Limerick runner Ava Crean launches 2026 Dublin Marathon following last year’s win

Limerick’s Ava Crean, winner of last year’s Irish national marathon title, at the launch of the 2026 Irish Life Dublin Marathon  © David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Limerick’s Ava Crean was last year’s winner of the Irish women’s title at the Dublin Marathon

Limerick runner Ava Crean has helped to launch the 2026 Dublin Marathon, which will celebrate its 45^th year on Sunday, October 25. 

Ava who was last year’s winner of the Irish women’s title at the Dublin Marathon, will not be defending her title at this year’s marathon due to a hip bone injury that will prevent her from participating in competitive running.

Crean was only 19 years old when she made headlines last October for finishing as the sixth best woman overall in the Irish Life Dublin Marathon, and the first Irish woman across the line in a personal best of 2:34:11, earning her the Irish women’s title and making her the youngest Irish athlete to accomplish this. Her time marked a remarkable nine-minute improvement on her previous best of 2:43:26, set at the Regeneron Great Limerick Run in 2025 where she was the first female to cross the finish line.

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After running her first marathon in Manchester in April 2025 (2:49:00), Crean entered and came first for ladies in the Regeneron Great Limerick Run just a week later, before beginning structured training under Limerick coach John Kinsella from Back 2 Boston in preparation for Dublin.

After her achievement at the Dublin Marathon, Kinsella shared his pride for Crean’s accomplishment on social media saying, “I am lost for words. I am so proud of everyone who represented Back 2 Boston yesterday in the Dublin Marathon. I started this project to help people and never thought a day like yesterday would happen. I am overwhelmed and just can’t believe how the day unfolded. And to Ava, just keep being yourself. You are amazing and deserve everything coming your way.”

After a great start to 2026, having clocked 32:46 for 10km in Valencia in January, Crean began to struggle from a dull pain in her hip by the end of February which then stopped her from running. She says it is not a fracture but rather a bone stress injury and after having her initial MRI rechecked, she discovered it was a build-up of fluid inside the bone marrow in the iliac crest.

In November, Crean aims to take part in a half-marathon, as well as to run in the Valencia Marathon before Christmas or in Seville in February 2027, depending on the duration of her rehab.

The 2026 installment of the Irish Life Dublin Marathon, also marks 47 years since the marathon was launched in 1980 in which just 1,300 runners participated. Now, the event is one of the largest European marathons, drawing thousands of Irish and global runners alike.

Dublin Marathon Group’s Chief Executive Officer Sean O’Riain said, “this year’s edition of the Irish Life Dublin Marathon is an opportunity to reflect on the people who have helped shape the event over more than four decades, and Race Director Jim Aughney said that their focus remains on delivering a high-quality experience for runners of all abilities, from first-time participants to experienced marathon runners, while continuing to improve operational systems, participant communications and event-day support.”