Irish Mountain
Running Association

Connemara Round

About

A looped course in the Connemara Mountains taking in the Twelve Bens, Maumturks and Partry Hills mountain ranges. The round starts and finishes in the village of Letterfrack, and to successfully complete the round, participants must visit all 29 peaks, totalling approx. 94km and 7,700m climb in under 24 hours.

Connemara Round Route Detail

The start/finish is located at the intersection of the N59 and L11030 roads in the centre of Letterfrack Village at grid reference L 709577. EastWest Mapping provide 1:25,000 scale maps for the Connemara Mountains. Peaks must be accessed in sequential order listed below. Grid References take precedence over names. The grid reference is the location that must be visited in all cases. All numbered checkpoints must be visited. The route between each checkpoints is entirely up to the participant.
PointLocationGrid ReferenceLocation TypeNotes
1Start/LetterfrackL709577Road JunctionCrossroads in centre of village: Intersection of the N59 and L11030 roads
2Currywongaun HillL731596Peak
3DoughruaghL751594Peak
4GarraunL767610Peak
5LetterettrinL796620Peak
6BúcanL852607Peak
7Leenaun HillL874593Peak
8Cruach a DoirínL897565Peak
9Bunnacunneen L938577Peak
10Cruach BreacL958552Peak
11CorcogmoreL953491Peak
12Mullach GlasL937492Peak
13Binn MhórL918494Peak
14Binn ChaonaighL900516Peak
15Barr Sliabh na RáitheL894526Peak
16MulnahogueL888528Peak
17KnocknahillionL870538Peak
18LetterbreckaunL857551Peak
19MaumturkmoreL855568Peak
20BencollaghduffL798530Peak
21BencorrL812522Peak
22DerryclareL815510Peak
23BenletteryL775495Peak
24BengowerL783506Peak
25BenbreenL783515Peak
26BenbaunL786539Peak
27BenfreeL778544Peak
28MuckanaghtL768541Peak
29BenbrackL766558Peak
30Diamond HillL731570Peak
31Finish/LetterfrackL709577Road JunctionCrossroads in centre of village: Intersection of the N59 and L11030 roads

Results

The list of completions of the Connemara Round is shown below (ordered from newest to oldest). Please select a name to view results.

Runner / GroupStart DateTimeTime Taken (hh:mm:ss)RankRank On CompletionCategory*Category RankCategory Rank On Completion
Donal McMorland17 July 2023, 03:30:0020:32:0011M11

* Categories

M - Male
F - Female
G - Group

Hall of Fame

The list of Category Record Holders of the Connemara Round is shown below (ordered from oldest to newest). Please select a name to view results.

Female Record Holders

Male Record Holders

Runner / GroupStart DateTimeTime Taken (hh:mm:ss)Length Record Held
Donal McMorland17 July 2023, 03:30:0020:32:001 year 2 months 21 days

Group Record Holders

Ranked Categorised Completions

The full list of completions by cateogies, ordered from fastest to slowest is shown below. Please select a name to view results.

Female Completions by Time Taken

Male Completions by Time Taken

Category RankRunner / GroupTime Taken (hh:mm:ss)Start DateTimeCategory Rank On Completion
1Donal McMorland20:32:0017 July 2023, 03:30:001

Group Completions by Time Taken

Connemara Round Rules

Any attempt to be recognised must first be publicised in advance on the forum section of the IMRA website www.imra.ie and afterwards by supplying a list of splits (arrival time at each of the nominated points/Grid References). All runners intending to attempt the round must register on the IMRA website.

All 31 nominated points must be visited in order. The 31 points are the 29 peaks as well as the start/end points. The start point and the end point are the same physical location.

  1. To complete the Connemara Round, competitors may run solo or in groups on the strict understanding that all members carry their own gear, are self-propelled (no physical pushing or towing) and that the navigation is done by the solo / group members who are validly attempting to do the Round in total.
  2. For groups to have their Round recognised all group members must complete the Round together and only a genuine reason may be accepted if a group member drops out part way round.
  3. It is against the Rules of the Round for a group to split up to allow different paced group members to complete in different times.
  4. It is against the Rules of the event to have any pacing runner or navigational support personnel accompany them during the Round attempt at any stage.
  5. It is against the Rules of the event to use a GPS or any other type of electronic or other external navigational assistance device for positioning or pacing assistance or for route finding during the Round attempt.
  6. Navigation should be by use of Map (Printed on paper) & Compass only. It is against the Rules of the event to use and tape or similar to mark section of the route in advance
  7. It is against the Rules of the event to use a phone or similar device during the Round attempt to access the tracker data except at designated logistics /support/ refueling points which are located at tarmac road crossing points.
  8. It is forbidden to use a phone or other form of communication to get any feedback, instructions or any other relevant information during the Round attempt except at designated logistic/ support refueling points as below,
  9. It is against the Rules of the event to have fuel or liquid stashed along the Round route or to access similar left in position or offered by others encountered along the route except at designated logistic/ support refueling points as below,
  10. Only access to drink shall be at naturally occurring water sources on the route and at designated support/ refueling points for food and drink.
  11. These Logistical Support Points are all located at tarmac road crossing points
  12. Designated / Permitted Logistical Support Points are as below:
    • Start
    • Public Road between CP4 (Garraun) & CP5 (Letterettrin)
    • Public Road (N59) between CP5 (Letterettrin) & CP6 (Búcan)
    • Public Road (R336) between CP8 (Cruach a'Doirín) & CP9 Bunnacunneen)
    • Public Road (R336) between CP10 (Cruach Breac) & CP11 (Corcogmore)
    • Public Road (R344) between CP19 (Maumturkmore) & CP20 (Bencollaghduff)
    • Public Road (L51374) between CP22 (Derryclare) & CP23 (Benlettery)
    • Finish
  13. A competitor must have sufficient resources and skills to survive in a mountain environment for the duration of the attempt.
  14. Route choices on a tarred road are permitted but no transport of any kind.
  15. Food dumps and logistical support along the route are allowed at designitated points specified above.
  16. Competitors must have logistics and a plan in place in case of injury or adverse weather conditions.
  17. It is understood that some people may wish to attempt the Round route in the style of other "Rounds" by use of pacers, navigators, GPS, etc. There is no objection to that but such attempts should not be notified to IMRA nor should those doing such seek to be recognised or recorded as successful Round attempts.
  18. Should anyone complete the Round circuit in such a manner and then use that experience gained to complete the Round on another date as per the Rules of the event then only the latter Round will be recorded.

Disclaimer

Rounds are personal challenges; IMRA's only involvement is to agree to record attempts. Neither IMRA, its servants, or agents can accept any responsibility of any nature or kind for loss, damage or injury suffered by a participant who takes part or attempts the any Round. Each participant takes part at their own risk and is fully responsibility for their own safety, support and equipment.

Connemara Round History

Since the first completion of the Wicklow Round in 2009, and the Rankin Round in 2014 there has been a growing interest in long distance mountain challenges amongst the running community. The Connemara Round provides another long distance challenge to test your mountain running and navigation skills.

The Round was conceived, recced, and refined over a number of months in 2022. The goal was to create a looped course that takes participants along the beautiful ridges of the Maumturks, Twelve Bens and Partry Hills. The guiding principles in developing the round were to provide a challenge that has a sociable start/finish point, and that is on a par, in terms of distance, elevation and difficulty, with other rounds across Ireland and the UK.

Statistics

Statistics based on successful rounds to date.

PointLocationMin TimeMax TimeMean TimeMin CumulativeMax CumulativeMean Cumulative
2Currywongaun Hill0:42:000:42:000:42:000:42:000:42:000:42:00
3Doughruagh0:39:000:39:000:39:001:21:001:21:001:21:00
4Garraun0:46:000:46:000:46:002:07:002:07:002:07:00
5Letterettrin1:02:001:02:001:02:003:09:003:09:003:09:00
6Búcan0:24:000:24:000:24:003:33:003:33:003:33:00
7Leenaun Hill0:29:000:29:000:29:004:02:004:02:004:02:00
8Cruach a Doirín0:36:000:36:000:36:004:38:004:38:004:38:00
9Bunnacunneen 1:16:001:16:001:16:005:54:005:54:005:54:00
10Cruach Breac0:32:000:32:000:32:006:26:006:26:006:26:00
11Corcogmore1:20:001:20:001:20:007:46:007:46:007:46:00
12Mullach Glas0:30:000:30:000:30:008:16:008:16:008:16:00
13Binn Mhór0:26:000:26:000:26:008:42:008:42:008:42:00
14Binn Chaonaigh0:56:000:56:000:56:009:38:009:38:009:38:00
15Barr Sliabh na Ráithe0:21:000:21:000:21:009:59:009:59:009:59:00
16Mulnahogue0:16:000:16:000:16:0010:15:0010:15:0010:15:00
17Knocknahillion0:36:000:36:000:36:0010:51:0010:51:0010:51:00
18Letterbreckaun0:32:000:32:000:32:0011:23:0011:23:0011:23:00
19Maumturkmore0:38:000:38:000:38:0012:01:0012:01:0012:01:00
20Bencollaghduff1:53:001:53:001:53:0013:54:0013:54:0013:54:00
21Bencorr0:29:000:29:000:29:0014:23:0014:23:0014:23:00
22Derryclare0:19:000:19:000:19:0014:42:0014:42:0014:42:00
23Benlettery1:26:001:26:001:26:0016:08:0016:08:0016:08:00
24Bengower0:19:000:19:000:19:0016:27:0016:27:0016:27:00
25Benbreen0:26:000:26:000:26:0016:53:0016:53:0016:53:00
26Benbaun0:46:000:46:000:46:0017:39:0017:39:0017:39:00
27Benfree0:10:000:10:000:10:0017:49:0017:49:0017:49:00
28Muckanaght0:19:000:19:000:19:0018:08:0018:08:0018:08:00
29Benbrack0:42:000:42:000:42:0018:50:0018:50:0018:50:00
30Diamond Hill1:13:001:13:001:13:0020:03:0020:03:0020:03:00
31Finish/Letterfrack0:29:000:29:000:29:0020:32:0020:32:0020:32:00

Column Descriptions

Min TimeThe minimum time that stage was completed in.
Max TimeThe maximum time that stage was completed in.
Mean TimeThe mean (average) time that stage was completed in.
Min CumulativeThe lowest (i.e fastest) cumulative time for this stage.
Max CumulativeThe highest (i.e. slowest)cumulative time for this stage.
Mean CumulativeThe mean (average) cumulative time for this stage.

Note:

  • The median is the 'middle' time if all the stage times were ordered from fastest to slowest. A good basic overview of the median is given at mathgoodies.com.
  • Theses statistics are compiled from the timings of successful round completions. No timings for unsuccessful rounds are included.
  • The cumulative time for each stage is taken from the population of all times submitted for that stage. As such, it would be unwise to use the 'Max. Cumulative' column as a worst case scenario if you were to plan your times.