Several people expressed their frustration on social media at the turn of events on Saturday morning.
Organisers of the Dublin half marathon have issued an apology to participants and have been forced to push back the start of the event due to traffic chaos on Saturday morning.
The annual event was moved to a new location in Newbridge Demesne in north Dublin for 2017, but traffic delays, particularly on the M1, forced organisers to push back the start time from 9.30am to 10am.
RACE UPDATE || The start of the @sseairtricity #DublinHalfMarathon is delayed now until 10:00am – we'll review again at 9:30am
— Irish Life Dublin Marathon (@dublinmarathon) September 23, 2017
A picture posted by the Gardaí on Twitter of traffic at Lissenhall on the M1 illustrated what people travelling to the event had to put up with.
M1: large volumes of traffic at Lissenhall due to 'Dublin Half Marathon'. Please use alternative routes pic.twitter.com/byMVjyb7WR
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) September 23, 2017
Image via Twitter/An Garda Síochána
Notices of delays were posted on the Dublin Marathon account on Twitter from early on Saturday morning and it was initially decided to push back the start time by 15 minutes to 9.45am and subsequently by 30 minutes until 10am.
Race Director Jim Aughney issued the following apology to some 9,200 participants and promised that a full traffic management review with all stakeholders would take place after the event.
Race Update below. #DublinHalfMarathon pic.twitter.com/noSQgdEhRa
— Irish Life Dublin Marathon (@dublinmarathon) September 23, 2017
Several people expressed frustration at the situation on Twitter on Saturday morning.
Total shambles of traffic management for the #DublinHalfMarathon . We are prisoners in donabate this morning. Kids matches off all round
— AntZ (@AnthonyZaidan1) September 23, 2017
Traffic management for the #DublinHalfMarathon is a disaster. Who's idea was it to move it from Phoenix Park to Donabate? Crazy decision.
— Same Old Silent Disco (@sameoldniamh) September 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/Gazazar/status/911500129085087745
"Let's have the #DublinHalfMarathon in Newbrige Demense." said nobody intelligent ever. #TrafficChaos
— Barry Doyle (@bmpdoyle) September 23, 2017
Think I'll be going for PB today just so I can get out of the car park quicker after #DublinHalfMarathon #lifegoals 😐
— Eric Leahy (@EricLeahy) September 23, 2017
Sit tight, keep working your way towards the start and channel any frustration into a strong run. Remember we do this for fun. https://t.co/zXBcez5bSd
— Killian Byrne (@killianbyrne) September 23, 2017
Please also remember that many of the officials you will meet are volunteers, don't take any frustration out on them. #DublinHalfMarathon
— Killian Byrne (@killianbyrne) September 23, 2017
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