In association with GalwayTransport.info - Galway's public transport information site

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Bus and train services for the Galway Races, July 2016

The information below is for 2016.


Click here to find information about public transport for this year's Galway Races.







The Galway Races Summer Meeting is from Monday 25 July - Sunday 31 July 2016.



This is a summary of the public transport and traffic-management plans.
  • Bus Éireann special races shuttle buses will run from Eyre Square.  
  • Regional companies are running special services from Athenry, Oranmore and Roscommon (via the N63) to Ballybrit,
  • The Athenry Night-link service runs Wednesday-Sunday nights.
  • Hotels are co-ordinating shuttle services from Loughrea and Claregalway. 
  • There are some changes to regular regional buses during race week and the next week.




Race days and times

  • Monday 25 July - Opening Day / Hotels Day / Evening with the Sports Stars: 
    Gates open at 2:30pm, first race at 5:15pm, last race at 8:20pm 
  • Tuesday 26 July -  Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap: 
    Gates open at 2:30pm, first race at 5:15pm, last race at 8:15pm 
  • Wednesday 27 July - Galway Plate Day:
    Gates open at 12:30pm, first race at 3pm -  last race at 7:10pm
  • Thursday 28 July - Ladies Day: 
    Gates open at 11am, first race at  1:50pm -  last race at 6pm
  • Friday 29 July - Friday's Fair Lady: 
    Gates open at 2:30pm, first race at  5:10pm -  last race at 8:30pm
  • Saturday 30 July - Ladbrokes Red Day: 
    Gates open at 12-noon, first race at 2:40pm -  last race at 6:05pm
  • Sunday 31 July - Mad Hatters Day / Family day -
    Gates open at 11:30am, 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 25 July 

  • Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square as required from 3pm to 5pm
  • The return services will continue until 9:30pm.

Tuesday 26 July

  • Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square  as required from 3pm to 5pm
  • The return services will start after the last race, and continue until 9:30pm.

Wednesday 27 July 

  • Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square from 11am until 4pm
  • The return services will start after the second-to-last last race and continue until 8:30pm.

Thursday 28 July

  • Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square from 11am
  • The return services will start after the second-to-last last race and continue until 8:30pm.

Friday 29 July

  • Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square as required from 3pm
  • The return services will start after the last race, and continue until 9:30pm.

Saturday 30 July 

  • Shuttle buses will leave Eyre Square as required from 11am until 4pm.
  • Return services will start after the second-to-last last race and continue until 8:30pm.

Sunday 31 July

  • Shuttle buses are advertised as leaving Eyre Square "as required" from 11am.   However most people catch the regular 403 or 409 bus on Sunday as the special buses are not usually running.
  • Extra buses are usually put on route 409 to meet demand later in the afternoon.

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 leave from the west side of Eyre Square, outside the Skeffington Arms Hotel (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   3:45pm and 4:30pm 
Wed    1:30pm and 2:30pm 
Thurs   12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm 
Fri       4pm, 4:30pm and 5pm 
Sat and Sun:  no special services
Adult fare:   €7 single,  €10 return.


Return buses leave 30 minutes after the last race each day, from the bus park at the Parkmore / Avenue entrance to the racecourse.

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 details.
Mon and Tues:      3:30pm and 4:30pm 
Wed:    1:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm and 3pm
Thurs:  12-noon, 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2pm
Fri:      4pm and 5pm
Sat and Sun   No special services
€9 single,  €12 return.

Return buses leave 30 minutes after the last race each day, from the bus park at the Parkmore / Avenue entrance to the racecourse.


From Claregalway  

The Claregalway Hotel have a RaceLink bus, for 
€3 each way.   Buses start 2 hours before the first race, and continue every 30 minutes through the day.     Return buses start 20 minutes after the main race of the day.   Bookings recommended.

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.

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 Roscommon

Bus4U.net (Brendan Boyle Ltd) are running a buses from Roscommon, picking up in Athleague, Mt Talbot, Ballygar, Newbridge, Mountbellew, Newbridge, Abbeyknockmoy, Turloughmore and Lackagh, leaving at

Mon and Tues:      2:35pm
Wed:    11:55am
Thurs:  10:45am 
Fri:      2:30pm
Sat      12:05pm
Sun 11:35am

 Return buses leave one hour after the last race each day, from the bus park at the Parkmore / Avenue entrance to the racecourse.

 Fares:
  • From Roscommon, Athleague and Mount Talbot:    Single €15    Return €20
  • From Ballygar:   Single €10, Return €15



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.

These routes will end at the Briarhill Shopping Centre Junction (previously the Lynch Roundabout) between
  • 3pm and 5pm on Monday and Tuesday
  • 12:30pm and 4 pm on Wednesday
  • 11.30am and 3:30pm on Thursday 31 July
  • 4pm and 6pm on Friday 1 August
The last bus-stop during these times is at the top of Doughiska Rd (route 409)  or Clayton Hotel (route 403) - see the Doughiska neighbourhood map for locations.

Passengers going to/from the racecourse, Parkmore West Industrial Estate, Parkmore East Business and Technology Park, Galway Technology Park, Racecourse Business Park or Briarhill Business Park  will need to walk for approx 15-20 minutes from this last stop.

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.

The usual city bus fares apply, and Travel Pass and TaxSaver tickets can be used.


Changes to regional bus services     

BusLink


Burkes Buses have cancelled these services for Race Week and the following week, ie 25 July - 5 August inclusive:
  • 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 and Thurs:
  • 4:25pm Galway to Longford route 425 (via Mountbellew) will not leave until 6pm.
  • 5:45pm Galway to Castlerea route 429 (via Tuam) will not leave  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 2016

The full traffic-management plan for 2016 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.
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