The Dublin Marathon 2026 takes place on Sunday, October 25, bringing Dublin Bus diversions, temporary city-centre termini and changes to Luas and DART services over the bank holiday weekend.
The official Dublin Bus marathon notice gives a general race-day diversion period from 8am until roads reopen, but some routes are affected earlier. E2 changes begin at 4am, while F1, F2 and F3 changes begin at 6am. Several services change again around 11am.
The main things to know: route 11 will not run before 11am, and route 14 will have no northside service during that period. Below, we have set out Sunday’s diversions and temporary termini route by route, followed by the separate Merrion Square arrangements over the bank holiday weekend.
Dublin Marathon 2026: Dublin Bus Diversions on Sunday, October 25
Several routes will run shortened services, with buses leaving from temporary city-centre locations. Check both the direction and time window for your journey. An 11am change does not necessarily mean your bus is back on its normal route, and the published changeover time for route 23 is 11:10am.
Route 4: Blackrock and Heuston Station
- Until 11am, towards Blackrock: buses leave Townsend Street and follow the normal route.
- Until 11am, towards Heuston Station: buses follow the normal route to Townsend Street and terminate there.
- From 11am, towards Blackrock: normal route to D’Olier Street, then Townsend Street, Sandwith Street Lower, Pearse Street, Ringsend Road, Irishtown Road, Tritonville Road, Sandymount Road, Seafort Avenue, Seafort Terrace, Dromard Terrace, Strand Road and Merrion Gates before rejoining the normal route.
- From 11am, towards Heuston Station: normal route to Merrion Gates, then Strand Road, Beach Road, Church Avenue, Irishtown Road, Ringsend Road and Pearse Street to Westmoreland Street, then back onto the normal route.
Routes 7 and 7a: Mountjoy Square, Brides Glen and Loughlinstown
- Towards Mountjoy Square: normal route to Merrion Gates, then via Strand Road, Beach Road and Irishtown, continuing along Ringsend Road, Pearse Street and Westmoreland Street before rejoining the normal route.
- Towards Brides Glen Luas Stop or Loughlinstown: normal route to D’Olier Street, then Townsend Street, Sandwith Street Lower, Pearse Street, Ringsend Road, Irishtown Road, Tritonville Road, Sandymount Road, Seafort Avenue, Seafort Terrace, Dromard Terrace, Strand Road and Merrion Gates before rejoining the normal route.
Route 11: No Service Before 11am
Route 11 will not run before 11am. After 11am, it will operate with diversions in both directions.
- Towards Sandyford Business District: normal route to College Street, then Dame Street, Georges Street, Aungier Street, Camden Street, Charlotte Way, Hatch Street, Earlsfort Terrace, Adelaide Road, Leeson Street, Donnybrook, Stillorgan Road, Kilmacud Road Lower and Kilmacud Road Upper before rejoining the normal route.
- Towards Phoenix Park: normal route to Kilmacud Road Upper, then Kilmacud Road Lower, Stillorgan Road, Donnybrook, Leeson Street Bridge, Adelaide Road, Harcourt Road, Camden Street, Aungier Street, Georges Street, Dame Street and Westmoreland Street before rejoining the normal route.
Route 11b: Donnybrook Road and Phoenix Park
- Towards Donnybrook Road: normal route to College Street, then Dame Street, Georges Street, Aungier Street, Camden Street, Charlotte Way, Hatch Street and Leeson Street before rejoining the normal route.
- Towards Phoenix Park: normal route to Leeson Street Bridge, then Adelaide Road, Harcourt Road, Camden Street, Aungier Street, Georges Street, Dame Street and Westmoreland Street before rejoining the normal route.
Route 13: Mountjoy Square and Grange Castle
- Until 11am, towards Mountjoy Square: normal route to Wolfe Tone Quay, where buses terminate.
- Until 11am, towards Grange Castle: buses leave Wolfe Tone Quay, travel via Rory O’Moore Bridge and Victoria Quay, then rejoin the normal route.
- From 11am, towards Mountjoy Square: normal route to Naas Road, then Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot Road, Kennilsfort Road, Chapelizod Bypass, Con Colbert Road, John’s Road, North Quays, Bridge Street and High Street before rejoining the normal route.
- From 11am, towards Grange Castle: normal route to High Street, then Bridge Street, South Quays, John’s Road, Con Colbert Road, Chapelizod Bypass, Kennilsfort Road, Ballyfermot Road, Kylemore Road, Long Mile Road and Naas Road before rejoining the normal route.
Route 14: No Northside Service Before 11am
Route 14’s northside service will not run before 11am. A shortened southside service will run to and from Adelaide Road.
- Until 11am, towards Ardlea Road: normal route to Braemor Park, then Orwell Road, Lower Churchtown Road, Upper Churchtown Road, Taney Road, Drumartin Road Lower, Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan Road, Donnybrook Road, Leeson Street Bridge and Adelaide Road, where buses terminate.
- Until 11am, towards Dundrum Luas: leave Adelaide Road, then Leeson Street, Donnybrook, Stillorgan Road, Kilmacud Road, Drumartin Road, Taney Road, Churchtown Road, Orwell Road and Braemor Park before rejoining the normal route.
- From 11am, towards Ardlea Road: normal route to Braemor Park, then Orwell Road, Lower Churchtown Road, Upper Churchtown Road, Taney Road, Drumartin Road Lower, Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan Road, Donnybrook Road, Leeson Street, Adelaide Road, Harcourt Road and Camden Street before rejoining the normal route.
- From 11am, towards Dundrum Luas: normal route to Camden Street, then Charlotte Way, Hatch Street, Earlsfort Terrace, Adelaide Road, Leeson Street Bridge, Donnybrook, Kilmacud Road, Drumartin Road, Taney Road, Churchtown Road, Orwell Road and Braemor Park before rejoining the normal route.
Route 15: Clongriffin and Ballycullen Road
- Until 11am, towards Clongriffin: buses leave Eden Quay and follow the normal route.
- Until 11am, towards Ballycullen Road: buses leave Hatch Street and follow the normal route.
- From 11am, towards Clongriffin: normal route to Templeogue Village, then Templeville Road, Greentrees Road, St Peter’s Road, Walkinstown Avenue, Long Mile Road, Drimnagh Road, Kildare Road, Sundrive Road, Larkfield Park, Kenilworth Road, Grosvenor Road and Lower Rathmines Road before rejoining the normal route.
- From 11am, towards Ballycullen Road: normal route to Rathmines Road Lower, then Grosvenor Road, Kenilworth Road, Larkfield Park, Sundrive Road, Clogher Road, Kildare Road, Drimnagh Road, Long Mile Road, Walkinstown Avenue, St Peter’s Road, Greentrees Road, Templeville Road and Templeogue Village before rejoining the normal route.
Route 15a: Limekiln Avenue and Merrion Square
Before 11am: Hatch Street is listed as the temporary city-centre terminus. The early-service direction labels in Dublin Bus’s published notice are inconsistent, so check the latest operator update or TFI Live for your departure point before travelling.
- From 11am, towards Limekiln Avenue: leave stop 400, Shaw Street, Trinity College, and follow the normal route to Rathmines Road Lower. Buses then use Grosvenor Road, Kenilworth Road, Larkfield Park, Sundrive Road, Clogher Road, Kildare Road, Drimnagh Road, Long Mile Road, Walkinstown Avenue, St Peter’s Road and St James’s Road to the terminus.
- From 11am, towards Merrion Square: leave the terminus via St James’s Road, St Peter’s Road, Walkinstown Avenue, Drimnagh, Kildare Road, Sundrive Road, Larkfield Park, Clareville Road, Kenilworth Road, Grosvenor Road and Lower Rathmines Road. Follow the normal route to Townsend Street, then divert via Shaw Street and terminate at stop 400, Shaw Street, Trinity College.
Route 15b: Stocking Avenue and Merrion Square
Before 11am: Hatch Street is listed as the temporary city-centre terminus. As with route 15a, the early-service direction labels in the published notice are inconsistent. Check the latest operator update or TFI Live before setting out.
- From 11am, towards Stocking Avenue: leave stop 400, Shaw Street, Trinity College, and follow the normal route to Rathmines Road Lower. Divert via Grosvenor Road, Kenilworth Road, Larkfield Park, Sundrive Road, Clogher Road, Kildare Road, Drimnagh Road, Long Mile Road, Walkinstown Avenue, St Peter’s Road, Greentrees Road, Templeville Road, Templeogue Bridge, Butterfield Avenue and Marian Road before rejoining the normal route.
- From 11am, towards Merrion Square: normal route to Marian Road, then Butterfield Avenue, Templeogue Bridge, Templeville Road, Greentrees Road, St Peter’s Road, Walkinstown Avenue, Long Mile Road, Drimnagh Road, Kildare Road, Clogher Road, Sundrive Road, Larkfield Park, Kenilworth Road, Grosvenor Road and Lower Rathmines Road. Follow the normal route to Townsend Street, then Shaw Street to terminate at stop 400, Shaw Street, Trinity College.
Route 16: Dublin Airport and Ballinteer
- Until 11am, towards Dublin Airport: buses leave Parnell Square East, travel via Parnell Square West and rejoin the normal route.
- Until 11am, towards Ballinteer: normal route to Parnell Square East, where buses terminate.
- From 11am, towards Dublin Airport: buses leave Harold’s Cross Green and follow the normal route.
- From 11am, towards Ballinteer: normal route to Harold’s Cross Green, where buses terminate.
Route 19: Dublin Airport and Merrion Square
- Towards Dublin Airport: buses leave Pearse Street and follow the normal route.
- Towards Merrion Square: normal route to D’Olier Street, then Townsend Street and Pearse Street, terminating at stop 400, Shaw Street, Trinity College.
Route 23: Charlestown Shopping Centre and Merrion Square
- Until 11am, towards Charlestown Shopping Centre: leave Pearse Street via Westmoreland Street, O’Connell Street, Parnell Square West, Western Way and Phibsborough before rejoining the normal route.
- Until 11am, towards Merrion Square: normal route to Phibsborough, then Western Way, O’Connell Street, D’Olier Street, Townsend Street and Pearse Street, terminating at stop 400, Shaw Street, Trinity College.
- From 11:10am, towards Charlestown Shopping Centre: leave Pearse Street, travel to College Green and rejoin the normal route.
- From 11:10am, towards Merrion Square: normal route to Dame Street, then College Green, Westmoreland Street, Fleet Street, Townsend Street and Pearse Street, terminating at stop 400, Shaw Street, Trinity College.
Dublin Bus gives 11:10am as route 23’s later changeover time. Check the latest departure information if you plan to travel around 11am.
Route 24: Dublin Airport and Merrion Square
- Until 11am, towards Dublin Airport: leave Pearse Street via Westmoreland Street, O’Connell Street, Parnell Square West, Western Way and Phibsborough before rejoining the normal route.
- Until 11am, towards Merrion Square: normal route to Phibsborough, then Western Way, O’Connell Street, D’Olier Street, College Street, Nassau Street, Lincoln Place, Westland Row and Pearse Street, terminating at stop 400, Shaw Street, Trinity College.
- From 11am, towards Dublin Airport: leave Pearse Street, divert via College Green and rejoin the normal route.
- From 11am, towards Merrion Square: normal route to Dame Street, then College Green, Westmoreland Street, Fleet Street, Townsend Street and Pearse Street, terminating at stop 400, Shaw Street, Trinity College.
Route 27: Clarehall and Jobstown
- Until 11am, towards Clarehall: buses leave Eden Quay and follow the normal route.
- Until 11am, towards Jobstown: leave Newmarket via Brabazon Street and Cork Street before rejoining the normal route.
- From 11am, towards Clarehall: normal route to Walkinstown Cross, then Walkinstown Avenue, Drimnagh Road, Kildare Road, Clogher Road, South Circular Road, Dolphin’s Barn and Cork Street before rejoining the normal route.
- From 11am, towards Jobstown: normal route to Dolphin’s Barn, then South Circular Road, Donore Avenue, Clogher Road, Kildare Road, Drimnagh Road, Long Mile Road, Walkinstown Avenue and Walkinstown Cross before rejoining the normal route.
Route 37: Blanchardstown and Baggot Street/Wilton Terrace
- Towards Blanchardstown: leave Luke Street via Burgh Quay, O’Connell Street, Parnell Square, Granby Row, Berkeley Road, Cabra Road, Navan Road, Blanchardstown Village, Castleknock Road and Laurel Lodge Road before rejoining the normal route.
- Towards Baggot Street/Wilton Terrace: buses divert via Blanchardstown Village, Navan Road, Cabra Road, Berkeley Road, Blessington Street, North Frederick Street, O’Connell Street, D’Olier Street and Townsend Street to Luke Street, where they terminate.
Other Affected Bus Routes
Further affected routes listed in the Dublin Bus marathon arrangements include 38, 38a, 39, 39a, 44, 47, 52, 56a, 60, 65, 65b, 68, 69, 70, 74, 77a, 80, 82, 99, 122, 150 and 151.
The list also includes C1, C2, C3, C4, E1, E2, F1, F2, F3, G1, G2 and S2. Check the operator’s route-specific instructions and your journey in TFI Live before setting out.
Merrion Square Bus Changes Across the Weekend
Separate diversions apply to routes 15a, 15b, 19, 23 and 24 because Merrion Square South and East will be closed. These arrangements apply from 10am on Friday, October 23; on Saturday, October 24; and from first bus until 6pm on Monday, October 26. For Sunday, use the race-day arrangements above.
If you are planning travel beyond this weekend, our guide to Ireland’s 2026 bank holiday dates will help you check the wider holiday calendar.
Routes 15a and 15b
- Towards Merrion Square: normal route to Fleet Street, then College Street, Grafton Street, Nassau Street, Kildare Street, Merrion Row and Merrion Street Upper. Buses terminate at stop 2905, Merrion Square West, Natural History Museum.
- Towards Limekiln Avenue or Stocking Avenue: leave Merrion Square West, divert via Clare Street and rejoin the normal route.
Route 19
- Towards Merrion Square: normal route to Nassau Street, then Kildare Street, Merrion Row and Merrion Street Upper, terminating at stop 2905, Merrion Square West, Natural History Museum.
- Towards Dublin Airport: leave Merrion Square West, divert via Clare Street and rejoin the normal route.
Routes 23 and 24
- Towards Merrion Square: normal route to Merrion Square Upper, then Merrion Square West, terminating at stop 2905, Merrion Square West, Natural History Museum.
- Towards Charlestown Shopping Centre or Dublin Airport: leave Merrion Square West via Clare Street, Lincoln Place, Merrion Street Lower and Merrion Square West before rejoining the normal route.
Road Reopening and Other Transport Disruption
The organisers list 22,500 entries for the 26.2-mile marathon. The race starts on Leeson Street Lower and finishes on Mount Street Upper.
Transport for Ireland lists a broad Sunday diversion window of 3am to 9pm. Individual road closures and service changes vary by location. Dublin Bus’s race-day arrangements continue until the relevant roads reopen, so normal service may return at different times across the network.
The wider weekend Dublin Bus diversion period ends at 6pm on Monday, October 26. Allow extra travel time and check your departure point and service in the TFI Journey Planner or TFI Live before leaving.
Luas Red Line: Heuston to Connolly and The Point
According to the Luas October bank holiday notice, there will be no Red Line services between Heuston and Connolly/The Point from approximately 8:45am to 10:45am on Sunday, October 25.
During that period, trams will operate between Heuston and Tallaght/Saggart in both directions. Normal Red Line services are expected to resume at approximately 10:45am.
DART Closures: October 24 to 26
Irish Rail’s engineering works notice lists closures between Grand Canal Dock and Bray, and between Howth Junction and Howth, on Saturday, October 24; Sunday, October 25; and Monday, October 26.
DART services will operate between Malahide and Grand Canal Dock only during those dates. Check Irish Rail’s latest service information before choosing rail as an alternative to an affected bus route.
Our Dublin Connolly Station guide can help with finding the station and planning onward connections. For help choosing transport tools, our overview of apps for transport and journey planning explains the available options.
Travel information checked on October 20, 2026. Diversions and reopening times may change; check the latest operator notices before travelling.
