Kilkenny runners get ready for a Streets party!

Runners across Kilkenny and beyond will be gearing up for the return of a popular event this year.
The Streets of Kilkenny 5K will take over the city centre when it comes back in its traditional slot of Holy Thursday (April 14).
The event, the brainchild of the Kilkenny City Harriers athletics club, has become a firm favourite with runners from all over Ireland. News of its return is sure to see people of all ages and abilities signing up to dash through the city streets.
The event has gone from strength to strength since it was first held in 2017, offering runners a fast-paced course through the Marble City. While the 2020 race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic it made a triumphant return last October, when hundreds of people flocked to the Parade and raced from the start line.

The Streets of Kilkenny 5K made a triumphant return to the race calendar in October 2021 Picture: Mark Desmond

“We were over the moon with the response to last year’s race,” Harriers PRO Nicholas Dunphy told the People. “The atmosphere made it such a great success and gave us the boost we needed to make sure this year’s event was back to its best and  continues to be a celebration of the city.”
As well as returning to its regular time slot this year’s race will again be part of the national Kia Race Series, a seven-race event with guaranteed prize pot of €27,000. The series starts in Portlaoise in March and ends in Cork City in August.
As with the other events on the calendar a €500 course record bonus is on offer for both the male and female course records. The festivities will come to a close with the traditional after-race party in Langtons.
People can register for the race now on www.popupraces.ie or by visiting www.kch.ie. As in other years, there will be T-shirts for the first 550 runners to register.