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Christmas Day Parkruns Draw Record Crowds Across Ireland

Volunteer-organised, free 5k gatherings attracted bigger, festive turnouts as the tradition strengthened in local communities.

Overview

  • Thousands took part in Christmas morning events across the island of Ireland, with multiple sites reporting record participation.
  • Stormont in east Belfast set a new high with 1,152 participants, far exceeding last year’s 790 as organisers cited a growing Christmas tradition.
  • Wallace Park in Lisburn logged 713 runners, up from 624, with the run director noting unprecedented finish-line queues and a strong community pull.
  • The parkruns are free, timed 5k events run by volunteers, who organisers credit as essential to the smooth and welcoming atmosphere.
  • Worcester’s event highlighted wider growth trends, having reached 1,000 participants in 2024 and planning for up to 1,500 this year, as festive dress and inclusivity drew broad appeal.