Galway Races
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Summer Festival
Starting on the last Monday of July and lasting seven days, Galway hosts a week of horse racing during one of Ireland's most important and lively horse racing events.
The Galway Races are one of Ireland's most important, not to mention colourful horse racing events. During the last week of July, Ballybrit Race course hosts the Galway Races, a real spectacle n the Irish Horse Racing calendar, which attracts some 200,000 race-goers!
The Galway Races is a tradition that dates back 140 years to 1869 and involves major race events over 7 days. The highest prize is in excess of 200,000 euros. One of the highlights of the seven-day Galway festival is Ladies Day, which falls on a Thursday, where there'll be some fine fillies on show, both on and off the course.
The races are a huge event for Galway and are broadcast live throughout the 7-day festival on Ireland's main Television channels, RTE and TG4. This is one of the best times to sample the craic of Galway and the rugged west of Ireland, while ‘having a flutter on the horses!
Directions to the Race Course
- From Galway City
- From eastern departure points Dublin, Athlone, Ballinasloe
- From northern entry points – Sligo, Mayo, Tuam
- From southern departure points - Ennis, Shannon, Limerick, Cork
- From Galway Airport
From Galway City:
Option 1: Follow routes to the Morris roundabout (see map), take the exit marked N6 Dublin. Half way along dual carriageway on the left hand-side is the main entrance to the Galway Races.
Option 2: Follow routes to the N17 (Tuam Road). Continue along the N17 past City West Business Park on the right hand side. There will be two entrances to the Galway Races traveling in this direction; the first is shortly after City West Business Park on right hand side. The second entrance is further along the N17; take the right hand turn uphill towards Parkmore. Continue along this road, though a roundabout. The entrance to the Galway Races is on the right hand side.
From eastern departure points - Dublin, Athlone, Ballinasloe:
Follow road to Galway through Craughwell up until the Oranmore roundabout, you will take the last exit (third exit) towards Galway City. You will arrive onto another two more roundabouts, continue straight through the first at The Quality Inn. At the second roundabout take the second exit, following the N6 Road West into Galway. Here there are two options for entry to the Galway Races:
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Option 1:
At the Lynch roundabout, Western Motors is facing you with two exits to the left and one to the right. Take the second exit, heading towards Galway City. This will lead you onto another dual carriage there is an exit off the dual carriage leading directly into a Galway Races car park to the right. You will then take the pedestrian tunnel into the race course and arrive at front of stands.
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Option 2:
At the third roundabout, take the last exit for Carnmore / Galway Airport. Shortly after exiting the roundabout take the left hand turn marked Parkmore. An entrance to the Galway Races is up head on the left hand side marked Galway Racecourse.
From northern entry points – Sligo, Mayo, Tuam direction:
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Traveling along the N17 from Tuam, though Claregalway towards Galway City. Take a left hand turn, to Parkmore Industrial Park. Continue though a roundabout until you reach the entrance of the Galway Races on the right hand side. Clearly sign posted.
Following this route into the race course, patrons will arrive in at the back of the stands. Ample car parking facilities are provided on both these routes into the course.
From southern departure points - Ennis, Shannon, Limerick, Cork:
Follow directions to Galway until you reach the Oranmore by-pass roundabout. Take the second exit off this roundabout towards Galway City, you will arrive onto another two more roundabouts, continue straight through the first at The Quality Inn. At the second roundabout take the second exit, following the N6 Road West into Galway. Here there are two options for entry to the Galway Races:
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Option 1:
At the Lynch roundabout, Western Motors is facing you with two exits to the left and one to the right. Take the second exit, heading towards Galway City. This will lead you onto another dual carriage there is an exit off the dual carriage leading directly into a Galway Races car park to the right. You will then take the pedestrian tunnel into the race course and arrive at front of stands.
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Option 2:
At the third roundabout, take the last exit for Carnmore / Galway Airport. Shortly after exiting the roundabout take the left hand turn marked Parkmore. An entrance to the Galway Races is up head on the left hand side marked Galway Racecourse.
From Galway Airport:
On exiting the airport turn left. Continue along this road (Monivea Road) until you reach a traffic light junction. The Galway Race course entrance is to the right, marked Galway Races / Parkmore. Again the race course will be clearly marked by yellow AA road signs from Galway Airport until the entrance.
Courtesy of http://www.galwayraces.com.
Ladies Day
The highlight of the week for the greater sex is definitely ‘The Best Dressed Person Competition’ which happens on the Thursday of the festival, widely known as Ladies Day.
The prizes in 2010 was a diamond pendant valued at €8,500, €1,000 cash and €1,500 voucher for Anthony Ryan Ltd. The prize for the Best Hat was €1,500 voucher for Anthony Ryan Ltd. The ‘Best Dressed Person’ event at the Galway Races is a fashion highlight of the year.
Entry: There is no formal entry procedure to the competitions. Judges simply wander through the crowds and invite chosen finalists to the Anthony Ryan marquee, adjacent to the Champagne Tent. The winning outfits will be announced at approximately 4pm.
What some of our Guests and Staff say:
The Galway races are an event like no other. The quality of racing, atmosphere and craic to be had is not matched at any other racing festival throughout the year. A must see if your lucky enough to be in the area in late July/early August.
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Ladys Day at the Galway Racing festival is truly one of the best days out you can have in any year in Ireland. There are few events that instill such excitement and anticipation in people and you are guaranteed a great day out. Even sitting in Galway traffic trying to get into the race course parking area is fun. There is no road rage to be seen here, people are happy to just chat to the people in the neighbouring car to while away the time until they get in or count the number of helicopters in the sky at any one. Getting to the Galway races by helicopter is one of the preferred modes of transport to the event. Everybody makes a special effort, the women are beautifully dressed and you will find it hard to spot a man that is not equally impeciably dressed. No jean or shorts to be seen on Ladys Day!
Once you get into the race course itself the atmosphere is electric. Everybody has a "tip" or a "dead cert" to win and it takes a shrewd race-goer to figure out the "also rans" from the true prize winners. However, fun is the name of the game as as long as you dont bet your last few Euros on "the nag" you will have a great time and a visit to the champagne tent is a great way to celebrate your "big win".
Whats is so lovely about the Galway races is that you will find the same people there year in year out so lots of familiar faces about the place. Having said that you are always guaranteed to meet new friends that you will be bumping into again next year.
The Galway Races is one of the top race meetings of the year in Ireland offering first class race horses and excellent prize money. The Galway Plate is the biggest race of the meeting each year.
At the end of a good days racing nobody goes home as the party continues in the bars and restaurants in Galway city.
Joan O Connell - June 14 2008
Managing Director
Discovering Ireland Vacation
More information on the Galway Races
For more information on the Galway Races log on to http://www.galwayraces.com/
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