Breaking Boundaries: The Women Shaping Irish Trail Running

The world of Irish trail running is a study in contrasts. On one hand, ‘elite’ women are breaking barriers, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, and inspiring a new generation. On the other, the sport still grapples with equitable participation, particularly in ultra-distance events. As we celebrate International Women’s Month, it’s time to spotlight the trailblazing women shaping Irish trail running—and explore what it might take to reach true equality on the trails.

Elite Women Leading the Charge

Ireland’s trail running scene boasts an impressive roster of women who are not just competing but excelling. Athletes like Emma Stuart, Lianne Van Dijk, Laura O’Driscoll and Sorcha Loughnane are redefining the sport, often going toe-to-toe with the top men—and sometimes surpassing them as the miles stack up. Lianne Van Dijk, a double winner of the brutal Bauers Megabackyard Funrun (BMF), exemplifies how the longer the race, the stronger women can get. Likewise, Laura O’Driscoll, recently nominated for Woman of the Year, stunned the world by winning the grueling 14-stage Annapurna Himal race in the Himalayas—a 450km odyssey with over 24,000m of climbing. “You have to surrender to whatever situation you find yourself in,” she reflects, embodying the resilience that defines these women.

Then there’s Sorcha Loughnane, who made history by winning the Kerry Way Ultra Lite outright in 2023, setting an explosive new record. Her victory fulfilled a dream long held by Eileen Daly, one of Ireland’s few female race directors, who launched the Kerry Way Ultra 13 years ago. “I always hoped a woman would one day win outright,” Daly says, her excitement palpable as she’s watched more women join the sport.

Perhaps no one underscores the power of women in ultra distances more than Emma Stuart. A specialist at the 200-mile mark, Stuart seems to thrive the longer and more grueling the race becomes. Her crowning achievement came at the prestigious Tor des Géants 2023, a 330km beast with 24,000m of ascent, where she claimed victory. Irish running legend Eoin Keith calls her performance “possibly the best Irish ultra performance of all time”—high praise from someone with decades of experience at the highest level.

Participation: Progress and Gaps

Despite these standout performances, women’s participation in trail running—especially ultras—remains uneven. Data from the 2024 IMRA Ultra races paints a picture that things become more uneven as the distance increases…

The Kerry Way Ultra offers a much brighter outlook, with an overall 15% female participation rate across its three events in 2024 —peaking at 28% for the entry-level Kerry Way Lite (60k) but dropping as distances increase to 100k or 200k. Daly sees this as a sign of gradual progress: “Women are slowly coming into the ultra space, being inspired by friends and fellow runners.”

Current figures in the Kerry Way Lite (60k) for 2025 have the female participation at an incredible 41% ! Can this be the year where Eileen manages to have over 50% of the start line female runners ? Stay tuned…

The 2024 Ecotrail Wicklow saw a promising 31% female participation rate, suggesting more women are stepping into the scene. But why do ultra-distance races still see fewer female entrants compared to shorter events? Running coach and race organiser Rene Borg offers some perspective:

“Ultra-trail races tend to emphasize competition, extreme endurance, and individual grit—factors that may not always align with what many women find most rewarding in the sport. Research suggests that, on average, women are more intrinsically motivated, focusing on personal enjoyment and self-improvement rather than external competition. This could help explain why fewer women are drawn to the longest, toughest events.

That said, averages only tell part of the story. At the end of the day, individual preferences matter more than broad trends—plenty of women thrive in high-stakes, competitive environments. In talking to several women, I’ve found a wide range of opinions on the key issues surrounding barriers to entering trail running, showing that no group holds a single, uniform perspective. As race organizers, rather than focusing too much on group tendencies, we should aim to cater to the wide range of motivations individuals bring to the sport.”

The Safety Elephant in the Room

For all the progress, safety concerns can be a significant barrier for some. Lianne Van Dijk, the Kerry-based runner who’s dominated Irish races like the BMF, faced an incident during a 100km night race in Slovenia. After her original 170km event was canceled, she switched to the shorter distance—only to be hit by another runner mid-race, leaving her shaken and speaking to police at a remote aid station. “It took me a while to come to terms with this,” she reflects a few years later. “But I’ve made the conscious decision to keep viewing the trails as a safe space where I have every right to be. Everyone should be free to decide for themselves what risks they’re willing to take, but I truly hope women don’t hold themselves back as a result.”

In Ireland, dark winter nights and remote trails amplify these concerns. While joining running clubs isn’t always feasible due to geography or time, the rise of groups offering safe, communal spaces is a lifeline. Angela Flynn’s women-only night races with IMRA are a prime example, fostering inclusivity and security.

A Path to Equality?

So, will we ever see equality in ultra trail running? The numbers are climbing, albeit more slowly in longer races. Running coach Alicia Pilarska highlights two practical barriers holding women back: “Very often I’ve heard from girls that they were afraid they would not make cutoff times in ultramarathons,” she notes. She also points out that “a lot of races do not have adequate toilet facilities either at start, finish, or during long ultras, which is not ideal for women.” Addressing these concerns—adjusting cutoffs to be more inclusive and improving facilities—could lower the entry threshold and invite more women to the start line.

Angela Flynn adds another layer to the conversation, reflecting on why so few women transition to ultra distances: “Most women have children, and long-distance running and training takes up too much time, I would think.” Her observation underscores a structural challenge—balancing family responsibilities with the demands of ultra training. 

We do however note that some of the best athletes of our time including Sorcha Loughnane, Ellen Vitting, and of course Jasmin Paris across the pond, are able to balance family life and amazing ultra distance performances, proving where there is a will…. there is a way ! (with a supportive family/partner of course)

Cultural shifts offer hope too. The “slow running trend,” highlighted by RTE recently, emphasizes community over competition: “One club in Dublin regularly sees more than 200 women at its events, with the emphasis on community, rather than personal bests.” This focus could draw more women from community into competition and hence into the sport’s longer distances over time—perhaps fueling the next Stuart or Van Dijk, whose dominance in extended races proves women’s strength only grows with the challenge.

For trailblazers like Laura O’Driscoll, it’s about the journey itself: “Forget about the summit or finish line and fully immerse yourself in the process, just like in life.” Lianne Van Dijk echoes this, refusing to let one bad experience define her love for the trails. Hours after her Slovenia ordeal, she signed up for her next race and went for a muddy, soul-restoring run. “That, to me, is what this is all about,” she says. “Just a woman spending a lot of time running up and down mountains. Race or no race.”

The Trail Ahead

From Sorcha Loughnane’s record-breaking wins to Emma Stuart’s mastery of the 200-mile frontier, Irish women are carving out their place in trail running. The stats show we’re not at parity yet—especially in ultras—but the momentum is undeniable. As Eileen Daly dreamed years ago, women are not only joining the sport but leading it. With safer spaces, practical fixes like those Pilarska suggests, family-friendly innovations inspired by Flynn’s insights, and unstoppable role models — who prove the longer the race, the stronger they shine—the trails are becoming a place where every woman can thrive.

Happy International Women’s Month to all the runners, dreamers, and mountain-lovers out there. The future of Irish trail running is bright—and it’s increasingly female.