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16 Jun 23
09:25
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10 Jan 07
I have never been to Ireland never mind been racing there,but it's long been on my bucket list to go over for a month or so and take in 7 or 8 of the smaller racecourses. It's been off the agenda for a few years for health reasons,but I am considerably improved since I got a correct diagnosis,so it might be back on again. I was thinking of taking my own car on the ferry,or possibly flying there and hiring one. I would want to go in April or October as I don't like evening meetings and prefer the jumps. I remember being told decades ago that to park at most courses in Ireland you would need a 4 x 4 if there was rain about as there obviously often is. I presume things have improved. I suppose I could hire a 4 x4 at a pinch but it would clearly add a lot to the cost of what would be quite an expensive trip. I'm comfortable but certainly not wealthy. Any observations from the likes of workrider and others would be welcome before I get to the planning stage.
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Morning, salmon - Pleased to hear that your health issues are, at long last, on the better side.
Regarding Ferries - If you do not want to drive all the way to Hollyhead - There is a P&O Ferry from Birkenhead (Wirral side of Liverpool/River Mersey) to Dublin Port (North side of Dublin - Well it was when I travelled on it - and not to Dun Laoghaire (South of Dublin City)(as is the Hollyhead service) It appears to be just One sailing per day around 09:00am (both ways) - I have travelled on it when there was an overnight ferry - You got a great 'eat as much as you want' meal and a cabin inclusive of the price - although they came round banging on the cabin doors at 05:00am, for a 06:00am disembark (if you were lucky, dependent on how many trucks you were parked behind) Anyway - It is an alternative that does not appear to both generally well-known or advertised. I have just done a random search for October (as you indicated) - and, coincidently, came up with the Best Price (over £100 cheaper than Hollyhead) - and 100 miles less Driving and Petrol to Hollyhead, and 100 miles less Return The Best Price is a Daytime sailing - the Dearer price shown, for same dates, is Overnight Outbound, Daytime Return You can play around with different dates and prices - here ... https://book.ferrysavers.co.uk/action/search?searchid=10838932381332987208 The Site is NOT the P&O site - but an agency/comparison site ----------- The Irish boys will put you right on their side your potential trip. |
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Bring your own car salmon.
Car hire here us mad since covid with quotes of a few hundred quid a day for a Micra size car. The race course parking is fine, I've never had any issues. I'm not sure how it is since covid but I used to get entry tickets off the girls selling the fruit outside for a tenner for all bar the big meetings. I've only been twice since covid ( with an owners badge ) so not sure if the fruit ladies are still there tbh. Enjoy if you go. |
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Definitely take your own car. The cost of car rental over here is high these days, albeit it has dropped a bit since last summer. Think its down to a lack of cars due to Brexit related import costs, although I am open to correction on that.
Think most car parks are ok now. Workrider would advise best about that, as he goes to most tracks. |
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The Holyhead ferry has not docked at Dun Laoighaire for years. All go to Dublin Port
I would take your own car from Holyhead to Dublin. There is a swift service operated by Irish Ferries that takes 2 hours 15 Minutes. The normal ferry will take about 3.5 hours. Sometimes the swift is cancelled in stormy weather and you will be transferred to the slower service. |
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Salmon really do try and get there the racing and the racecourses are a great experience,as already stated car hire has become far to expensive the ferry is by far the best option plus you can take as much luggage as you want and bring plenty of food and drinks back.
The small tracks I would recommend Gowran Roscommon Tramore Downpatrick Thurles Ballinrobe Listowel Not for me Clonmel Killarney Limerick I realise Killarney will be popular with almost everyone else and it’s worth a visit to see the scenery but not need to do that on a race day Not been to Sligo Wexford and kilbeggan yet so can’t comment. One thing I would highly recommend salmon is a visit to the national stud. |
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If you need any help or advice salmon please ask either on here or by inbox I’m not the quickest on that inbox stuff but I can manage it in the end.
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Thanks everybody. All very helpful. If I'm alright in the New year might look at Oct '24 ( too many evening meetings in April and I don't like it cold so not keen on March).
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Late October there’s a Galway fixture it won’t be the chaos you get at the festival and Galway city is well worth a visit.
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a few points salmon.....why havent you been......you will be made feel very welcome on any irish racecourse, the good news isparking is free and you wont get bogged down in a car park, racing is cheap in comparison to uk tracks .expect to pay 15 euro for ordinary meetings and up to 25 for bigger days,some of those quiet meetings can be very quiet with only a few 100 people in attendance esp at those backend flat meetings. as other poster has said car hire can be very expesive(post covid).our road network has improved greatly over the years, accomadation is prob your biggest expense as many hotels are now filled with refugees and ukranians so hotels arent as plentiful as once was.more good news is that the autumn point to point season will be in full swing with fixtures on mainly sundays and occasionally sat.look up p2p.ie for fixtures nearer the time.sun is the equivalant of your sat attendance wise. whilst sat can be quiet,anyway 24 is a long way off.so you can plan better nearer the time
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Glad your health is on the up Captn, not much good news about these days, almost frightened to turn the News on the TV these days, As regards Ireland I have only been to Clonmel for the Hare coursing, always been treated with respect ( except when staying at the Minella Hotel whe it was robbed
 ) As most have said try and get yourself over, would deffo take your own car.  |
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Workrider been to them all. Will be along soon
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Don't hire a car it's daylight robbery
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I'd second Thurles and Gowran and put in Naas as well.
I've never been to Kerry racing but Killarney and Clonakilty are a must if you are down in Cork area |
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the listowel harvest festival at the end of september is a great event if you v never been. within walking distance of the town its on for 7 days. really kicks off on the 4th day with the kerry national.it usually starts the nh propper with lots of good nh horses.weather is usually ok .its a great friendly festival with the town packed . another to consider for anyone whose thinking of spending a few days racing in ire
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Good answers so far but you won't need a 4 X 4.
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Won't even need Welly boots
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Downpatrick over Limerick....no way
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Cacique
I didn’t really consider Naas as a small track but do enjoy the racing there as a racecourse I much prefer navan which has a similar standard of racing. |
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Freddie
My only visit to limerick was the day kemboy made his debut and racing was on the inner track which is probably why I wasn’t very keen on it. |
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never pay a tenner a pint , only for real tourists
Don't buy water ever , surrounded by water |
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Brilliant information all this, I'm going to come over as soon as I can myself..
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Dont bother with Galwat
****house  |
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Billy
You must give it a try if I could recommend any fixture it would be the hattons grace meeting at fairyhouse when you could sample the delights of thurles on the Thursday before ,the other fixture I would chose which has an unbelievable atmosphere is galmoy hurdle day at Gowran which is usually the last Thursday in January. |
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Thanks Jimnast, I will look into it ..
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Your welcome billy if you prefer the summer tramore festival is a unique event beach in the morning pub lunch evening racing then party time .
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Another point regarding travelling is there’s nobody on the motorways outside Dublin it’s not like our m62 and m6
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