At the races

Horse racing is in our DNA and a visit to the Irish National Stud in County Kildare tells a lot of the story. Summers are definitely made all the better by the Galway Races, while the lazy days that linger after Christmas are perked up by meets at Leopardstown in Dublin and Down Royal Racecourse, County Down. Punchestown in Kildare is a rite of passage for thousands of race-goers every year. The Curragh in Kildare and Downpatrick Racecourse are also justly famous for their festive atmospheres. Ireland is an excellent place to start if you haven’t experienced a day out at the races.

The highlight of the Irish horse racing calendar, The Galway Races which are a must for anyone who likes a great Summer day out. Enjoy a lively affair of racing, dining, socialising and live music. Watch as Ireland’s fastest horses gallop around the famous Galway Racecourse from the lavish restaurant or mingle with the punters track-side.  Fantastic horse racing isn’t limited to the seven day festival, there’s a great schedule of events throughout summer and autumn.

Horse racing in Ireland doesn’t get much bigger than the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, watch as majestic horses race to claim some of the biggest prizes in Irish horse racing. Enjoy live racing at the Leopardstown Racecourse and see famous horses and jockeys in action at this exciting racecourse.  Cheer on your favourites from the grandstand and hear the roar as they cross the finish line.

Horse-riding in Ireland

There are plenty of treks and trails to choose from for horse-riding  including those that bring you down to the golden beaches around the island to cross-country riding which combines speed, agility and precision as you tackle banks, water obstacles, drops and wooden logs around some of the island’s excellent cross-country courses.

If you’re not an experienced horse-rider, but would love to try it out, almost all equestrian centres take on any level of expertise, and qualified instructors can help you establish balance and confidence on the horse that has been specially selected for you. On the beautiful beaches of the Atlantic coast, you can ride for miles on a horse riding lesson without interruption to the more challenging rides in the open countryside of the stunning Dingle Peninsula.