Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon & Multisport Festival

The Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon & Multisport Festival is one of the most unique events on the Irish triathlon calendar — a full weekend of racing on a 1,000-acre private castle estate in Co. Galway. The 2026 edition runs 23–24 May and offers everything from a 200m starter triathlon to a half-iron Gauntlet distance, plus duathlon, aquabike, aquathlon, open water swim, and running events. It genuinely caters to ages 9 to 90.

The swim takes place in Lough Cutra — a private lake on the castle grounds with clean, calm freshwater. The bike course uses quiet Galway roads, and the run loops through the castle estate. The setting is spectacular: a Gothic Revival castle as the backdrop, rolling green grounds, and a festival village with live music, food vendors, yoga, and children's entertainment. This is as much a festival as a race. Families camp on the castle grounds (from €30), and the atmosphere is inclusive and celebratory. That said, the Gauntlet (1.9km/90km/21km) is a genuine half-iron distance that attracts serious racers. The Mixed Team Relay on Saturday afternoon (€500 prize) adds a fun team element. The event is Triathlon Ireland sanctioned.

Registration is through castleraceseries.com. Entry fees range from £35 (junior events) to £245 (Gauntlet individual) — relay team entries are slightly higher. Early registration is recommended as popular distances fill up. Ferry discounts with Stena Line and Irish Ferries are available for those travelling from the UK.

Lough Cutra Castle is near Gort, Co. Galway — about 1 hour from Galway city and 2.5 hours from Dublin. The castle estate has on-site parking and a family campsite for tents and caravans. Gort town (10 min) has B&Bs and restaurants. For those not camping, Galway city offers the best range of accommodation. The castle grounds are well-signed from the main road.

Lough Cutra is the most beginner-friendly multisport event in Ireland — the Starter triathlon is ideal for a first-ever tri. For those stepping up, TriAthy (May) offers Sprint and Olympic distances on the River Barrow. The Celtic Warrior Multisport Weekend (August) is a similar festival-format event in the midlands. Serious Gauntlet finishers often progress to Ironman 70.3 Cork (August) or the Hardman Killarney (August).