The Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI) will be among those eagerly awaiting the first Irish athletes to cross the line at the end of today's Dublin Marathon. Kitty Holland reports.
AAI officials will be at the finishing line in Merrion Square between 11 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. to record the first three Irish men and women home with a view to next year's Olympic Games in Athens.
Gary Crossan, from Co Donegal, who was the first Irish runner past the line last year, finishing 10th overall, is expected to be among the first Irish runners home, while Annette Kealy, who was second to Catherina McKiernan in the women's mini-marathon Phoenix Park in August, is one of the Irish hopes in the women's race.
The winning man and woman will each receive €15,000, while the winners of the wheelchair events for men and women will get €500 each.
The Garda is warning of significant traffic diversions, many in place since yesterday morning.
Merrion Square will be closed until 6.30 p.m. Dawson Street and Kildare Street reopen at 9.15 a.m., while Nassau Street, Frederick Street, Clare Street and the Tara Street/Pearse Street junction to College Green will reopen at 3 p.m.
Wheelchair athletes will be the first to set off at 8.50 a.m. from Nassau Street towards the Phoenix Park, and then back into the finish in the city centre. The rest of the 8,000 competitors will set off at 9 a.m.
In Merrion Square there will be a marquee with some 100 physiotherapists on hand to offer free advice and massage. Only those who have participated in the race will be able to avail of this.
Weather conditions are forecast to be mainly dry, with light breezes.
Mr Jim Aughney, race director, says the race is among the top four marathons in Europe, behind only those in London, Paris, and Berlin. While the organisers of these have staff and offices dedicated to their planning year-round, the Dublin Marathon was largely organised by people "after their day jobs".
He himself will not be running the 26.2 miles.