TOUR OF THE ISLAND
Let us take you on a journey through time around Islandmagee !
DID YOU KNOW:
Dating back to 1641 Islandmagee is mentioned in the Irish Rebellion regarding the massacre of more than 3000 people. Noted as possibly the first massacre of the rebellion and the war of the Three Kingdoms
In 1710 Islandmagee was the site of Witch trial where 8 women were convicted of witchcraft and sentenced to a years imprisonment in Carrickfergus Gaol. the last Witch trial in Ireland was in Islandmagee.
Islandmagee is the home of the Ballylumford Dolmen. Known locally as the "Druid's Altar", this megalithic monument could date to 2500 BC (The Early Bronze Age), or be the remains of an earlier Neolithic simple passage tomb dating to c. 4000 BC. It consists of four upright stones, with a heavy capstone and a fallenstone within the structure. The fallenstone may have been put there to block the entrance to the tomb.
Neolithic houses have been excavated at Ballyharry, on the Islandmagee peninsula. Finds included Neolithic pottery, flint arrowheads, javelin heads, polished stone axe fragments and quernstones.
Dinosaur remains were found in the area in the 19th century and in the 20th century. These were the first find of dinosaur fossil bones ever found in Ireland
Legend also has it that in 1814 a Mermaid was caught by a fisherman in Portmuck.
So what is the run? The run consists of a Marathon and Half Marathon.
The Marathon starts in Whitehead and Finishes in Whitehead but takes you on a journey to Ballycarry before heading to Islandmagee where you will take in the whole of the island you will run on almost every road and visit every location on the island.
The Half Marathon will also start and finish in Whitehead and will follow part of the Marathon route to Islandmagee and will take a turn back to Whitehead.
This is a great route and a challenging route you wont be disappointed!
Start time for both Marathon and Half Marathon will be at 08.00am in Whitehead.
Registration & Number collection will be from 7.00am.
Time limit for the Marathon will be 7hours.
Time limit for the Half marathon will be 3.5Hours.
There will be a GPX of the route.
Elevation for the Marathon total ascent 2996feet
Toilet facilities may available at the start/registration and at the finish(same location) provided we have enough registered to take part to enable us to book the hall.
Please note: Both of the events are self navigating events, you follow our tried and tested road books that give you step by step instructions to guide you around the course, there are no Marshals or extra signage around the course, ( no map reading skills required).
You are required to carry your own water and food supplies for the duration of your chosen distance we will however have a water refill station at around half way for the Marathon, we do not provide bottled water or cups you are required to carry your own bottles/hydration packs that can be refilled ( we are a leave no trace event organiser).
You are required to carry your own water and food supplies for the duration of your chosen distance we will however have a water refill station at around half way for the Marathon, we do not provide bottled water or cups you are required to carry your own bottles/hydration packs that can be refilled ( we are a leave no trace event organiser).