No one can say they've really been to Galway before they've been to the Galway Races. Every year the festival kicks off on the last Monday in July and runs for seven consecutive days. Each day has a different theme, and the most popular day is Ladies Day (Thursday). This year I made it to Monday's race meeting. Being a races nut back home (we have the Melbourne Cup Carnival and all) I knew how to handle the event, and planned a glammed-up outfit with classy finishings and accessories. To my surprise (and minor embarrassment) I discovered that the Summer Racing Festival at Galway does not necessarily = fashions on the field. Oh no.... while we were primped to the max in tailored dresses, hair pieces and full make-up, the majority of the crowd was hanging out in jeans. We felt SO stupid! So a note of warning to you all - if you want to get dressed up for the Galway Races, go to Thursday's race meeting - it's Ladies Day and everyone gets dressed up. On all the other days you just look slightly out of place... However, we didn't let our inappropriate attire spoil our evening... oh no! Off we trotted, firstly to the bar (Guinness have a v cool oyster and Guinness bar here), and next to place some well thought out bets (aka betting on the horse with the coolest name, or the one that looks the prettiest in the ring). We fought our way through to the front of the bookies' queues and prepared to win big. Needless to say it didn't happen that way. Of course every cent we bet went down the drain (it just goes to show that gambling doesn't pay) but we hadn't bet our life savings or anything, so we weren't too downtrodden. The races themselves were great craic, and everyone gets right into them. I noticed that between races everyone goes off to bet on the next race. That doesn't happen so much back home - must be a healthier betting culture here! Probably the funniest moment of the day was when the skies suddenly opened and it poured rain. The mad dash to the grandstand was a sight to behold, to be sure. A ticket to the Galway Races will set you back 20-30 euros, and you can catch a bus there and back from town. And in case you hadn't cottoned on to the Galway party style, the town goes MAD during races week. Great craic. Get yourself there. read more

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I think I could be the bookies new best friend! Oh dear, a lot of money was spent on horse that seemed to loose heart in the final sprint to the finish much to my dismay. I was convinced that shouting heart felt curses at them would work, along with cursing the jockeys for their short stubby legs and what not. Obviously the gods of the race course did not favor this. All in all, the races are a highly entertaining day out. I managed to go in Ladies Day (Thurs) in all my finery and found myself highly amused by what can simple described as oranges with legs, in ill fitting shoes and belts for dresses. Oh I was in my element in my white dress trying not to let any of them brush against me. So if you find yourself highly amused with the saying "look what the cat dragged in through orange blotchy paint" then do go along. This is not to say that there aren't a few garments that are beautiful, they just need to be searched for and are often found within the Champagne Tent. Now the Champagne Tent, in my opinion, is designed for those who do not wish to sit in a private box up above all the common riff raff, but still don't want to mingle with them. This carefully constructed scheme is created by simply not selling champagne by the glass. You may think that this is not a great deterrent but oh it is. Considering that yours truly and friend who wasn't to be drinking were just searching for a singular glass, we believed it in our best interests that a bottle would be a bad idea considering I would be absolutely shit faced as I would HAVE to drink it all. If the gowns and champagne isn't for you then head over to the betting stands and place a 5 euro bet. Trust me it gets addictive. The best thing is to set a group of friends in the stands whilst you and another pose go and place some bets. Rush back and see your horse stride to victory. Of course this is all hypothetically speaking as in my case, my horse decided to stumble in the last 50yards with a 50/1 odd with a 10 euro bet. My main piece of advice is to take a car. Ignore what everyone says about taking a bus, the bus is horrible as the wait and ques for the buses are disgraceful along with the behavior of some of the 'young uns.' Take a car and cram it with friends, or as many as seat-belts will allow. The only wait in a car will be to get out of the car park but after that it's plain sailing. Or even more simply, make friends with someone who owns a helicopter. read more

Everything over priced at the races, difficult to get to and taxis are a rip off. The actual races were just OK, over rates I think myself. read more