New Ross parkrun

What to Expect

New Ross parkrun is a free, timed 5k run, jog or walk held every Saturday morning at 9:30am inside the John F. Kennedy Arboretum, about 12km south of New Ross on the road toward the Hook peninsula. The arboretum is a substantial piece of parkland to run through: 252 hectares holding more than 5,000 types of trees and shrubs, the largest catalogued tree collection in the country. It was opened as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy in May 1968, funded through Irish American fundraising after his 1963 visit to the family homestead at nearby Dunganstown, and it is managed today by the National Botanic Gardens on behalf of the Office of Public Works.

Ground inside the grounds rises from around 36 metres near the entrance to 271 metres at the summit of Slieve Coillte, so the course runs on made paths through mature woodland and conifer plantations rather than across flat open ground. As with every parkrun in Ireland it is free, volunteer run and open to any pace, with a barcode scan at the finish recording each result. First timers register once online in advance and bring a printed or saved barcode. The event draws a mix of New Ross and south Kilkenny club runners, families walking the distance, and visiting parkrun tourists who come specifically for the arboretum setting, which includes an ericaceous garden with over 500 rhododendrons and azaleas.

Good to Know

• Every Saturday at 9:30am, year round except Christmas Day. Next event Saturday 15 August 2026
• Venue: John F. Kennedy Arboretum, Dunganstown, New Ross, Co. Wexford
• Free to take part. Register once at parkrun.ie and bring your barcode to be scanned
• A 5k on arboretum paths through woodland, suitable for walking, jogging or running
• The arboretum itself normally charges a vehicle entry fee, separate from the free parkrun
• This listing is dated to the next occurrence. The event repeats every week

Getting There

The arboretum is signposted from New Ross town, roughly a 15 minute drive south on the R733 through Dunganstown, with parking on site. There is no direct public transport to the gates, so a car or a lift is the practical option for most participants. The Kennedy Homestead and Dunbrody Famine Ship in New Ross are both close by if you are making a morning of it.