The following information is for services to the Galway Races in 2015.
See Galway Races Bus Services for this year's details.
This is a summary of the public transport and traffic-management plans. Full details in the following sections.
- Bus Éireann special races shuttle buses will run from Eyre Square. Details below under "Special shuttle bus"
- BusLink are running shuttle services from Athenry and Oranmore during the day. They will also run a Night-link service from Galway City to Athenry each night during the week.
- Hotels are co-ordinating shuttle services from Loughrea and Claregalway.
- Both the route 409 - Parkmore and route 403 - Ballybrit city buses go to the racecourse (Avenue entrance). But there are some restrictions during peak racing traffic hours Mon - Fri - details below under "City Bus Services)
- There are some alternations to regular regional buses during race week and the week after. Details below under "Regional Buses"
- There is a traffic management plan for both private cars and public transport. Details below under "Traffic Management Plan.
Race days and times
- Monday 27 July - Hotels Day / Evening with the Sports Stars: Gates open at 2:30pm, first race at 5:15pm, last race at 8:20pm
- Tuesday 28 July - Topaz Mile: Gates open at 2:30pm, first race at 5:15pm, last race at 8:15pm
- Wednesday 29 July - Galway Plate Day: Gates open at 12:30pm, first race at 3pm - last race at 7:10pm
- Thursday 30 July - Ladies Day: Gates open at 11am, first race at 1:50pm - last race at 6pm
- Friday 31 July - Friday's Fair Lady: Gates open at 2:30pm, first race at 5:10pm - last race at 8:30pm
- Saturday 1 August - Ladbrokes Red Day: Gates open at 12-noon, first race at 2:40pm - last race at 6:05pm
- Sunday 2 August - Mad Hatters Day / Family day - Gates open at 11:15am, first race at 2:15pm - last race at 6pm
Special Shuttle 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 27 July
- Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square every 15 minutes or as required from 2:30pm
- The return services will start after the last race, and continue until 9:30pm.
Tuesday 28 July
- Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square every 15 minutes or as required from 2:30pm
- The return services will start after the last race, and continue until 9:30pm.
Wednesday 29 July
- Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square from 11am
- The return services will start after the last race.
Thursday 30 July
- Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square from 11am
- The return services will start after the last race.
Friday 31 July
- Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square every 15 minutes or as required from 2:30pm
- The return services will start after the last race, and continue until 9:30pm.
Saturday 1 August
- Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square "as required" from 11am.
- Return services will start after the last race.
Sunday 2 August
- Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square "as required" from 11am. However most people catch the regular 403 or 409 bus to the racecourse on these days,so the special buses are not usually available on Sundays.
- Return services will start after the last race.
Fares
- Adult: €6 single and €9 return.
- Children: €3 single and €5 return.
- Free Travel Pass and TaxSaver tickets are 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 shuttle buses 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 approx 10 minutes later at the Maldron hotel, then go direct to Ballybrit.
Mon and Tues 3:30pm and 4:30pm
Wed 1:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm and 3pm
Thurs 12-noon, 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm
Fri 3:30pm, 4:30pm and 5pm
Sat and Sun: no special services
€7 single, €10 return.
Return buses leave from the bus park at the Parkmore / Avenue entrance to the racecourse, 30 minutes after the last race each day.
From Athenry:
BusLink are running shuttle buses from the Arch carpark (beside the two secondary schools), and picking up 10 minutes later at the Raheen Woods Hotel. See the Athenry neighbourhood map for detailsMon and Tues: 3:30pm and 4:30pm
Wed: 1:30pm and 2:30pm
Thurs: 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm
Fri: 4pm and 4:30pm
Sat and Sun No special services
€9 single, €12 return.
Return buses leave from the bus park at the Parkmore / Avenue entrance to the racecourse, 30 minutes after the last race each day.
From Claregalway
The Claregalway Hotel have a RaceLink bus, for €2 each way, leaving one hour before the first race and returning 15 minutes after the last bus each day.Or, see the Claregalway Neighbourhood Map for information about regular public transport services from to and from Galway City.
From Loughrea
Lough Rea hotel are offering a bus & BBQ package on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday only for €30. Bus leaves the hotel 2 hours before the first race, and the return bus leaves 30 minutes after the last race. This is open to members of the public as well as hotel guests, but must be booked in advance.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.Apart from that, there are not usually special services from other Irish cities. Instead, use the use national and regional services to get to Galway: these stop very close to where the races shuttle buses leave from.
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 the College and Dublin and Doughiska Roads.
The usual city bus fares (including Travel Pass and TaxSaver tickets) apply.
These routes will end at the Briarhill Shopping Centre Junction (previously the Lynch Roundabout) between
- 3pm and 5pm on Monday and Tuesday 28 and 29 July
- 12:30pm and 4 pm on Wednesday 30 July
- 11.30am and 3:30pm on Thursday 31 July
- 4pm and 6pm on Friday 1 August
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.
Note: 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
BusLink- The 5:10pm service from Galway City to Athenry is cancelled for the week, due to traffic congestion and road closures.
- The Nitelink service between Athenry and Galway will run every night (Monday - Sunday inclusive) durng the week.
Burkes Buses have cancelled these services for Race Week and the following week:
- 7am from Dunmore to Galway
- 7:30am from Tuam to Galway
- 8:30am from Tuam to Galway
- 4:40pm from Galway to Tuam.
- 5:10pm will operate from Galway to Tuam only, not to Dunmore
- 4pm from Galway to Headford
- 4:45pm from Headford to Galway
Bus Éireann have advertised these changes for Wed 30 July and Thurs 31 July:
- 4:25pm Galway to Longford - delayed until 5:15pm
- 5:45pm Galway to Castlerea - delayed until 6pm
All other Galway regional bus services are expected to operate normally during Race Week - though may be delayed due to traffic volumes.
Trains
Irish Rail have not announced times of extra train services to/from Galway. However there are special fares available, which must be booked on-line from this page.Traffic Management Plan for the Galway Races 2015
The full traffic-management plan for 2015 is to be advised.Based on the 2014 plan and information available to date, it is likely that:
- Traffic from the south and east (M6 / N6 or Oranmore) should use the Tunnel entrance - garda will control crossing the dual carriageway, and there will be no right turns at Briarhill Junction (Dunnes Stores) at peak times.
- Traffic from the city and the west should use the Tuam Rd entrance.
- Horseboxes use the Grandstand Avenue entrance, from either M6 Junction 19, the N6 of the N17.
A map of routes and entrances is available here.