Going ahead this Saturday
No cancellation listed for Saturday 31 October.
Parkrun
Vicarstown parkrun
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you! Nearby Sunday 2k junior parkrun events for 4 to 14 year olds and their families can be found here.
Meeting point: 53.05601, -7.08346. The interactive map loads with JavaScript. Open the same point in OpenStreetMap.
Coordinates 53.05601, -7.08346.
The course
Course description
This is an out-and-back course, along the Grand Canal tow path. This tow path has a gravel surface, for the full distance. The start / finish is 200m south from Vicarstown Bridge, in the Athy direction. There is a barrier across the tow path at the bridge (restricting vehicular traffic) and the start / finish is 200m along the path from this barrier. From the start the course follows the tow path. It has an 800m long straight section from 300m to 1100m, and then crosses the Aqueduct at the Stradbally River where the path is narrower. It transverses the escarpment of the Ballymanus Bridge at about 1500m, where the course rises and drops sharply. The course curves gradually to the left for the next 1,000m, to where the turnaround point is located.
On the course
The course is 5k long. The course is at Grand Canal Bank, Vicarstown, Portlaoise. The course is run entirely on the new Barrow Blueway gravel path. Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or signs will be in place.
Please remember that the parkrun uses shared paths. For the continued success of the event, please give way to other park users. This won't hurt your time, it won't stop you from getting a PB and it will make sure everyone continues to enjoy the event.
Please, wherever possible walk, jog, cycle or use public transport when attending the event. If you do have to drive, please consider car-sharing to reduce our impact on both the environment and other park users. Please also watch out for other park users when arriving and leaving. Parking may be limited so try to arrive early.
Facilities
Car Parking is available at old school. Additional car parking is available at the Community Hall, near the church, about 400m from the course. Please do not park on the footpaths in the village.
Toilet facilities are available at the SVT Canoeing and Kayaking Club premises, near the start / finish line.
More details
Public transport
There is no public transport.
On foot
From car park at the old school walk towards the canal, turn right and the start is 200m along the towpath.
By road
Vicarstown is 10km from junction 15 on the M7 Dublin-Limerick/Cork motorway, just follow the signs when you leave the motorway.
Vicarstown is 15km from Athy, follow the road along the canal.
Vicarstown is 6km from Stradbally, follow the signposts also.
Coffee
Every week we grab a post-parkrun coffee: and sit at the picnic seats by the canal. Feel free to bring refreshments. Please bring home any litter, we do not provide bins. Please come and join us!
We're friendly
Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee and sit at the picnic seats by the canal. Feel free to bring refreshments. Please bring home any litter, we do not provide bins - please come and join us!
Course safety
Vicarstown parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the event as safe as possible, so participants, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:
- Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
- Children under the age of eleven must be accompanied (within arm's reach) throughout the event by a parent, guardian or appropriate adult of the parent's choice.
- Please arrive by foot, by pedal-power or by public transport if you can - your efforts help to reduce our impact on the park and the planet.
- We invite everyone to consider volunteering at parkrun. Your support helps your parkrun events remain sustainable and free for all in your community, and it’s also a wonderful way to improve your own health and happiness. Please visit the volunteer page for more information.
- Take care near roads and car parks – some vehicles drive very quickly. Please congregate away from the cars and be careful in particular if you have children. If you’re driving to the event, please drive carefully.
- Take care on uneven surfaces – whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other participants, pedestrians, children, dogs, wildlife, park animals, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
- Please ensure that you are fit enough to walk, jog, run 5k (3.1 miles) with us.
- If you see someone with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
- If you’re watching, keep clear of participants on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
- It is not permitted to run with a pushchair and a dog at the same time.
- Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Consider protecting yourself by wearing repellent when at parkrun events in grassy or wooded areas. See lymediseaseuk.com for further details.
- You are welcome to take part with one dog by your side, within reach at all times, on a short, handheld, non-extendable lead. The use of waist harnesses is prohibited. Please also see this Support Site entry for further details about parkrunning with dogs.
- parkrunners pushing buggies are welcome, but please take care of others around you and do your best to start at an appropriate place in the field for your pace.
We hope these tips help to ensure that Vicarstown parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.
Age grading
All parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners compare results.
parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners see progress and compare results.
For more information, please see our Support page.
Volunteering
All parkrun events are organised by volunteers - email vicarstown@parkrun.com to help.
Safeguarding
parkrun is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For our full safeguarding processes and policies please see our Safeguarding Hub.
To report a safeguarding concern please email safeguarding@parkrun.com.
Event stats
- 543
- Events
- 5,935
- Finishers
- 40,522
- Finishes
- 552
- Volunteers
- 5,563
- Personal bests
- 372
- Groups
- 00:32:16
- Average finish time
Nearby parkruns
- Vicarstown junior parkrun Vicarstown · 0.5 km
- Carlow Town parkrun Barrow Trail · 26 km
- Mountlucas parkrun Mount Lucas Wind Farm · 26 km
- Baltinglass Park junior parkrun Baltinglass Park juniors · 29 km
- Camross Community Park junior parkrun Camross Community Park juniors · 34 km
- Naas parkrun Naas Racecourse · 34 km
- Russborough parkrun Russborough House & Parklands · 36 km
- The Grand Canal Way parkrun, Tullamore The Grand Canal Way · 36 km
Challenges this parkrun helps with
- Alphabeteer Challenge Starts with V
- Periodic Table Matches symbols: V
Parkrun Planner
Line up your Saturdays. Add the parkruns you want to visit, then turn on the challenges you want help finishing.
Suggestions update from your plan and lean towards events near home. Save the weekends on this device, or to your account when you are logged in.
Plan your weekends
Bushy parkrun
High quality prints
Get your parkrun achievements in stunning detail. Choose from digital downloads to print yourself, or opt for our premium professional printing service featuring high-quality glossy paper with deep, vibrant inks for exceptional color depth and clarity.
Available in both A4 and A3 sizes, perfect for framing and displaying your running accomplishments. Every print is crafted with precision to showcase your milestones, challenges, and legends in the finest quality.
Check out our awardsPark5K is not affiliated with parkrun. - last updated 26 October 2026