The Dublin City Marathon, with more than 10,000 competitors, was overshadowed yesterday by the death of a man on the course.
The man, an Irishman in his 40s, collapsed at about midday, three hours into the race. He became unwell at Orwell Road, Rathgar, in the Terenure section of the route at about the 15- to 16-mile mark.
A nurse and doctor in the crowd and St John's Ambulance went to his aid and emergency services were called but the man was dead on arrival at hospital.
The man's family were contacted and they went to the hospital. Race director Jim Aughney also went immediately to the hospital.
It is the first time there has been a fatality at the Dublin marathon since the 1980s.
The race itself the the winner was Russian Aleksey Sokolov, breaking the course record. The women's race was won by fellow Russian Alina Ivanova, and Welshman Richie Powell won the wheelchair race.
The competitors from 66 countries and from all walks of life and ages followed over the next few hours.
Most were running for charities and an estimated €10 million was collected in sponsorship.
The runners praised the crowds all along the route, who kept up continual encouragement, cheering and applauding and even gave them drinks and lollipops.
Veteran marathon runners said the weather was ideal and was the best in years as the rain held off in mild conditions.