The 2026 Croí Night Run brought communities together across Ireland in one of Croí’s biggest and most far-reaching fundraising events to date, with thousands of people stepping out to run, jog and walk in support of heart and stroke prevention.
This year’s event marked an important new chapter for the Croí Night Run, with the first official event outside Galway taking place in Sligo, alongside the much-loved flagship event on Salthill Promenade in Galway.
Both official events brought an incredible atmosphere to the streets, with participants of all ages coming together to raise vital funds for Croí’s lifesaving work.
The Salthill event once again proved hugely popular, selling out 6 weeks in advance, while the new Sligo event marked the beginning of an exciting expansion for the Croí Night Run and was warmly embraced by the local community.
But the success of the 2026 Croí Night Run extended far beyond the two official events.
Communities across Ireland came together to organise their own local Croí Night Runs, with events taking place in Letterkenny, Skerries, Clifden, Craughwell, Headford, Ros an Mhíl, Tuam, Abbeyknockmoy, Aughnacliffe, Ballina and Castlerea.
From sports clubs and community organisations to groups of friends, families and colleagues, local organisers gave their time, energy and commitment to make each event a success and bring the message of heart health to their communities.
In total, 3,838 people took part in the 2026 Croí Charity Night Run Events, with 2 official runs and 11 community events held across the country raising over €220,000 in support of Croí’s work.
Speaking following the event, Christine Flanagan, Director of Fundraising at Croí, said, “We are truly grateful for the incredible support shown for this year’s Croí Night Run. To see so many people come together across the country, united by a shared commitment to heart health, has been incredibly inspiring.”
“This year was particularly special as we welcomed Sligo as the first official Croí Night Run outside Galway. The response from the people of Sligo has been fantastic and we want to sincerely thank everyone who helped us make this expansion such a success.”
“Our community Night Runs are at the very heart of what makes this event so special. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to every organiser, volunteer, club, community group and fundraiser who gave their time and energy to bring the Croí Night Run to their local area. Their dedication has allowed thousands more people to take part and has helped us reach communities right across Ireland.”
“Whether someone took part on Salthill Promenade, joined us in Sligo, organised a local community event, volunteered, fundraised or simply encouraged someone else to take part, every single contribution has helped Croí continue its vital work preventing heart disease and stroke and supporting people and families affected by these conditions.”
Croí extended a very special thank you to the communities who organised and supported this year’s local Night Runs:
- Letterkenny, Donegal
- Skerries, Dublin
- Abbeyknockmoy, Galway
- Clifden, Galway
- Craughwell, Galway
- Headford, Galway
- Ros an Mhíl, Galway
- Tuam, Galway
- Aughnacliffe, Longford
- Ballina, Mayo
- Castlerea, Roscommon
Each community brought its own energy and personality to the event, while sharing the same goal – bringing people together, encouraging physical activity and raising vital funds for heart and stroke prevention.
Croí is particularly grateful to the local clubs, venues, volunteers and community organisers who worked behind the scenes to coordinate routes, welcome participants, promote the events and create memorable evenings for everyone involved.
The success of the community Night Runs demonstrates the incredible impact that can be achieved when communities come together for a shared cause.
Croí also thanked Benecol, the event’s sponsor, for its continued support of the Croí Night Run. Benecol’s ongoing commitment has helped the event grow and reach more people, while sharing an important focus on heart health and encouraging positive steps towards healthier lifestyles.
Laura O’Connell, Brand Manager, Benecol, said, “We are proud to have supported the Croí Night Run again this year and to have seen communities across Ireland come together in such an incredible way. The energy, enthusiasm and commitment shown by participants and organisers has been inspiring.”
“It has been particularly exciting to see the event expand to Sligo this year, while the continued success of the community Night Runs demonstrates the strength of the Croí Night Run as a nationwide celebration of heart health.”
“At Benecol, supporting heart health is at the core of what we do, and we are delighted to continue our partnership with Croí and support the vital work they do in communities across Ireland.”
Funds raised through the Croí Night Run will help Croí continue to deliver vital heart and stroke prevention programmes, health checks, education, rehabilitation and patient and family support services, helping people and communities to take control of their heart health.
Croí would like to thank every participant, fundraiser, volunteer, community organiser, club, supporter and sponsor who helped make the 2026 Croí Night Run such a success.
From Salthill to Sligo and from Letterkenny to Ballina, the message was clear: when communities come together, every step can make a difference.
