Ireland’s top mountain runners are gearing up for one of the sport’s biggest stages this autumn, after the Irish Mountain Running Association (IMRA) confirmed the squads for the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships (WMTRC) in Canfranc-Pirineos, Spain (25-28 September 2025).
The World Championships head to Spain and the Pyrenees for the very first time. Canfranc-Pirineos, world-famous for its dramatic International Railway Station, will host a packed programme of races: uphill only, classic up & down, short trail, long trail and U20 classic. Around 1,700 athletes from 70 countries are expected to descend on the Aragonese town for four days of competition and a wider cultural festival celebrating the mountains.
Among those pulling on the Irish vest is Outsider editor Matthew McConnell, who will compete in both the Uphill and the Classic events. For him, the Championships represent both a professional and personal milestone:
“The selection races this year were some of the most competitive I’ve ever seen. To earn a spot feels incredibly rewarding, especially knowing the calibre of athletes we’ll be lining up against in Spain,” says Matt.
“What excites me most about Canfranc is the terrain, steep, technical, and unforgiving. It’s a real mountain runner’s course, and I think it’s going to bring out the best in our team.”
The Irish Team Selections
Uphill Only 6km / 988m
Ladies: Sarah McCormack, Kate McDonald, Lisa Hegarty, Edel Monaghan
Men: Zak Hanna, Aaron McGrady, Jared Martin, Matthew McConnell
Classic Up & Down 15km / 800m
Ladies: Sarah Mulligan, Louise Murray, Jo Hickman Dunne, Dee Collins
Men: Killian Mooney, Jared Martin, Matthew McConnell, Martin Keohane
Long Trail 82k / 5,500m
Ladies: Aoife Mundow
Men: Ricki Wynne, Paddy O’Leary, Cillian Flemming
Short Trail 45km / 3,500m
Ladies: Laura O’Driscoll, Sorcha Loughnane, Esther Dickson
Men: Enda Cloake, Luke Weldon, John Kinsella, Gavin Byrne
U20 Classic 7km / 400m
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Boys: Finn Yore, Eoin McConnell, Rudy Mayne, Riley Connolly
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Girls: Anna McGookin, Abby Smith, Sinead Farrell, Alaoise Geraghty
“I volunteered at the U20 Trial and watching the races was inspiring,” adds Matt. “The standard is so high, and the fight for those last spots came down to the wire. It shows the depth of mountain running talent coming through in Ireland right now.”
Looking Ahead
With Spain’s rugged Pyrenees ready to host the world’s elite, Team Ireland will aim to make its mark across multiple disciplines. For Matt, the experience will be about much more than individual results:
“Pulling on the Irish vest is always special. But what makes it truly meaningful is the sense of team spirit. Whether you’re running uphill, classic, or trail, we’re all representing something bigger than ourselves. That’s what drives us forward.”
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