The following information is for the 2012 Galway Races.
See Galway Races Public Transport for the latest announcements.
- Bus Éireann shuttle buses will run from Eyre Square. Details below.
- Farrell Travel are running a Nightlink service to/from Athenry daily during race week, and shuttle services from Athenry and Oranmore. Details below.
- Both the route 409 - Parkmore and route 403 - Parkmore via Castlepark and Ballybrit city buses also go to the racecourse (Avenue entrance). But there are some restrictions during peak racing traffic hours Mon - Fri. Details below.
- There are some alternations to regular regional buses during race week. Links below.
- Some extra train services are running during the week, details below
Special Services to Ballybrit Racecourse
From Eyre Square (Galway city centre):
Bus Éireann are running special races shuttle buses from Eyre Square on each day of the Galway Races summer festival meeting (30 July - 5 August 2012).- Mon, Tues and Fri from 2pm - every few minutes as required
- Wed, Thus, Sat and Sun from 11am - every few minutes as required
The departure point is outside the Skeffington Arms Hotel on the west side of the square (map), and the buses go to the tunnel entrance of the racecourse. Return services are available after the meeting finishes.
These are shuttle buses, and do not pick-up or drop-off along the way.
From Oranmore
Farrell Travel are running races-special buses from Oranmore village to the Galway races.
Services leave the astroturf pitches (X on the Oranmore neighbourhood map) at the times below, and pick up at the Maldron hotel before going direct to Ballybrit
Monday and Tuesday – 2:30pm and 3:15pm
Wednesday – Every 15 minutes between 1:30pm and 2:45pm
Thursday – Every 15 minutes between 12-noon and 1:45pm
Friday – Every 15 minutes between 3:30pm and 4:45pm
Saturday and Sunday – 2pm
€5 single, €7 return.
Return buses leave 1/2 hour and 1 hour after the last race each day.
From Athenry:
Farrell Travel are running a Park-and-Ride from the Raheen Woods Hotel, leaving at:Monday and Tuesday – 2:15pm and 3:15pm
Wednesday – 1:15pm, 1:30pm, 2pm and 2:15pm
Thursday – 12-noon, 12:30pm, 1pm and 1:15pm
Friday – Every 15 minutes between 3:30pm and 4:45pm
Saturday and Sunday – 1:15pm and 2pm
€8 single, €10 return.
Return buses leave 1/2 hour and 1 hour after the last race each day.
From other towns:
Some hotels in County Galway offer packages that include races tickets and access to a shuttle-bus - contact them directly for more information.Regular Galway city services to Ballybrit
The Avenue (back) entrance to the racecourse (number (5) on the Parkmore area map) is served by these buses, which pick up from all stops along their route:- Route 403 - from Eyre Square, travel along College Rd, through Wellpark, Mervue, Castlepark and Ballybrit, then on to Parkmore
- Route 409 - from Eyre Square, travel along College and Dublin and Doughiska Rd
The usual city bus fares (including use of Travel Pass) apply.
These routes will end at the Briarhill Shopping Centre Junction (previously called the Lynch Roundabout) between
- 3pm - 5pm on Monday and Tuesday
- 12:30pm - 4pm on Wednesday
- 11:30am - 3:30pm on Thursday
- 4-6pm on Friday
People travelling at these times on route 403 or 409 to the racecourse, or to/from work in Parkmore area (Parkmore West Industrial Estate, Parkmore East Business and Technology Park, Galway Technology Park, Racecourse Business Park Briarhill Business Park), will need to walk for approx 15-20 minutes from this last stop. There are now traffic lights at the intersection, but these may be under manual / Garda control. There is also a pedestrian underpass beside the Clayton Hotel.
NB These times are based on the overall road closure times in the area, and may be extended if there are traffic management problems in the area.
Changes to regional bus services
Burkes Buses have cancelled these services for Race Week and the following week:
- 7am from Dunmore to Galway.
- 7am from Tuam to Galway.
- 5:10pm from Galway to Dunmore.
- 5:10pm will operate from Galway to Tuam only
Bus Éireann have advertised these changes for Wed 27th and Thurs 28th:
- 2:30pm Galway to Athenry - cancelled
- 4:15pm Athenry to Galway - cancelled
- 4:25pm Galway to Longford - delayed until 5:15pm
- 5:45pm Galway to Castlerea - delayed until 6pm
There may be other changes - these will be added as they become available.
Trains
Irish Rail are running extra trains on Wednesday and Thursday:- An additional trains will run from Athlone to Galway on Wednesday and Thursday, stopping at Ballinasloe, Woodlawn, Attymon and Athenry.
- Special late services will operate after the race meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, to both Dublin and Limerick.
Further details are in Iarnród Éirean's press release.