Lough Cutra Castle 2025 Race Report
25.05.25
A WEEKEND OF EXTRAORDINARY RACING IN GALWAY!
We returned to Lough Cutra Castle for the 13th edition of this iconic event, hosting an incredible weekend of triathlon, multisport, swim, and run races — and what a weekend it was!
Athletes from across Ireland, the UK, and Europe descended on Galway for a memorable race experience. From complete beginners to seasoned elites, participants took on a variety of races — swimming in the stunning private lake, cycling through the scenic routes of South Galway and the Burren in County Clare, and running along the magical trails of the Estate before finishing at the Castle’s grand front door. Despite the unpredictable weather, the energy and excitement never wavered. If you missed it, you missed something truly special!
DAY ONE - 24 MAY
Saturday’s action-packed programme began with the Sprint Plus triathletes diving into the water first, closely followed by the Sprint distance competitors. The female-only wave then made their start, adding to the buzz of the morning. Congratulations to Kilian Dooley and Sally Willdig, the first athletes to cross the finish line in 2025, taking top honours in the Sprint race!
The excitement continued with the Sprint Aquathlon, Aquabike, and Duathlon events, keeping the energy high throughout the morning.
Next up were the Super Sprint and Starter Sprint Triathlons — a real highlight as we welcomed so many first-time triathletes to the Castle. It was inspiring to see so many new faces embracing the challenge, and we hope you’ve officially caught the triathlon bug!
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
On Saturday afternoon, all attention turned to the lake for the highly anticipated Swim Series races. Competitors plunged into Europe’s largest privately owned lake to take on their choice of a 1-mile, 2.5K, or 5K swim.
The blue waters shimmered as athletes gave it their all in a truly stunning setting. Congratulations to the 5K champions, James Brennan and Naomi Beard, and to everyone who took part in the day’s events — an incredible effort all around!
DAY TWO - 25 MAY
Sunday marked day two of racing—a fun, if slightly windy, continuation of the weekend’s excitement, featuring our longer triathlon, multisport, and Run Series events.
The day began with our Half-Iron “Gauntlet” triathletes diving into the lake. Due to gusty conditions, they and the middle distance duathletes completed two laps of the 40K bike course. Showcasing true endurance, Dean Gillespie took the men’s win in 04:19:22, and Sophie Truesdale led the women with 05:25:57. A huge congratulations to all Gauntlet participants—your determination was inspiring!
Later, the Standard Distance Olympic race delivered strong performances and well-earned wins from Darren Mooney and Claire Moriarty.
SUNDAY MID MORNING
Mid-morning brought the start of the Standard Distance Aquathlon, Aquabike, and Duathlon event. A big congratulations to everyone who took part — each athlete showed incredible effort, determination and resilience to cross the finish line and earn their well-deserved medals.
The Run Series also got underway, with participants tackling the Marathon, Half Marathon, or 10K routes set against the stunning backdrop of the Castle grounds. A special shoutout to Sean Molloy and Lisa Judgr for their impressive victories in the Marathon — well done!
THE JUNIORS!
Children aged 9 to 15 gave it their all—swimming, biking, and running their hearts out to cross the finish line. The energy was electric, with families and friends lining the course and cheering them on in front of the castle.
A huge congratulations to all the juniors who competed this weekend! We’re incredibly proud of each and every one of you. Keep enjoying your triathlon and multisport adventures—we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you!
A HUGE THANK YOU!
Race Director Brian Adcock shared his enthusiasm, saying, “Lough Cutra never fails to provide an unforgettable weekend of racing, and this year was no different. The level of competition was outstanding, and the energy throughout the event was incredible. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing team, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes—especially in tough weather conditions—along with the marshals, Susie and the Castle staff, our fantastic spectators, and most importantly, the incredible athletes who make this event possible. We’re already excited to welcome everyone back next year for another thrilling weekend at Lough Cutra!”
RACE IN 2026
The spectacular setting of the Lough Cutra Estate provided the perfect backdrop for another marvellous weekend of racing. The fantastic atmosphere meant smiles all round.
If you would like to join us again next year, our race dates are May 23rd & 24th 2026, we currently are offering 30% off all races at Lough Cutra, secure your spot on the start line of your chosen race today.
We hope to see you next year!
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