Galway Race Course

The Galway Races is one of the most celebrated racing festivals in the world. Galway a city renowned for it’s love of festivals cherishes the Ballybrit meet like no other. The unique appeal of the Galway Races is for both racing affiliations and casual racing fans alike. The city embraces the week long festival making it one of the best times to visit Galway.

Here in the Connacht Hotel we love to welcome racing fans to Galway. We are located on the East side of the city just 5km from the track. A short journey via taxi, during the races we also provide buses to the Race Course for guests. Every year we provide top class entertainment with live music seven nights a week.

Fast Facts

The first racing festival held in Ballybrit was a two-day event with the first race meeting on Tuesday, 17 August 1869.

The summer festival was extended to a 3-day meeting in 1959, 4 days in 1971, 5 days in 1974, 6 days in 1982 and, most recently to, 7 days in 1999. The summer festival is the highlight of the business year for most local businesses as crowds and horses flock from all over the world to attend one of the world's biggest race meetings.

The pub underneath the Corrib Stand, built in 1955, was for many years the longest bar in the world. It was replaced by the Millennium Stand which opened in 1999. The Killanin Stand opened in 2007 replacing the old Corrib (west) Stand.

Additional race meetings also take place in September and October, which have grown in popularity and standard over recent years, Corporate hospitality is very popular for these meets in particular.

Apart from the race meets throughout the year the Ballybrit venue hosts a number of other diverse events.

• The ever popular Elf Town 
• The Racecourse has recently hosted Ireland’s Premier Medical Device and Manufacturing Event in September
• Irelands leading professional recruitment and networking event, Career Zoo, was also held in The Racetrack 

For bus info click here.