Galway

For many, the undoubted highlight of the busy summer racing schedule is the week-long Galway Summer Festival which traditionally runs into the August Bank holiday weekend. This seven-day festival attracts the biggest crowds of the year with the historic Galway Plate, which dates back to 1869, and the Galway Hurdle, the two most coveted races of the week. National Hunt (jump) racing and Flat racing go hand-in-hand at Galway. The racecourse also stages a two-day meeting in September and a three-day festival in October. Galway Racecourse is situated 6kms from the city centre and not far from the M4 motorway.