WATCH: Dublin Marathon interrupted by cross-country deer race
This isn’t the kind of stag party you’d typically see in Dublin
Sunday’s Dublin Marathon had almost everything Ireland has to offer: rain, beer and tons of wildlife. As some marathoners approached the 10-kilometre mark in Phoenix Park, dozens of deer dashed across the marathon course, forcing several participants to come to a halt.
From the video uploaded to TikTok, it appears none of the runners were harmed, though it’s certainly a startling way to disrupt a race. Then again, maybe it was the runners who interrupted the Phoenix Park deer cross-country championships.
@paul_hyln #dublinmarathon #dublinmarathon2025 #phoenixpark #dublin #deer @Irish Life Dublin Marathon
Dublin’s Patrick McColl, who was towards the back of the halted pack, shared on Strava that the “ambush” was surprising but said it was a fun twist to the race. McColl went on to finish 23rd overall in 2:26:59.
While unusual for spectators and unexpected by runners, it’s actually quite common to see hundreds of free-roaming deer in Phoenix Park, especially during the fall mating season. Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed public park in any European capital, and the deer are seen by locals as a major tourist attraction.
This isn’t the first time deer have interrupted a road race. Last year, at a local turkey trot in upstate New York, several deer barrelled through the start line, leaving three runners injured.
On the elite side, American marathoner Daniel Mesfin made history at the 2025 Dublin Marathon by becoming the first U.S. man to win in the race’s 45-year history, finishing in 2:08:51. On the women’s side, it was an Ethiopian sweep, with Eebbissee Addunyaa edging out her countrywoman Kena Girma in 2:26:28.
For full results from the 2025 Dublin Marathon, see here.
