Tramore New Years Day - some local knowledge appreciated

Tramore is a seaside town which to be honest is a **** hole even in the busy summer season  , the track is as bad similarl to a greyhound track , I would definitely not recommend going near the place at any time let alone new years eve , it completely your own choice but honestly wouldn't recommend the place to anyone except Toby mugs

you sure about that jacko?

I'm hoping to complete all the Irish tracks, have 8 to go and my mates fancy that day for Tramore because they're off work, so hopefully Jackos perspective isn't wholly accurate!!!

Don't want to put you off bud just giving a genuine honest opinion of a place I have been to many a time over the years as its a seaside town that draws plenty of tourists during the summer but like all places it has deteriorated over time , I haven't been in the last 6 years but have heard its gone down hill,  new years eve would be busy with locals I would imagine only a select few pubs and restaurants would remain open off season so whatever is available would be busy hope you and your pals enjoy

aye cheers, sounds a bit like Ayr to be honest, a seaside town which is way less attractive than 30 years ago and the track itself although great viewing definitely needs a facelift, I'm sure there'll be a few pubs open.  Hogmanay (New Years Eve) is a way bigger thing in Scotland than most places, hence the tickets for many pubs. I'm sure we'll make our own fun if nothing else and hopefully a few WPM winners to pay for the trip.

we know what hogmanay is gordy

seaside towns are a depressing experience nowadays. was in bournemouth a few weeks ago. never again

enjoy your trip and good on you fro racking up so many. as you now have such low expectations its 1.01 it will be a knockout after jackos warnings

Hopefully ye will make plenty and enjoy it , no tickets needed i would imagine not really a thing here bar a few select places but it's a very big social night for sure everywhere would be busy , I have never drove from shannon to waterford as I am from Cork but I just looked at the route there and the roads wouldn't be the greatest for parts of it so take care as a lot of rural people would be travelling those roads to get to parents for the night so bear that in mind, unfortunately I never travelled to Scotland but would imagine it's all similar enough outside of cities

cheers jacko, driven from shannon to clonmel and then to thurles, some country roads similar to Scotland for sure...but yes deepest winter with folks trying to get somewhere in a hurry won't be much fun for the designated driver (me!!)..cork flights are cheaper than dublin but about £30 dearer than Shannon at present...Scotland very similar to Ireland in lots of ways but we've only got 5 tracks and higher percentage of folks in cities. If tramore is half as good as Killarney or Listowel then we'll be happy!

nowhere are you made more aware of drink-driving than ireland. signs all over the gaff. maybe thats why murphy scarpered

i did a coupla munros in scotland and was bitten alive by midges and stopped

in ireland, no midges. why is this? the terrain is similar

midges predominantly in the west, which is where the munros are unfortunately!! my worst experience was waiting to see the harry potter train go over glenfinnan viaduct, the little gits were everywhere.  I'm from east coast and theu're far less common, see them on humid days or after rain in the woods but they don't dictate your day like they can in the west

shame. i wanted to do a few more. one thing made me laff. ben nevis you can bound up and down in 3 hours. there will soon be an escalator, such are the numbers. then you try another munro but theres no designated path and it takes about 8. we were knackered

but why arent there any midges in ireland? im no naturalist but it seems odd

where's an entemologist when you need one??  some munros anove callander/stirling area and towards the eastern side of the grampians should be fine for you.. a friend of mine sent me video of them climbing the 'In Pin' gave me a pit in my stomach just watching it!! the munros in Skye particularly dangerous

good luck gordon on your final 8. tramore is about an hours drive from clonmel. road wouldnt be great  but not too bad either. looked up booking,com 2 hotels available.both walking distance from centre, majestic slightly better of the 2.tramore races you can pay on the gate , id say admission  about 20 euro.plenty of pubs in the area. id say they would be busy.but you will get in no problem as long as you dont leave it too late. foodwise there is an excellent fish and chipper dooleysy food outlets close around 10 new years eve. kebab shop open till late., track is about a 20 min walk from townif you want to ditch the jammer and enjoy a few bevvies.

dooleys gets rap on all fronts. even good enough for jane mangan

Jacko -I'd say you need to take stronger antidepressants -that was an unbelievably negative post.First off Tramore is far from the best racecourse in Ireland but it has a decent card on New Years Day with the conditions chase having been won by Al Boum Photo and Minella Indo in recent years.
Saint Roi won the maiden hurdle on the card before winning the County Hurdle next time out.NotebooK won that race the year before and he went on to win an Irish Arkle.
It is a quirky track but will be the second best card in Ireland or England that day -Cheltenham being the best.Willie Mullins is a shareholder and isn't shy about sending a Good horse there -Gaelic Warrior won a maiden hurdle there by the best part of 90lengths.Henry de Bromhead trains about 3 miles away and he likes to have a winner at that meeting. Who knows-maybe there is someone on here who could get you a tour of Knockeen.
In conclusion the track is quirky but the local angle is significant.The meeting will attract a big attendance and the locals love a drink and a bet.

Genuinely think the drive from Shannon is a non runner at 6:30 on a winter night.

Johnny O' Neills would be the spot for the post mortem after racing.

eddie they could travel via waterford city rather than carrick on suir. road will be fine. be nice and quiet by then. o neills a fine establishment, maybe try the vic for a late night pint with music

Life is all about opinions lads as stated in hope lads have a great and profitable trip

And I would fly into Cork for certain

Agree 100 per cent.

thanks guys - tbh Cork would be my shout also, but the ryanair flight they were showing for ages on 31st is no longer showing so maybe been removed. will keep checking.

keep an eye for dublin too. only 2 hrs to tramore. motorway most of the way

keep an eye for dublin too. only 2 hrs to tramore. motorway most of the way

Good morning Gordon

Pretty certain you will enjoy tramore it’s a very unique racecourse and one which is a very enjoyable way to spend a day, admittedly I’ve only been in the summer so a winters day may will be different.

Regarding where to stay I can’t help you other than the only two places I’ve stayed in Ireland which I didn’t like was navan and Waterford

Majestic Hotel basic enough but functional,if you have your expectations lowered you tend to enjoy things a bit better.

You will know from TV that the track is tiny and is barely a mile for the whole circuit so certain horses excel here and previous course form is a definite plus.

The crowd will be welcoming I'm sure and I'm sure you'll have a ball.

Jimnast -what was your beef with Waterford.

Hard to pinpoint Eddie but I couldn’t find any decent pubs or restaurants I know that’s not everything about a town ,I did enjoy a few hours at the jfk memorial a real nice fellow drove us around in a golf buggy he had plenty of stories,I was only there two nights for tramore and it wasn’t for me but do accept you don’t see everything in two nights.

I would definitely fly into Cork if you can, and stay in Waterford.  Quirky track but will be a big crowd and decent racing.

Jimnast -I take your point about it being hard to find a decent pub-they do exist but they are hard to find.We do have plenty of very Good restaurants -just a matter of being pointed in the right direction.

Better to stay in Dungarvan plenty going on there should have good craic .30 minutes drive next day.

Agree with abba

I believe Dungarvan is a Good place for a few pints.

I dont come here very often anymore but just spotted this thread.
First I would forget about Shannon, the road to Waterford is a disaster and in winter impossible. Your best bet is an earlier flight to Dublin, motorway all the way to Waterford.Failing that Cork is your next best bet. The road is pretty good once you get inside County Waterford and if you are travelling from Cork book and stay in the Park Hotel in Dungarvan. Tramore is approx 40minutes from there in the morning and the road is good most of the way. The Park is decent clean and does nice food. It also has a decent bar and imo will have music New Years night. in general shops close at 6pm NYE and the pub closing times in ireland are Mon/Thurs close 11.30pm: Fri/Sat close 12.30am: Sunday 11pm. Again on NYE closing will be at 12.30am. You will not find a shop to supply you with food after 6pm.You do not need a ticket for pubs in Ireland on NYE but have money because as you are most likely aware drink is dear here, then again i did a few trips to UK recently and you lot are catching up. The other alternative is the Majestic Hotel in Tramore, small but neat and clean. Jimmy Cagney once came for an extended holiday to Tramore and stayed vin the Majestic. The town is a bit windswept in Winter and saw better days but an excellent beach, not a priority of yours.
The track is circular and very undulating. It is not by any means the best track in Ireland but it gets some decent horses and Willie Mullins will have a few runners, he is a shareholder. He will most likely run his Gold Cup runner there in preparation for Cheltenham. It is tight with a dangerous downhill gallop and a rather sharp turn to take them back up the hill which is a good test of any horse that run up the hill.
Henry de Bromhead trains nearby and will have runners. Also Ted Walsh gets a lot of winners here. Local traiers to watch are John Queally and Declan Queally, not related, but Declan is the much maligned (on here)Toms dad. Another trainer to note John Flavin who could walk his horses to the track he lives so close.
If you fly to Cork, my preference for you, take the Park Hotel option, it is on the way and is a short drive to the track in the morning. I live about 12 miles from the track and if you want any more info I will try to help. Good luck

Again many thanks to all those who have passed on their recommendations. So far we have booked airbnb in Old Waterford Road which on google street maps looks very close to the track but maybe half mile from pubs-bookies which seem to be in two 'clusters'.  I'm monitoring the flights and atm our best/value option is fly to Cork on 31st arriving around 9.30 so we'd have a daylight drive to tramore and in time to get some essentials and pubs on hogmanay and then fly out from Dublin on 2nd - there's a fairly steep premium for dropping off rental car at different location but we more than make up for that on the cost of flights and there are several suitable out of Dublin whereas only one out of cork.  As some know, I have 8 Irish tracks to complete the list and this meeting suits because a few of the group are still working but have holidays that time of year. We always enjoy our trips over (some in the group have only 3-4 tracks to complete), Kilbeggan being a very pleasant surprise (absolutely loved Tullamore town/bars) and particularly fell in love with Killarney (most beautiful environment, saw Marine Nationale win the bumper and followed the horse since) and Listowel (went to June meeting for my 60th, 9 of us in airbnb - shout out the New Kingdom and Christies).  I'm back in Killarney on 21st August as taking two of my Vegas gambling friends who are over from US for a week in Scotland and few days in Ireland.  I'll absorb the local inputs from no-won-sun and hopefully use it to help pay for the trip!! Actually my friends drink Guinness (not for me!) and 5.50 Euros is about the same as most city centre bars over here, cheaper in fact than the touristy parts of Edinburgh-Glasgow.

If any of you folks want information on the Scottish tracks then happy to help.

We're all set for Tramore New Years Day - there's now 7 of us and one of the lads had a decent placepot at Hereford and splashed out on hospitality which is a nice bonus!

We arrive Cork around 9am on Hogmanay and in no particular hurry to get to Tramore, so thinking N25 particularly as there are smokers and frequent pissers (!) onboard and probably easier than on M8, or would those in the know still advise M8?

Since post below - we had great time in Killarney, as it was my friends 50th I booked hospitality for the 3 of us and it was the warmest I've ever been in Ireland (21st August) and had a great day (shout out Sportsmans Bar open nice and early, Laurels Bar for the amazing seafood chowder and soda bread, Killarney Avenue Hotel (the girls picked this one, nice craic in bar post racing).

Went to Down Royal on Champion Chase day - easy bus ride from BIA to Lisburn and then shuttle bus to track, quick couple of pints in Gowdys Bar (is this only open race days because it's in middle of nowhere!), and backed 3 winners (Lieber Nicc, Battle of Mirbat and the bumper winner) and subsequently got my money back and more on Found a Fifty, which jumped stickily but I deserved to lose having not bet Envoi!!

So after Tramore there will be 6 to go but will need a 6 month break due to US World Cup trip, securing travel/accommodation/tickets for the Morocco game have dented the travel budget!

Hope everyone has a happy holiday season and a few winners - I'll be backing Le Divin Enfant wherever it runs!

If you are travelling Cork to Waterford travel the N25. The M8 is the Cork /Dublin motorway and is way off your destination. You will leave Cork at the Dunkettle roundabout where you should make sure you get on the N25, it is a bit tricky but not rocket science. If you are arriving at 9pm it takes 2 hours at least to get to Tramore. some people will tell you that you will do it in 90mins, no way it is a 2hour drive. If you are arriving at 9pm I hope coming you get to Tramore before closing time. If you have a place to stay good luck but with your party ny 3 best options would be Park Hotel Dungarvan or Lawlors hotel Dungarvan both 40 minutes from course. you could also try O'Sheas Hotel Tramore, all three are passable and are worth trying. It is a pity you couldnt get an earlier flight but good luck and stay away from the M8. The N25 is the road, anyplace else is miles out of your way.
Good luck on your trip and I already told you the local lads. If I hear anything between now and then I will make contact.

Apparently Willie thinks Gallopin des Champs isn't fit enough for Leopardstown and is strongly considering running him at Tramore.

Can't see that Eddie.

Willis isn't afraid to run a Good horse at Tramore.Not saying it will definitely happen but I could see the logic behind it.GDC possibly did too much before the 2025 festival.

Willie is also on the board at tramore so might want to treat the locals the seeing the best national hunt horse in training,a good way to start the new year.

thanks guys - no-won-sun, we arrive 9am Cork and will take your travel advice. The guys like the look of Sadies and Murphs but I'd say we'll try most of the pubs.  We have an airbnb so all set. Would be good to see Galopin, also read Gerri Colombe a possible, will know more end of this week.  My nap over Christmas is Le Divin Enfant.  Good luck folks.

Lovely town Tramore, but can be pretty miserable weather wise in winter. This meeting in particular can be grim. However like anywhere if you're in good company and enjoy a drink you'll enjoy it. Gordon if weather permits do the Doneraile walk. Fantastic views of Tramore Bay.

Some punter friendly results there today Gordon including 3 winners for local stables.Look forward to hearing how the punting and drinking went.

Happy, Healthy and Successful 2026 to all you good punting folks.

We made it safe and sound to Tramore - flight to Cork, nice clear day and easy drive along N25 arrived in town around 11.30 after a stop in Youghal (a town which has seen better days I suggest).  Parked up rental car in town centre as there was only roadside parking at the airbnb.  Had a couple of drinks in O'Neills and then got access to digs and proceeded to Sadies for a few more, then to Raglan Road which isn't really a bar, more of a restaurant but they were not taking any food orders and couldn't cope with the crowd although it looked only half full!! The owner introduced herself and she was the best thing about this place by far!!  Then onto Crokes and Victoria (around 8pm, the liveliest bar at this time for sure) Dooleys fish and chips and back up the hill to Sadies as our digs were nearby.  A good start to proceedings!

Up earlyish and down to the strand for a few sunrise photos, surprised how far up the town centre is, saw Murphs pub on way back, one of the gang wanted to venture there but as he's limping right now, that was a no go as there was a steepish incline. Went to Tracksports (one of the biggest betting shops I've been in) before walking to course for 11am.  We were in the Graun Suite for our dinner-quite nippy to start with but warmed up as more folks came in and the dinners were served.  Track (to me) had similar layout to Clonmel although sharper with an amazingly long run between 2nd last and last hurdle.  Two winners - Stede Bonnet (that Up the Tweed which beat it at Ayr is definitely one to watch) and Roccabaker which was only horse all day to come from off the pace, it definitely pays to be close up!!  Food good quality, service very good - well worth the 90 Euros.  All of us very pleasantly surprised by the size/quality of facilities, which were of a standard better than many with more meetings-better races. 

Back to Sadies after racing until 1AM!!  Although as the driver I curtailed activities at 10.  Concensus was that Tramore was quite a well to do area, based on the houses and attire-crowd at the races.

Friday we left town around 10.30 (another nice clear driving day) as the guys wanted to stop off at a previous haunt - Kilford Arms in Kilkenny - they had a couple of Guiness there (highest rated of the trip).  Good drive to airport which was just as well as rental car centre was busy and the security checks were busiest I'd seen in Ireland but we made it to gate in time for a pint and then flight home roughly on time. 

Great trip all in all - I'd recommend Tramore as a town and for a race day. A few locals recommended Ladies Day in August so who knows may be back some day.

Glad you enjoyed it and more importantly made it pay Gordon.The locals have really got behind this meeting over the last 10 years.If you do decide to come back getting a tour of one of the local stables wouldn't be impossible.

Delighted it all went well for ye and ye enjoyed it that's what it's all about

nice report gordon , glad you all had a brilliant trip . i've had similar over there in the past . never been to tramore but its astonishing to see houses nearby below the racing surface !