Expanded fields for 2027 Strabane Lifford and Waterside Half Marathons approved by Councillors
14 October 2026
Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Business and Culture Committee have approved plans to expand the Strabane Lifford and Waterside Half Marathons in 2027 following record participation levels at both events this year.
The 2027 Strabane Lifford Half Marathon will take place on Sunday May 16th with a proposed capacity of 1,800 participants, while the 2027 Waterside Half Marathon is scheduled for Sunday September 5th with capacity set to increase to 4,500 participants.
The proposals follow a successful year for both events, with the Strabane Lifford recording 1,570 registrations and 1,293 finishers in May.
The Waterside Half Marathon, held on September 6th, attracted 4,248 registrations and saw a record 2,986 participants complete the course.
Head of Culture at Derry City and Strabane District Council, Jacqueline Whoriskey, welcomed the continued growth of the events and said the plans would help build on their success while ensuring they remain sustainable for the future.
“Both the Strabane Lifford and Waterside Half Marathons have enjoyed a positive year with record participation numbers.
“The growing interest in these events demonstrates the appetite for accessible, well organised running events and the important role they play in promoting health and wellbeing and attracting visitors.
“The proposed increases in participant numbers will allow us to build on this momentum, while continuing to explore sponsorship opportunities and additional income to support the delivery of both races.
“We also want to encourage more people to take part, and we will work with our Sports Development team on initiatives such as Couch to 5K to help people take their first steps towards participating.”
Both events will continue to form part of the Council’s wider sporting events programme, celebrating participation, community involvement and the benefits of an active lifestyle.
Registration for both events is expected to open in December, for updates follow the Waterside Half Marathon and the Strabane Lifford Half Marathon on social media or visit www.derrystrabane.com/whm and www.derrystrabane.com/slhm