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