Decision to drop Belfast Marathon's eight-mile walk 'gutting'

A man who has raised almost £80,000 for charity taking part in the Belfast Marathon's eight-mile walk event has said he is "gutted" it will not go ahead next year.

The walk, which was first staged in 1997, will not be part of the 2026 event.

Jimmy O'Boyle, from the townland of Aghavary outside Ballymena, started taking part 15 years ago after suffering kidney failure, saying he "wanted to give something back to society".

Claire O'Neill, the chief executive of Belfast Marathon, said the decision to cancel the walk "was not taken lightly".

Mr O'Boyle said he has taken part in the walk for a different charity each year.

"I'm gutted, as will be many people in this country, because not everyone can run," he told The Nolan Show.

"But they all go out to do that eight-mile walk and they all do it for a charity."

Mr O'Boyle said the event was something he looked forward to each year.

"I'm not fit by any means but this is something I've always done," he said.

"I set out to do it once 15 years ago and then I got a bug [to keep doing it] and I've lost friends along the way that I've done it for, whether it was from cancer or road traffic accidents.

"It's the one time in the year where you can go out and do something for others."

He said there is a real "buzz" walking up into Ormeau Park and down the Ravenhill Road "where all the churches are and everybody's out meeting you and greeting you".

The 2026 Belfast Marathon will take place on 3 May and will now include the full marathon and the team relay.

Ms O'Neill, of Belfast Marathon, said she understood a lot of "loyal participants will be disappointed" that the walk is no longer included and said the decision "was not taken lightly".

"The decision is not about excluding the walkers - the marathon is in a very different position in 2025 than what it was in 1997," she said.

"It's about us aligning to where the demand is, there's a major running boon going on at the minute."

A spokesperson for the marathon added: "We've retained walking options within other events and welcome walkers at the Women's 10K [June – Titanic Quarter] and the 5K Fun Run [November – City Hall] events.

"This decision had been made for 2026 and like all strategic plans for the company will be reviewed for future years."