportunity to enjoy a good beer in the warm and musical pubs of the region. This stay is roaming to and from Dublin. In addition to discovering the picturesque atmosphere of the villages of the West of Ireland, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the bubbling world of the capital;

Accessible by walking or running on the 65 km and only in running on the 90 km, the race is accessible to all. The routes are traced on hiking trails, including the Wild Atlantic Way which runs along the coast. It is a real trail where each stage will make you change landscape and ground, sometimes on the paths, sometimes on grass, sometimes rocks…

We will arrive in Dublin on Saturday in the early morning where we will take the road directly to the West of the country to reach our evening hotel, towards the village of Clonmel. On the way we will stop for a free lunch in the city center of a city where you will have the opportunity to discover the many pubs and why not drink your first Guinness. Once we arrive in Glencoe, for those who wish, we can organize a jogging before meeting in the evening for dinner and the briefing of the week.

The next day, the race will start with the 1st stage, in an area called the “Glens of Aherlow”. Picturesque mountains, a rich heritage, a strong culture and many historical sites that make this region famous. The route offers an excellent mix of hills, forest trails and hikes such as the Ballyhoura path. The course is not too technical and offers a beautiful view of the Galtee Mountains. The county is popular for hiking and mountain biking. The local community is known for its warm welcome. An easy first step that will allow the organizations to prepare for the rest of the adventure. We will then head to Killarney to put down our suitcases for the night. This small village is the gateway to the national park and attracts visitors from all over the world.

The race will then take us to the Ring of Kerry, probably the most visited place in Ireland after Dublin. Our stage will connect Kenmare to Killarney, through the splendid Killarney National Park to finish in front of the famous Muckross House, a dream setting. During the stage, you will crisscross between the woods and the mountains of the park where the many shades of green will accompany you all along the route. A Chamant course where you will have wet feet or you will cross small bridges, footbridges. At the finish of the stage you will have time for lunch and discover the beautiful Muckross Gardens. In the evening we will stay in the largest city of Kerry in Tralee. A good opportunity to go and drink one or more beers after the stage.

Then head for the magnificent Dingle Peninsula, which is one of the most beautiful corners of the country with sumptuous landscapes, worthy of postcards. A change of scenery guaranteed! Dingle is one of the five major peninsulas of the Wild Atlatiw Way. After a morning tour of this fishing village renowned for its bright colors, we’ll begin the third stage. A small wonder of a stage in the middle of a mountain range, the Sliabh Mish, and in particular with a passage on Mount Brandon (961m), which juts out into the sea.

This stage will be complicated but will offer you (depending on the weather conditions) a magnificent view of the peninsula and a majestic finish on a long descent from Mount Brandon to the beach. For those who have a little strength, you can discover one of the smallest ports in Ireland located next to the finish line. After a picnic on the beach we will return to the city of Limerick, the 3rd largest city in the country. This base will offer several very nice pubs to discover.

From County Kerry to North County Clare and the Burren, it’s only a short step!

The Burren, a veritable limestone desert, once described by Oliver Cromwell as “a region where there is not enough water to drown a man, not enough wood to hang him, and not enough earth to bury him”. The Burren is home to mysterious and captivating open-air spaces. A set of grey hills where graves and churches are hidden. Before the stage we will go to discover one of the most famous sites in Ireland with the Cliffs of Moher, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Standing at 214m high, the rich ridge stretches its long fingers south towards counties Cork and Kerry.

After this stop, head for the stage or the route traced on the top of the Burren cliffs will give you the feeling of being on the edge of a precipice overlooking the Atlantic. A feeling of being at the end of the world! The finish will again be on a pretty beach at Fanore Beach. Our hotel located in the city center will give you the opportunity to discover this student city where partying is an art! From a beer in the pub to a crazy evening in Galway, everyone has their own programme with this free evening.

It was impossible not to finish our race in Connemara! Is there a name more evocative of Ireland than Connemara? You will be enchanted by the beauty of the mountains, peat bogs and lakes. Our route crosses the “Maumturk Mountains” on the first part and then it takes us into the valley of the beautiful Lough Inagh. Connemara will be the finish of our race part.

After these five days of racing, two days of rest and visits are necessary. First in Connemara, from our base in Clifden, a charming (and only) town in Connemara. Then in Dublin where we will end the stay with an evening with an obligatory passage to the rue de Temple Bar and then with a last day of sightseeing before returning to France.

DAY 1: SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2025

• 5 a.m. – Meeting point at Paris CDG 2E airport (or with your plane boooked by ourself)
• Departure from Paris CDG 2E 7:30 am – Arrival in Dublin at 8:20 am – Flight AF1616
• Bus transfer to the hotel in the evening
• Free lunch in a city center on the transfer route (Portlaoise/Kilkenny) Free time and discovery of the city
• General briefing of the week around 6pm
• Dinner and overnight hotel stay in Clonmel

DAY 2: SUNDAY, MAY 25, 2025

• Irish breakfast at the hotel
• Transfer to our race site
• First race stage: Glen of Aherlow (13 kms 291M D+ and 376M D- or 20kms 362M D+ and 441M D-)
• Lunch Pack at the finish of the stage
• 2-hour transfer to Killarney in the afternoon
• Discovery of Killarney
• Dinner and overnight stay in Killarney

DAY 3: MONDAY, MAY 26, 2025

• Irish breakfast at the hotel
• Short Transfer from the hotel to the race site
• Second stage of the race: Killarney National Park (11km 251M D+ and 331M D- or 16km 372M D+ and 540M D-)
• Picnic and garden tour at Muckross House
• 1-hour transfer to our hotel in Tralee
• Free time and discovery of Tralee
• Dinner and overnight hotel stay in Tralee

DAY 4: TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025

• Irish breakfast at the hotel
• Transfer from the hotel to Dingle Bay
• Quick discovery walk of the village of Dingle then transfer to the race site
• Third stage of the race: Brandon Mount (14km 612M D+ or 663M D- or 17km 910M D+ and 989M D-)
• Picnic at the end of the stage on the beach
• Transfer to our evening hotel
• Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel in Limerick
• Musical evening in the city’s pubs

DAY 5: WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025

• Irish breakfast at the hotel
• Transfer from the hotel by bus
• Cliffs of Moher Tour
• Fourth stage of the race: The Burren Way (14km 230M D+ and 361D- or 21km 455M D+ and 533D-)
• Picnic lunch at the finish of the stage on Fanore Beach
• Transfer to the hotel
• Showers at the hotel
• Evening and dinner on your own in Galway city centre
• Overnight hotel stay in Galway

DAY 6: THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2025

• Irish breakfast at the hotel
• Transfer from the hotel to Connemara
• Fifth stage of the race: Western way Connemara (13km 282M D+ and 329M D- or 16km 369M D+ and 354M D-)
• Transfer and picnic lunch at Kylemore Abbey
• Kylemore Abbey Tour
• Bus transfer to our hotel in Clifden
• Overnight stay in a hotel in Clifen or around
• Musical evening in a pub in Clifden

DAY 7: FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025

• Irish breakfast at the hotel
• 4-hour bus transfer to Dublin
• Lunch and free time in Dublin
• Awards Evening and Evening in Dublin
• Overnight hotel stay in Dublin

DAY 8: SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2025

• Irish breakfast at the hotel
• Free morning and tour of Dublin
• Lunch on your own in Dublin
• 15:30 – Transfer to the airport in the early afternoon
• Flight / Departure from Dublin 6pm – Arrival in Paris CDG 2E 8:50pm – Flight AF1817 (or with your plane boooked by ourself)

Although The Irish Trail is primarily a running and cultural holiday, it is still a “leisure competition”. This stage trail gives rise to a classification by stage as well as a cumulative ranking at the end of the stay. The stages take place in the morning.

CHOICE OF DISTANCE: When you register, you choose the desired distance (short or long distance). You can change your choice up to the day of the start by notifying us (Race Director). During your stay, depending on your state of fitness, you can move from one distance to another without claiming to appear in the final ranking of your event.

MARKING: The marking of the routes is carried out by us with flags, rubbles on the ground when we deem it necessary. A photocopy of the maps as well as the GPX tracks of the route are also sent to you.

THE TRACKS: The organization reserves the right to modify the routes according to the evolution of the terrain or the weather conditions.

REFRESHMENTS: A refreshment station with water and fruit (dried and fresh) is set up at the finish line. Participants also have the opportunity to fill their running backpacks at the start of the races.

SAFETY DURING THE STAGES: Several members of the organization are positioned on the course before and behind the race. A person located at the finish line will be dedicated to medical assistance, specialized in first aid. In the event of a more serious problem, repatriation to the nearest hospital is planned by the organization, in coordination with the participant’s insurer.

STANDINGS / TIMING: Each competitor’s times are timed in hours, minutes and seconds. Each stage gives rise to a ranking and the general classification is made by adding up the times obtained at each stage.

EQUIPMENT: For the race, you must be equipped with a minimum capacity of 1 litre of water (camel back or water bottles) and a minimum of food (cereal bars, gels, etc.), a survival blanket, suitable trail shoes, a whistle and a running jacket (waterproof). This equipment is checked at the beginning of the adventure. Depending on the weather conditions, we strongly advise you to be equipped with a thermal insulating layer (top) as well as waterproof pants, a fleece or down jacket, hat and gloves. The use of sticks is allowed.

RACE RULES: More info HERE

RACE 1 – GLEN OF AHERLOW : Tracks HERE

Short distance : 13kms – 291D+ / 376D-

100% trail

Long distance : 20kms – 362D+ / 441D-

100% trail

RACE 2 – KILLARNEY : Tracks HERE

Short distance : 11kms – 251D+ / 331D-

85% trail / 15% road

Long distance : 16kms – 372D+ / 540D-

70% trail / 30% road

RACE 3 – BRANDON MOUNT : Tracks HERE

Short distance : 14kms – 612D+ / 663D-

100% trail

Long distance : 17kms -910D+ / 989D-

100% trail

RACE 4 – BURREN WAY : Tracks HERE

Short distance : 14kms – 230D+ / 361D-

90% trail / 10% road

Long distance : 21kms – 455D+ / 533D-

85% trail / 10% road

RACE 5 – CONNEMARA : Tracks HERE

Short distance : 13kms – 282D+ / 329D-
50% trail / 50% road

Long distance : 16kms – 369D+ / 354D-

50% trail / 50% road

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 at he Kylemore Abbey in Connemara.

TRAVEL

The organization also manages the trip for all participants from Paris to the final destination Dublin, 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

If you booked your plane by yourself and you join us directly at Dublin, you’ll have a discount of 200€

24th May : Departure from Paris CDG2E with Air France à 7:30am – Plane TAF1616 / Arrived at Dublin at 8.20am
31th %ay : Return from Dublin with Air France at 6:00pm 18h – Plane AF1817 /Arrived at Paris CDG 2E at 8:50pm

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. Just Three meals will be at your convenience and at your own expenses. : the first and both lunches at Dublin
• Dinners will be served at the hotels, except for the evening in Galway (dinner at your convenience and at your own expenses)

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 2025 is limited to 50 people, split between the 65kms/90kms. The registration period is open from until 31th Mars 2025.

A single price is fixed at 2 500€ per participant + online payment fees (1,5% of the total price), so 37,5€.

If you booked your plane by yourself and you join us directly at Dublin, you’ll have a discount of 200€

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 Air France
• 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 four meals (three lunches and one dinner)
• 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 :

• 4 meals: Tree lunches and one dinner at Galway
• 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 2025.

POSSIBILITY TO PAY IN TWO TIMES BEFIRE THE 31TH MARCH 2019 (online and secure payment):

• 1st bank transfer of 800 euros + complete administrative file (37,5€)
• 2nd bank transfer of 1700 euros, balance to be made before the 28th February 2025

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 2024, 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 REIMBURSEMENT SCALES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• €100 will be retained for administrative fees in case of withdrawal before 14/02/2025
• 10% of the total rights will be retained in the event of withdrawal between 15/02/2025 and 15/03/2025
• 30% of all rights will be retained in the event of withdrawal between 16/03/2025 and 13/04/2025
• After midnight on 13/04/2025, no refund request will be accepted

These costs correspond to the deposits incurred by Exaequo Communication for the preparation of the event.

Exaequo Communication therefore strongly recommends that each competitor take out cancellation insurance or personally with an insurer of their choice.

To consult the T&Cs and the regulations: click here.