The 2026 Dublin City Marathon winner, Abay Alemu Lesa.Dublin City Marathon / Instagram
Abay finished with an astonishing time of 2:10:29, just six seconds ahead of Sweden’s Ebba Tulu Chala.
Mayo native Hugh Armstrong of Ballina AC crossed the line as the top Irish men’s finisher.
The 32-year-old clocked a fantastic time of 2:40:50, finishing in eighth place overall.
Ethiopian Zenebu Fikdau Jebesa earned the women’s title with a cracking time of 2:24:24, with the Irish women’s race proving to be a tight one.
Judith Storm from Derry just got the better of Sorcha Nic Dhómhnaill as she crossed the line only a few strides ahead with 2:35:44.
Meanwhile, Kildare’s Patrick Monahan won a ninth title in the wheelchair race with 1:46:03.
Thousands of runners are still making their way through the 42km course, with widespread road closures across the city.
A record 19,190 participants were confirmed for this year’s marathon, including elite athletes, wheelchair participants and charity fundraisers.
According to the organisers, over €5million has been raised so far for various causes.
The Phoenix Park on the morning of the 2026 Dublin Marathon.
The event got underway just after 8am, with the Dublin Lord Mayor Daryl Barron’s Medal presentation.
The medal was given to Brenda O’Keefe, a woman from Cavan who has completed more than 600 marathons and continues to run while undergoing treatment for an incurable cancer.
Brenda was diagnosed in 2023 with AL Amyloidosis, a rare, incurable disease affecting multiple organs, but she does not let it get the better of her.
Before the race, she said that she could not believe she was at the marathon, stating: ‘I’ll keep going to keep the dream alive.’
Giving advice to other runners, she added: ‘No matter what, just get to the finish.’
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.