The Kerry Way Ultra Nite – Sept 5-6, 2025
The Kerry Way Ultra Nite – Sept 5-6, 2025
Length of route
Approx. 101km along the route of The Kerry Way
Venue
Registration – The Killarney Racecourse, Ross Rd, Killarney (Fri)
Start – Dromid, Waterville (Fri)
Finish – The Killarney Racecourse (Sat)
Cut-off times
Sneem – 9am Saturday
Kenmare – 4pm Saturday
Please note: No refunds or deferrals accepted.
Friday
Registration – There will ONLY be registration on Friday evening at The Killarney Racecourse. This will be Registration, Mandatory Gear Check and allocation of trackers and race numbers. Due to the large number of entrants and that each entrant needs to have a tracker securely attached, there will be a very strict Registration process. It will be in alphabetical order (surnames) and you have to be there at your allocated time. If you miss your allotted time, there may be a delay of at least 1 hour before you can be registered, gear checked and tracker fitted. You can also pick up your tee shirt, if you ordered one. Your number must be worn on your front and must be visible during the race. Please bring your rucksack to Registration.
There may be parking at the entrance gate of the racecourse, this is not guaranteed. If you do get parking here, there is no charge. Please park responsibly, you will be towed if you are blocking anyone.
Registration Times – A to G are 5.00pm to 5.30pm, H to M are 5.30pm to 6pm, N to P are 6pm to 6.30pm and R to Z are 6.30pm to 7pm. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Friday
Registration – There will ONLY be registration on Friday evening at The Killarney Racecourse. This will be Registration, Mandatory Gear Check and allocation of trackers and race numbers. Due to the large number of entrants and that each entrant needs to have a tracker securely attached, there will be a very strict Registration process. It will be in alphabetical (surnames) order and you have to be there at your allocated time. If you miss your allotted time, there may be a delay of at least 1 hour before you can be registered, gear checked and tracker fitted. You can also pick up your tee shirt, if you ordered one. Your number must be worn on your front and must be visible. Please bring your rucksack to Registration.
Registration Times – A to G are 5.00pm to 5.30pm, H to M are 5.30pm to 6pm, N to P are 6pm to 6.30pm and R to Z are 6.30pm to 7pm. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Mandatory Gear List – The Mandatory Gear List is listed below. Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) paper maps (laminated photocopies are fine) are essential, Nos. 78, 83 & 84 cover the UltraNite route. Walking poles are your own choice but poles are not accepted in the Drop Bags. Your gear will be checked at Registration and then randomly checked anywhere along the route. All marshals have the authority to check this. First, second and third female and male competitors will have their bag checked at the Finish line. If you do not, or will not, show any item asked for, you will be disqualified. A working mobile phone is also mandatory and if you have gone astray, and are rang by any of the ‘dot-watchers’ and you do not answer, also disqualification.
The trackers are essential and need to be attached to your rucksack, and kept away from mobile phones and emergency foil blankets. The tracker number will be your race number. You will get these details a few days before the Start.
Mandatory Gear List – The Mandatory Gear List is listed below. Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) paper maps (laminated photocopies are fine) are essential, Nos. 78, 83 & 84 cover the UltraNite route. Walking poles are your own choice but poles are not accepted in the Drop Bags. Your gear will be checked at Registration and then randomly checked anywhere along the route. All marshals have the authority to check this. First, second and third female and male competitors will have their bag checked at the Finish line. If you do not, or will not, show any item asked for, you will be disqualified. A working mobile phone is also mandatory and if you have gone astray, and are rang by any of the ‘dot-watchers’ and you do not answer, also disqualification.
The trackers are essential and need to be attached to your rucksack, and kept away from mobile phones and emergency foil blankets.
Route Profile
Mandatory Gear List
- Full waterproof jacket and trousers
- Head Torch with minimum 200 lumens and spare batteries
- Paper route map
- Fully charged mobile phone
- Survival (bivy, foil) bag/blanket
- Whistle
- First Aid Kit (plasters, bandages, sterile dressing, laces etc.)
- Gloves, Hat
- Water and spare food
- Yellow ribbon
Safety equipment mandatory with gear check at Registration and spot checks along the route. Personal assistance along the route is forbidden other than at Crew Stops.
Support
Self-sufficient with Support Crews allowed at:
- Caherdaniel Community Centre
- Sneem Community Centre
- Templenoe Graveyard Car Park
- St. John’s National School, Kenmare
No Support Crew vehicles allowed off The Ring of Kerry road.
Distances between Crew Stops (approx)
- Dromid to Waterville: 7km
- Waterville to Caherdaniel: 15km
- Caherdaniel to Sneem: 18km
- Sneem to Templenoe: 22km
- Templenoe to Kenmare: 15km
- Kenmare to Killarney: 25km
For those of you who will be using the coach transfer, the coach will leave from The Killarney Racecourse at 7.00pm precisely on Friday evening. The coach will have you in The Inny Tavern, Dromid, Waterville by 8.15pm. If you have a jacket/fleece that you wish to collect in Killarney at the Finish, there will be plastic boxes in the coach to leave your jacket/fleece in and this will then be transported back to Killarney for the Finish.
There will be a list of those who paid for the coach transfer at the entrance to the coach, please tick your name on this list as you enter the coach.
For those not using the coach transfer, be at The Inny Tavern, Dromid, Waterville for the Start at 9pm.
Bag Drop – There will be four Bag Drop facilities for the UltraNite (only if you do not have a crew) – 1) Caherdaniel Community Centre, 2) Sneem Square, 3) Templenoe and 4) Kenmare. Leave your Drop Bag in the numbered plastic boxes at The Inny Tavern, Dromid (ie. if you are number 13, put it into the box marked 1-50) and small bags only. These plastic boxes will then be transported to the crew stops for you. Any items you need returned, please place back in your drop bag after use at a crew stop. These will be returned to The Killarney Racecourse over the duration of the event and can be picked up there. It may be Sat evening before they are returned. Anything not recovered by Sunday afternoon, will be dumped.
Start 9pm
Crew Stops and Crew – If you have a crew, please ensure that they are watching your ‘dot’ so they will know if you have left the route and need to be re-directed. Please email info@kerrywayultra.com a mobile number for your crew. If you do not have a crew, please have someone watch you as we will be watching the Ultra, the UltraRelay, the UltraNite and the UltraLite so it may take a while for us to spot you wandering.
There will be emergency water at the Crew Stops – Waterville, Caherdaniel and Sneem Community Centres have a tap, the bridge on Sneem has a Water Dispenser, there is a tap in the graveyard at Templenoe. Check out the refill Tap Map app! There will be rubbish bags and recycling bags at each stop, please use them.
No pacers are allowed but you may have family or friends run the last section from Torc Waterfall in through the Killarney National Park with you.
Finish – Killarney Racecourse
You can take any path through the National Park, from the foot of Torc Waterfall.
The entrance into the racecourse is just after the bridge over the River Flesk, turn left into the Maurice O’Donoghue Park, there is a barrier at this entrance. This path runs alongside the river and then brings you into the racecourse.
As a courtesy to the Ultra athletes who have been running since 6am on Friday, it would be great if you could attach a ribbon, cord, string onto your rucksack. This is to signify that you are an UltraNiter so they won’t be discouraged if/when you fly past them anywhere from Mastergeehy to Killarney. Also, if you are approaching a stile with someone struggling to get over it, give them time!
Check yourself for ticks when you are finished running.
Taxis – There are very few taxis available around the Ring of Kerry, the closest road to The Kerry Way. If you have to DNF, we will try to get you home, a marshal, a volunteer, someone’s crew but it will only be when they have finished their crewing duties. Kenmare is probably the closest town to get a taxi to Killarney and you will have to pay for this yourself.
Sunday
UltraBrunch and Prizegiving – The UltraBrunch will be in the Panorama Restaurant at The Killarney Racecourse at 11am on Sunday. There will be a list at the entrance to the restaurant and, if you have paid for the UltraBrunch, your name will be on this list! If you are a prizewinner, and your name isn’t on this list, the awarding of prizes will be from 12.15/12.30pm onwards. There is a café, IGUANAS, underneath the Panorama Restaurant
Brian Byrne Award for The Best Crew – The Brian Byrne Award for the Best Crew of KWU. This will be voted on by all assistant race directors, marshals and volunteers who will have been out along the route Friday and Saturday and will have seen which crew have really excelled! Tell your crew about this. This prize will also be awarded on Sunday at the UltraBrunch.
Kerry Way Ultra Nite Recce - Saturday July 8, 2023
This recce run is a chance for you to get to know the route of The Kerry Way, find out about the correct footwear, gear, nutrition etc. and chat to previous participants of The Kerry Way Ultra. It is a training weekend where you are asked to stay with your guides at all times. Your guides are qualified and experienced and their knowledge may make the difference between you finishing your event or being a DNF!
Route: Dromid, Waterville to Caherdaniel or Sneem along the route of The Kerry Way, depending on trail and weather conditions, 25k or 40k approx.
Meet in Sneem, Centra Supermarket (or Caherdaniel crossroads) at 8pm, coach pick-up at 8.15pm for transfer to Dromid.
There will be a charge for the recce. This will be €35 and this covers the coach, insurance etc. There will be a short stop in Caherdaniel (if running from Sneem) so bring a small bag with water, food etc. if you wish. Give this bag to the crew car/van in Dromid and it will meet you in Caherdaniel and Sneem.
