Location revealed for next year's women's mini marathon in Mayo

THE Mayo.ie Western People West of Ireland Women’s Mini-Marathon is to be shared between Castlebar and Ballina over the next two years.

It will return to the county town next year before going back to Ballina in 2026.

Mayo Sports Partnership, which organises the mini-marathon in conjunction with the Western People and Mayo.ie, had sought expressions of interest from the four municipal districts in Mayo for the event, which attracts thousands of participants each May bank holiday Sunday.

Applications were received from Ballina and Castlebar municipal districts and a sub-committee recommended that the event be held in Castlebar in 2025 and Ballina in 2026.

“The three members of the sub-committee were hugely impressed with both applicants and simply could not separate them after a detailed assessment process,” explained Charlie Lambert, head of the Mayo Sports Partnership. “Consequently, they suggested that the event be shared between the two towns over the next two years.

“I think it is a recommendation that reflects the outstanding quality of the two applications and the interest there is in both towns to host the event.”

The event was held in Castlebar from 2010 to 2022, apart from 2020 and 2021 when it had to be held virtually due to the Covid-19 lockdown. It moved to Ballina in 2023 as part of the town’s 300th anniversary celebrations and remained in the north Mayo capital last May.

Aidan McNulty, commercial manager of the Western People, said the decision to share the next two mini-marathons between Ballina and Castlebar was an excellent outcome for both towns.

The 2025 event will be formally launched in Castlebar early in the new year.