Competition Recurring

Aquathlon National Championships — Athlone

Name: Aquathlon National Championships — Athlone
Start: 2026-08-02T10:00:00:00+01:00
Location: River Shannon

2 August 202610:00 – 14:00River Shannon, Athlone, Westmeath

About This Event

The Aquathlon National Championships takes place on 2 August 2026 in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, in conjunction with the Athlone River Festival. The format is a 750m swim in the River Shannon followed by a 5km run through Athlone town centre — no bike, making this one of the most accessible multi-sport championship events in Ireland. A Try-A-Aquathlon option (250m swim) caters to beginners.

Recurring Event

Held annually in August during Athlone River Festival

What to Expect

The swim is in the River Shannon at Athlone — a wide, steady-flowing river with moderate current. Water temperature in August is typically 16–18°C. The 750m course is set within a controlled section of the river with safety boats and kayakers. The 5km run takes you through Athlone town centre on closed roads. The event takes place during the Athlone River Festival, which adds a carnival atmosphere: food stalls, music, and town-wide activities. The aquathlon format (swim + run only) removes the cycling equipment barrier, making it one of the cheapest and simplest ways to try multi-sport racing at a national championship level.

Who It's For

The standard 750m swim + 5km run is for swimmers and runners with basic open water experience. The Try-A-Aquathlon (250m swim) is designed for complete beginners — an excellent first multi-sport event. Triathlon Ireland membership or ODM is required. This is a national championship, so the 750m distance attracts competitive age-group athletes alongside first-timers in the Try category.

Triathlon

Age Groups

teen_adultadult

Skill Levels

beginnerintermediateadvanced

How to Enter

Registration is online — check the Triathlon Ireland race calendar or raceresult.com for the specific entry link. Triathlon Ireland licence or ODM required. Entry fees are modest (typically €30–€50). The event is part of the Athlone River Festival programme.

Getting There

Athlone is in the heart of Ireland on the River Shannon — about 1.5 hours from Dublin via the M6 and 1.5 hours from Galway. The town centre is compact and walkable. Free parking is available but busy during the River Festival weekend. Athlone has a train station on the Dublin–Galway line with regular services. Hotels, B&Bs, and restaurants are plentiful in the town centre. The Celtic Warrior event at Lough Ennell (30 min away) is on the day before, making a weekend double feasible.

Related Events

The Aquathlon Nationals pair naturally with the Celtic Warrior Multisport Weekend (August) at Lough Ennell, 30 minutes away — a feasible Saturday/Sunday double. For swimmers wanting to try multi-sport without a bike, this is the lowest-barrier national championship. The Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon (May) and TriAthy (May) also offer beginner-friendly multi-sport options earlier in the year.