Ballydesmond 5k

The Ballydesmond 5k starts and finishes at Ballydesmond GAA, in the village of Ballydesmond on the Cork-Kerry border. Described by organisers as a lovely out-and-back route, the course runs through the Sliabh Luachra area, a region renowned for its traditional music heritage straddling the two counties. The road heads out from the GAA grounds along the local countryside before turning and retracing the same route back to the finish, giving runners a straightforward, easy-to-follow layout. The surface is entirely on public road, taking in the rolling countryside typical of this part of North Cork and East Kerry. Organised by Duhallow AC, the event is officially permitted under Athletics Ireland, with an evening start giving it a relaxed, sociable feel as the summer light fades. It's a genuinely local community race, drawing entrants from clubs across the wider Duhallow area and beyond.