Compiled and fact-checked by Tommo, Verus founder · Last verified August 2026 · Spot an error?
Triathlon · Full Distance (140.6)
Hardman Killarney 2026
- Race day
- Saturday, 29 August 2026
- Location
- Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland
- Distance
- 226 km total
3.8km swim 180km bike 42.2km run
Hardman Killarney 2026: Ireland's only full-distance triathlon — a 3.8km swim, 180km bike through the Kerry mountains and a full marathon. Date, course and entry.
Key Race Metrics & Overview
- Date
- Saturday, 29 August 2026
- Venue
- Killarney, County Kerry
- Distance
- Full Distance (140.6) — 226km total
- Start Time
- 6:30am, per the organiser's own FAQ — though note the FAQ page itself carries an internal date inconsistency (the header says 29 August 2026, the text says 'Saturday the 30th'), so confirm the actual date directly with Hardman before booking travel.
- Draft-Legal Bike
- No — non-drafting
- Cut-Off
- Per the organiser's FAQ: swim by 8:40am, cycle by 4:40pm, run by 9:30pm — a 15-hour overall cut-off from the 6:30am start.
Also this weekend
Hardman also stage a half-distance race. The full distance at Killarney is billed as the only full-distance triathlon in Ireland — the IRONMAN-branded event at Youghal aside, and that one has not run every year.
Leg 1 of 3
Swim — 3.8km
A 3.8km swim in the Lakes of Killarney, in the national park beneath the MacGillycuddy's Reeks. Fresh water in a mountain setting rather than sea — sheltered, dark and cold.
- Venue
- The Lakes of Killarney
- Elevation gain
- No official figure published — see notes above
- Surface
- Lake — fresh water, mountain-fed.
Wetsuit: No fixed temperature threshold published. Kerry lake water in late August makes a wetsuit essential in practice.
Leg 2 of 3
Bike — 180km
180km through the mountains of Kerry, the highest ground in Ireland. This is the country of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and the Ring of Kerry passes — the reason the event is called what it is.
- Venue
- The Kerry mountains and the Ring of Kerry country
- Elevation gain
- No official figure published — see notes above
- Surface
- Road — mountain passes and exposed Kerry lanes.
Non-drafting
Leg 3 of 3
Run — 42.2km
A full marathon to finish, around Killarney and the national park.
- Venue
- Killarney and the national park
- Elevation gain
- No official figure published — see notes above
- Surface
- Road and park path.
Transitions
Transition is based at Killarney, serving the lake swim and the mountain bike course.
Hardman Killarney Split Calculator
Hardman Killarney Split-Time Calculator
Enter your own swim, bike and run pace to project a real finish time.
Projected Finish Time
11:12:06
Racing a different distance? Try the generic split calculator or the swim pace calculator.
Where Hardman Killarney starts and finishes
These are the start and finish points, not the route. Verus doesn't hold course files for this race, and drawing a line between two pins would be a guess you might end up training on. The official course map is the one to use: view it on the organiser's site .
Entry & Ballot
Direct entry summary
Entry direct through Hardman Events, priced in euro. An independent Irish event rather than a franchise, which is a large part of its character.
Ballot policy
No ballot — entry is direct.
Age requirement
Not published in the sources checked — confirm with the organiser.
Charity Places
No formal charity-place scheme is published.
Race Day Info & Checklist
On the day
- Billed as Ireland's only full-distance triathlon: 3.8km swim, 180km bike and a full marathon.
- The swim is in the Lakes of Killarney, inside the national park.
- The bike leg crosses the highest mountain country in Ireland.
- An independent Irish event rather than an international franchise.
- Field capped at 250 entrants — registration closes once that number is reached.
- Sign-on is Friday 5-7pm, followed by a mandatory race briefing 7-7:30pm — there is no Saturday-morning sign-on.
- A full Triathlon Ireland licence or a One Day Licence is required, purchasable only via the Triathlon Ireland website.
- Prize money: €1,000 for 1st, €750 for 2nd, €600 for 3rd, male and female.
Checklist
- A wetsuit for a cold mountain-lake swim in late August
- Climbing gears for 180km through the Kerry mountains — this is not a flat full distance
- Run shoes and a plan for a marathon on legs that have just crossed the Reeks
- Full weather cover: Kerry is the wettest part of Ireland and the mountains make their own conditions
- Euro rather than sterling if you are travelling from the UK
Transport, Spectating & Where to Stay
Transport
Killarney has its own station, connecting to Dublin Heuston in around three and a half hours. Kerry Airport is about 15 minutes away with flights from several UK airports, and Cork Airport is roughly 90 minutes.
Not published for this event — check the athlete information for Killarney parking.
Managed sections on the Kerry mountain roads for the bike leg.
Spectator guide
Killarney town and the national park cover the swim, transition, the run and the finish. The mountain passes are the spectacular place to see the bike from.
Killarney is compact and walkable. The 180km bike loop crosses remote mountain country and is hard to follow.
Where to stay
Killarney town
+ At the venue, and one of the most tourist-ready towns in Ireland — abundant accommodation, unusually so for a race base.
– Peak season in late August, so book early despite the supply.
Kenmare
+ A quieter and rather better small town over the Moll's Gap road, and near the Lost Sheep course.
– A slow mountain drive from Killarney on race morning.
Tralee
+ The county town, with more everyday accommodation and a station.
– Around 30 minutes from Killarney and without the setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Hardman Killarney 2026?
Saturday 29 August 2026, based at Killarney in County Kerry.
What are the Hardman Killarney distances?
Full distance: a 3.8km swim in the Lakes of Killarney, a 180km bike through the Kerry mountains, and a full marathon.
Is Hardman the only full-distance triathlon in Ireland?
It is billed as such. A full-distance IRONMAN Ireland has also been staged at Youghal in County Cork, though that event has not run every year.
Where is the Hardman Killarney swim?
The Lakes of Killarney, inside Killarney National Park — fresh mountain-fed water rather than sea.
Is the Hardman bike course hard?
Yes. It crosses the highest mountain country in Ireland, around the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and the Ring of Kerry passes. The name is not decorative.
How do you get to Killarney?
Killarney has its own station, about three and a half hours from Dublin Heuston. Kerry Airport is 15 minutes away with flights from several UK airports; Cork Airport is around 90 minutes.
What is the cut-off for Hardman Killarney?
15 hours overall from a 6:30am start — swim by 8:40am, cycle by 4:40pm, run by 9:30pm, per the organiser's FAQ.
When were Hardman Killarney results published?
Nothing to show yet: results only appear here after the race is run. The official results source will also have them.