Top of Coom Half
- Description:
- Carran Three Tops
- County:
- Kerry
- Date:
- Saturday 23rd August, 2025
- Time:
- 11:00
- Climb (m):
- 850
- Distance (km):
- 23.00
- Short Course Distance (km):
- 0.00
- Event Difficulty:
- 9 (3,3,3) - Difficult Terrain, >500M ascent, >10Km
- Race Marking:
-
-
Route fully marked - GPS Allowed:
- No
- Leagues:
- Munster Half-Marathon League
- Mandatory Kit:
- Level C - Advanced
- Waterproof jacket with integrated hood and taped seams
- Hat or buff
- Gloves
- Whistle
- Charged mobile phone with emergency number stored
- Foil blanket, bivvy bag or equivalent
- Waterproof full leg cover
- Means to carry a minimum of 500 mL water
- Emergency food
- Map of route/area
- Compass
All runners must bring the above items to the race. The actual kit to be carried during the race will be finalised on the day, depending on conditions etc., and clearly advised at Registration.
You should also have the means to carry all the kit in case required.
Failure to have the required items may lead to you being denied entry to the race, or disqualification. Random checks may be carried out.
- Entry Closes:
- Thursday 21st August 2025, 18:00
- Entry cost:
- €30
- Entry limit:
- 60
- Entries sold:
- 12
- Route Description:
- Open mountain Half-marathon following a horse-shoe route around the hills above the upper section of the Roughty River, Kilgarvan, Co Kerry. Plenty of rough open mountain, across energy sapping blanket bog terrain to dirty the mountain running shoes.
- Getting There:
- Top of Coom Ireland's Highest Pub Coolnolhill, Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry, V93 EW90. From Cork, N22 through Macroom and Baile Mhuirne (Ballyvourney), turn left at the Mills Inn, take minor road through Cúil Aodha (Coolea), and continue uphill on this minor road as far as Top of Coom Pub. From Kerry, N22 from Killarney, turn right onto the R569 road to Kilgarvan and Kenmare, about 3km before Kilgarvan turn left over Morleys Bridge and continue uphill on this minor road as far as Top of Coom Pub.
- Organisers Instructions:
- The race will start at Barrnastooka, Kilgarvan and follow the mountains in a horseshoe around the Grousemount Wind farm. The first half of the route passes over the top of Barrnastooka and the 4 tops of Carran. On reaching Bealic above Gugan Barra, the route follows the County Bounds back to the Top of Coom. The last 5 ish km is the same as the last section of the shorter Top of Coom Race. The terrain for the most part is open mountain blanket bog. Nice energy sapping conditions. Lots of grip required. This is definitely not one for the faint hearted. But the views of Mid and West Corh and East and South Kerry make all the suffering worthwhile. Unless it's wet and foggy, which it often is. Then you will see nothing. A Fog and Bog classic. :-) Just think of the creamy pints and top class food in the Top of Coom, Ireland's highest pub, afterwards. The first few km up Barrnastooka was part of an Irish Championship race back in the 1990ies. Hosted by two local farmers John Egan and Sean Twomey. John and Sean were also two top runners in their day. World Champion Mountain Runner John Lenihan won on Barrnastooka in the 1990ies, who will win in 2025?
- Prizegiving Location:
- Top of Coom Pub, Coolnoohil, Kilgarvan, Co Kerry
Volunteers (Non-Running)
You need to have done 2 non-running volunteer roles in a calendar year to qualify for end of year prize
Volunteers (Running)
Check with race director if they have a need for people volunteering and running. Race directors need a minimum number of people available throughout the race to make the race work so non-running volunteers are preferable. While it can be helpful, volunteering in a volunteer and race capacity does not count towards qualifying for end of year prize
