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Ballyhoura gears up for 2025 National Downhill Mountain Bike Championships
Ballyhoura gears up for 2025 National Downhill Mountain Bike Championships. Oisin O’Callaghan pictured on the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails
A first for Limerick and a huge win for adventure tourism in the Ballyhoura Region as the 2025 National Downhill Mountain Bike Championships come to Limerick this July 26 & 27
Ballyhoura Country, one of Ireland’s leading outdoor adventure destinations, is delighted that the 2025 National Downhill Mountain Bike Championships will take place at the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Trails on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July.
This is the first time the Downhill Championships have ever been hosted outside of Leinster, and a major win for both Limerick and the wider Ballyhoura region.
Hosted by Limerick Mountain Biking Club in collaboration with Ballyhoura Trailriders, the event will feature a brand-new race track, designed specifically for this championship and built exclusively for the weekend – offering riders a fresh, technical, and exhilarating challenge. The course will take riders from the top of a high point in Ballyhouras‘ straight down the mountain.
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With 200 elite riders expected to compete, including Ireland’s top-ranked athletes returning from the UCI World Cup circuit, the event will draw considerable national and international attention. Racers such as Oisín O’Callaghan (currently ranked 7th in the world), Henry Kerr of Aon Racing World Cup, and Jacob Dickson of MsRacing Mtb World Cup Team will be in attendance straight off the World Cup circuit.
The event is open to spectators, with plenty on offer for families and outdoor enthusiasts. The Ballyhoura Coillte Trailhead will be the hub of activity, with live racing Saturday and Sunday, including practice and qualifying sessions; an on-site BBQ and hot food; local coffee vendors; signposted spectator points; and family-friendly amenities
The Championships are officially sanctioned by Cycling Ireland, and race categories include Junior, Senior, Women, and Masters. Winners of the Men’s, Women’s, and Junior races will not only claim national titles and the coveted Champion’s Jerseys – they’ll also gain valuable UCI points, key to pre-qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
All are welcome to attend. With spectators asked to please follow signage at the Ballyhoura Coillte Car Park, and note that marshalling will be in place throughout the weekend for safety and guidance.
Promising young talent Blaithin Sweeney, from the local Limerick Mountain Biking Club, will also be racing, fresh off the European scene and aiming for World Cup qualification next year.
The entries will open on Thursday, 10 July 2025 at 8 pm for the Junior, Senior and Women. The entries for the Juvenile, Youth and Masters will open on Friday, 11 July 2025 at 8 pm.
This high-profile event is not only a key fixture in the national biking calendar – it’s also an exceptional opportunity for Ballyhoura Country to shine as a world-class destination for mountain biking and outdoor tourism.
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