Arklow Tidy Towns to host 5k Easter Fun Run

Walkers and runners are being urged to put their best foot forward as Arklow Tidy Towns hosts a day of fun events at the Riverwalk on Easter Monday.

Tidy Towns volunteers, together with Altura Credit Union, have organised a family-friendly festival of nature on Easter Monday (April 22) to celebrate World Earth Day.

Kicking things off will be a 5k fun run at 10 a.m. Beginning at the St Mary’s Park bandstand, the run will take place aong the 1.8km riverbank path of the Avoca River and head towards Glenart Woods, in celebration of the recent restoration of the area by Arklow Tidy Towns and to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of the trail.

The Irish Trails accredited route, which is open to walkers and runners of all ages, is mainly off-road with nature themed decorations along the river bank path leading up a moderate incline into Ballyraine and Glenart Wood, going over a pedestrian bridge at M11 and looping at another bridge in Glenart Wood on a mixture of tarmac, gravel and clay paths, before heading back into town to the finish line.

Places are limited to 200. Online registration is open now on popupraces.ie and will stay open until 48 hours before the event. Online registration costs €10 for adults (it will be €15 on the day) and €5 for under 16s. Registration will take place from 9 a.m. with the run getting under way at 10 a.m.

Later that same afternoon, Arklow Tidy Towns will be hosting a family-friendly 2k walk at 2.30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to join in and there is no registration required.

A new environmental sign, outlining the 2k nature trail and some of the flora and fauna that can be seen along it, will be unveiled around 3.15 p.m. at the riverwalk, where a tree will also be planted.

Arklow Tidy Towns has been busy over the last few months clearing and tidying up the riverwalk area of the town to open it up to locals as a place to come to relax, exercise and take in the beauty of their town. They hope that Monday’s run and walk will get the ball rolling in that regard and urge as many people as possible to come along.