The GOAL Mile is held in villages, towns and cities all over Ireland during the Christmas holiday period, and is one of the country’s biggest and longest running annual fundraising events. The concept is simple: people run or walk a Mile and donate whatever they can afford to GOAL on the day.

Over 90 GOAL Miles have been organised by members of the public for this Christmas period, giving families the opportunity to run, jog or walk off the turkey and ham, and raise money for GOAL’s projects for the poor.

This year the flagship GOAL Miles will take place at two locations in Dublin. Tallaght Athletic Club will host a GOAL Mile on Greenhills Road, Tallaght on Christmas Day from 9.30 a.m., while the members of Cabinteely Athletic Club will hold the second flagship event at Kilbogget Park on the same day from 10 a.m.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to take part once again, and build upon the millions of euro that this particular fundraiser has helped to generate over the past 31 years.

Every county in Leinster, Munster and Connacht will be represented, from Caherciveen in Kerry, Duncannon Beach in Wexford and Rosses Point in Sligo. Another five counties - Donegal, Cavan, Monaghan, Derry and Antrim – will stage Miles in Ulster. 

Inmates from Cloverhill Prison are once again organising a GOAL Mile in the exercise yard, while some of the men from St. Patrick’s Institution for Young Offenders have also decided to hold a Mile on Christmas Day.