Punchestown Festival

Naas is about 10 mins away by car but Dublin is only 45 mins & gives far more options for rest of the day.

I always stay at the K Club, Straffan, Co. Kildare, which is ideal for Goffs, Punchestown, Fairyhouse etc..

Rathsallagh House.

If on a budget - Blessington Holiday Park.

Tremendous night out to be had in Naas.

Knocks Cheltenham into a cocked hat.

when does it start.....not really  a jumps fan but I really like punchestown

25th April is day 1

cheers SQ

Is it worth a trip over? Been thinking about it for  while

naas is a street with a few pubs on,the track is in the middle of nowhere,where you either sit forever in traffic or miss races to miss the traffic,same goes for the bus to and from dublin
the races themselves are full of bars ,restaraunts  which are 99% corperate on the plus side the 8 bumpers,amateur rider races,low grade handicaps etc give ample time to head for the buses,the most over rated festival ever,imo,
i had tkts for 3 days after the 1st went to the bus station in dublin and give the 2nd and 3rd days tkts away ,did some sightseeing,shopping instead and went to a pub to watch the 2,3 decent races each day

A festival in name only. Very second rate facilities and do not expect anything like a Grade 1 track in the UK.  Not as close to Dublin as you think and very little atmosphere. There is ample room to watch the racing from the stands and the viewing is good.  On the day we were there last year the weather was a bit iffy and getting around inside the bars was impossible.

Glad i went but doubt i would bother again.

Thanks both. Think i will give it a miss on the back of that! My trip to watch some racing across the pond will have to wait. Anyone with any recommendations for the best festival in Ireland to attend?

would have thought galway, but take a spare liver

naas is a street with a few pubs on,the track is in the middle of nowhere,where you either sit forever in traffic or miss races to miss the traffic,same goes for the bus to and from dublin
the races themselves are full of bars ,restaraunts  which are 99% corperate on the plus side the 8 bumpers,amateur rider races,low grade handicaps etc give ample time to head for the buses,the most over rated festival ever,imo,
i had tkts for 3 days after the 1st went to the bus station in dublin and give the 2nd and 3rd days tkts away ,did some sightseeing,shopping instead and went to a pub to watch the 2,3 decent races each day

Don't forget form being worth nothing given all the best horses are f**ked from a long season

Ignore the doom mongers - the racing is great , the atmosphere is magic - much more relaxed and convivial than any Grade 1 UK track - wonderful paddock where after racing you can watch the sales and Mullins/Gigginstown buying their next stars - you can get a seat in the International Visitors Bar - I find the races relatively easy to call than the impossible Cheltenham - if you like Toblerone you're in clover as their seems a constant stream of sellers at the gates - the craic is tremendous , with jocks joining you in the bar - the girls look wonderful - excellent bus service to Naas after racing (obligatory sing song) which is packed with great bars and the best Thai restaurant ever(Lemongrass I think) - plus lots of small villages dotted around with fantastic pubs(Ballymoreustace is our favourite).

I do not know what the moaners are going on about - it is a marvellous 3/4 days and beats the hell out of the nightmare that is Cheltenham imv.

The next best Festival imv is Perth followed by The Ebor followed by Goodwood.

killarney july festival is one for your alternative notebook.great mixed cards, 2 weeks before galway,so plenty of clues and one of the most fun relaxed ladies day in ireland.a 10 min walk to the centre of town and loads of accomodation to suit all budgets.plenty of late bars music and restaurants......nobody does tourism better than kerry. killarney in july , dingle or glenbeigh on the strand in august listowel in september. lots of racing festivals. all great fun

Killarney top of the list to visit ambers.

Killarney would receive my vote over Punch as well, the bonus being the first three days are evening fixtures, leaving you plenty of time to do other things beforehand or recover from the night before if you like a drink or ten

Mar 27, 2017 -- 8:35PM, Sudoku_Junior wrote:

Thanks both. Think i will give it a miss on the back of that! My trip to watch some racing across the pond will have to wait. Anyone with any recommendations for the best festival in Ireland to attend?

You really can't beat Leopardstown at Christmas

Cheers all. Leopordstown at christmas is on the to do list. May look at some of the summer ones for a good few days away.

a trip worth doing is thurles thursday november 30 the kelso of ireland ,friday in dublin saturday 2nd and sunday 3rd december fairyhouse,last season you would have seen festival winners tully east ,penhill,labaik {in theory}apples jade and road to respect,plus the likes of bapaume,mega fortune and vroum vroum mag.

a trip worth doing is thurles thursday november 30 the kelso of ireland ,friday in dublin saturday 2nd and sunday 3rd december fairyhouse,last season you would have seen festival winners tully east ,penhill,labaik {in theory}apples jade and road to respect,plus the likes of bapaume,mega fortune and vroum vroum mag.

its that good its worth doing twice.