THE GOAL MILE ON THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
THE GOAL MILE CHARITY EVENT EAST PIER DUN LAOGHAIRE [ST STEPHEN'S DAY 2025]
Walking Off the Christmas Dinner: The Magic of the GOAL Mile at Dún Laoghaire
There is a particular kind of crisp, sea-salty air that you only find in Dún Laoghaire on St. Stephen’s Day. As the frantic energy of Christmas Day subsides, leaving behind a wake of wrapping paper and empty tins of Roses, the East Pier offers the perfect antidote: The GOAL Mile.
For locals and visitors alike, the 26th of December is not just about leftovers; it is about lacing up trainers and joining a sea of t-shirts against the granite grey of the harbour.
A Walk with History When you step onto the East Pier, you are walking on a marvel of Victorian engineering. Constructed in the early 19th century from Dalkey granite, the pier was originally designed as an "asylum harbour" to shelter ships from treacherous storms. Today, it shelters us from the post-Christmas slump.
The walk is deceptively long. While the event is affectionately known as the "GOAL Mile," the East Pier demands a little more from its participants. Measuring 1.3km from the entrance to the lighthouse, a full return trip clocks in at 2.6km—over one and a half miles. But with the panoramic views of Dublin Bay, the Kish Bank lighthouse twinkling on the horizon, and the camaraderie of hundreds of fellow walkers, the distance flies by.
More Than Just a Stroll The atmosphere on the pier during the GOAL Mile is electric. It is a reunion of sorts; you are bound to bump into old work colleagues (perhaps debating whether the walk is a mile or 2km!), school friends, and neighbours. Children dart ahead in oversized t-shirts, dogs trot alongside sporting festive bandanas, and the buckets rattle with the generous donations that have kept this charity event running for over 40 years.
The funds raised go to support GOAL’s humanitarian work in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. It is a poignant reminder, amidst our own festivities, of the power of community spirit.
Walking Off the Christmas Dinner: The Magic of the GOAL Mile at Dún Laoghaire
There is a particular kind of crisp, sea-salty air that you only find in Dún Laoghaire on St. Stephen’s Day. As the frantic energy of Christmas Day subsides, leaving behind a wake of wrapping paper and empty tins of Roses, the East Pier offers the perfect antidote: The GOAL Mile.
For locals and visitors alike, the 26th of December is not just about leftovers; it is about lacing up trainers and joining a sea of t-shirts against the granite grey of the harbour.
A Walk with History When you step onto the East Pier, you are walking on a marvel of Victorian engineering. Constructed in the early 19th century from Dalkey granite, the pier was originally designed as an "asylum harbour" to shelter ships from treacherous storms. Today, it shelters us from the post-Christmas slump.
The walk is deceptively long. While the event is affectionately known as the "GOAL Mile," the East Pier demands a little more from its participants. Measuring 1.3km from the entrance to the lighthouse, a full return trip clocks in at 2.6km—over one and a half miles. But with the panoramic views of Dublin Bay, the Kish Bank lighthouse twinkling on the horizon, and the camaraderie of hundreds of fellow walkers, the distance flies by.
More Than Just a Stroll The atmosphere on the pier during the GOAL Mile is electric. It is a reunion of sorts; you are bound to bump into old work colleagues (perhaps debating whether the walk is a mile or 2km!), school friends, and neighbours. Children dart ahead in oversized t-shirts, dogs trot alongside sporting festive bandanas, and the buckets rattle with the generous donations that have kept this charity event running for over 40 years.
The funds raised go to support GOAL’s humanitarian work in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. It is a poignant reminder, amidst our own festivities, of the power of community spirit.
ABOUT THE GOAL MILE