The following information is for services to the Galway Races in 2013.
Summary
The Galway Races Summer Meeting is from Monday 29 July - Sunday 4 August 2013.
- Bus Éireann special races 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 Claregalway Athenry and Oranmore. Details below.
- The Park and Ride from Galway Airport to Galway City will operate during race week.
- Some extra train services are running during the week, details below
Race days and times
- Monday 29 July - Hotels Day: First race at 5:10pm - last race at 8:15pm
- Tuesday 30 July: First race at 5:05pm - last race at 8:15pm
- Wednesday 31 July - Galway Plate Day: First race at 3pm - last race at 7:10pm
- Thursday 1 August - Ladies Day: First race at 1:50pm - last race at 6:10pm
- Friday 2 August - Guinness Day / Local's day: First race at 5:05pm - last race at 8:25pm
- Saturday 3 August - Ladbrokes Red Day: First race at 2pm - last race at 5:55pm
- Sunday 4 August - Mad Hatters Day / Family day - first race at 2:15pm - last race at 5:30pm
Special Bus Services to Ballybrit Racecourse
From Eyre Square (Galway city centre)
Bus Éireann are running the races-special service between Eyre Square and Galway Racecourse.
Monday, 29 July and Tuesday, 30 July
- Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square from 3pm
- The return services will start after the last race, and the last shuttle bus will leave the racecourse at approximately 9:30pm.
Wednesday 31 July and Thursday 1 August
- Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square from 11am
- The return services will start after the last race, and the last shuttle bus will leave the racecourse at approximately 8:30pm.
Friday, 2 August
- Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square from 3pm
- Return services will start after the last race, and the last shuttle bus will leave the racecourse at approximately 9:30pm.
Saturday 3 August and Sunday 4 August
- Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square from 11am
- Return services will start after the last race, and the last shuttle bus will leave the racecourse at approximately 8:30pm.
Fares
- Adult: €6 single and €9 return.
- Children: €3 single and €5 return.
- Free Travel Pass is not accepted on the Galway Races shuttle buses.
Route
Shuttle buses will leave from the west side of Eyre Square (departure point is outside the Skeffington Arms Hotel on the west side of the square (
map). Drop off is through the tunnel entrance, within 50 yards of the course-entry.
These are shuttle buses, and
do not pick-up or drop-off along the way. (See "Regular Galway city services to Ballybrit" below for information about services which do.)
From Oranmore
BusLink are running races-special buses from Oranmore village to the Galway races.
Services leave the astroturf pitches (see the
Oranmore neighbourhood map for the location) at the times below, and pick up at the Maldron hotel before going direct to Ballybrit
Monday and Tuesday – 3:30pm and 4:30pm
Wednesday – 1:30pm, then every 15 minutes between 2pm and 3pm
Thursday – 12-noon, 12:30pm, then every 15 minutes between 1 and 2pm
Friday – 3:30pm, 4:30pm, 5pm
Saturday and Sunday – 1:30pm and 2pm
€6 single, €9 return.
Return buses leave 10 and 30 minutes after the last race each day.
From Athenry:
BusLink are running a shuttle bus from the Raheen Woods Hotel, and picking up ten minutes later at the Arch carpark (beside the two secondary schools). Bus times:
Monday and Tuesday – 3:30pm and 4:30pm
Wednesday – 1:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm and 3pm
Thursday – 12-noon, 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2pm
Friday – 3:30pm, 4:30pm and 5pm
Saturday and Sunday – 1:30pm and 2pm
€9 single, €12 return.
Return buses leave 10 and 30 minutes after the last race each day.
From Claregalway
BusLink are running a shuttle bus from the Claregalway Hotel (see the Claregalway Neighbourhood Map for the location). Bus times:
Monday – shuttles as required from 4:10pm, and returns from 8:30pm
Tuesday – shuttles as required from 4:05pm, and returns from 8:30pm
Wednesday – shuttles as required from 2pm, and returns from 7:30pm
Thursday – shuttles as required from 12:50pm, and returns from 6:25pm
Friday – shuttles as required from 4:05pm, and returns from 8:40pm
Saturday – shuttles as required from 1:35pm, and returns from 6:10pm
Sunday – shuttles as required from 1:15pm, and returns from 6:15pm
Fares - check with the Claregalway Hotel.
From other towns:
Some hotels in County Galway and beyond offer packages including 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, travesl along College Rd, through Wellpark, Mervue, Castlepark and Ballybrit, then on to Parkmore
- Route 409 - from Eyre Square, travels along College and Dublin and Doughiska Rd
The usual
city bus fares (including Travel Pass and TaxSaver tickets) apply.
These routes will end at the Briarhill Shopping Centre Junction (previously called the Lynch Roundabout) between
- 3pm and 5pm on Monday and Tuesday 29 and 30 July
- 12:30pm and 4 pm on Wednesday 31 July
- 11.30am and 3pm on Thursday 1 August
- 4pm and 6pm on Friday 2 August
The last bus-stop serviced during these times is at the top of Doughiska Rd (route 409) or Clayton Hotel (route 403) - both shown on the
Doughiska neighbourhood map.
People travelling
at these times on route 403 or 409 to the racecourse, or to/from work in
Parkmore area (
Parkmore West Industrial Estate, P
arkmore 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
- 4pm from Galway to Headford
- 4:45pm from Headford to Galway
Bus Éireann have advertised these changes for Wed 31st July and Thurs 1st August:
- 4:25pm Galway to Longford - delayed until 5:15pm
- 5:45pm Galway to Castlerea - delayed until 6pm
BusLink have advised
- The 5:10pm service from Galway to Athenry will not run between Mon 29th July and Fri 2nd August.
- The Galway City East Park and Ride will operate during race week, but there may be route changes due to the traffic management plan.
All other
Galway regional bus services are expected to operate normally during Race Week - though may be delayed due to traffic volumes.
Trains
As well as their standard services, Irish Rail have
announced that they are running one extra service each way between Limerick and Galway:
Wednesday 31st
- From Limerick at 9:20am
- Returning from Galway at 8:50pm
Thursday 1st
- From Limerick at 9:20am
- Returning from Galway at 7:45pm
They have also
announced that there will be shuttle buses between
the new Oranmore Railway Station and Ballybrit during race week: the service is based on train arrival times - contact Bus Éireann for more details.
