Galway Races
Ireland’s biggest and most famous racing festival is held in Galway during the last week of July every year and involves seven days of unrivalled action.
The 2024 festival runs from Monday the 29th of July to Sunday the 4th of August. An estimated 250,000 people attend the Galway Races throughout the week with revellers enjoying Galway’s brilliant atmosphere. It is a joyous, fun-filled seven days where people might leave with a few less Euros than they had when they arrived but they also leave with great new experiences, new friends and a time that will never be forgotten!
The Clybaun Hotel is a popular base for racegoers and offers ample, free parking and extensive guest facilities, including a superbly equipped gym and 18m pool. Book Direct with us and be our guest for Ireland’s greatest racing festival.
The Festival
There are around 50 races throughout the Galway Festival with the total prize money on offer often exceeding €2 million. The Blue Riband and most famous event is the Galway Plate, a race that is central to the history of the Galway races. It takes place on the third day of the meeting, Wednesday, and it is usually the race that attracts the biggest crowds, the most media attention and certainly a good portion of the Galway Festival betting.
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Galway Races Ladies Day
Galway Festival Ladies Day is on the fourth day of the festival and it is one of the most colourful. Widely renowned as ‘Ladies Day’ at the Galway Festival, Thursday combines the very best in racing and fashion for the pinnacle of the summer racing calendar. Ladies Day’ has always been the most visually sumptuous of our Festival events with the opportunity to socialise and show off your sartorial style. You could be awarded the ultimate accolade of being voted a winner in Best Dressed Competition and Best Hat Competition! There is a significant prize (up to €10,000) for the winner of Best Dressed Lady competition and also (up to €2,000) for the Best Hat competition. Throughout the day, there will also be live music on-course. What could possibly keep you away on this very special day? There is no formal entry procedure to the competitions held on Ladies Day at the Galway Races. Galway Races is unique in that the invited judges simply wander through the crowds and invite a select number of chosen finalists to the Ladies Day Marquee, adjacent to the Champagne Marquee.
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Accommodation for Galway Races Festival
The Clybaun Hotel is ideally located for your Galway Race Festival visit. While the action during the day is out at the track in Ballybrit it quickly transfers to the City Centre in the evening with the famous "Latin Quarter" of pubs and restaurants being the centre of activity. We are only a brisk walk from the Latin Quarter and ideally located on Salthill promenade for those recovery days when you need to be away from the crowd. See our special offers.
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