The Races 2016 are on!

biko

Today marks the start of the Races
First Race: 5.15pm
Last Race: 8.20pm

www.galwayraces.com/events/admission-ticket-monday-25th-july-2016


Note that 1) traffic will worse than usual, and 2) all city pubs will be jammers.

youngrun

biko wrote: »

Today marks the start of the Races
First Race: 5.15pm
Last Race: 8.20pm

www.galwayraces.com/events/admission-ticket-monday-25th-july-2016


Note that 1) traffic will worse than usual, and 2) all city pubs will be jammers.

Great week for the city, hopefully the weather holds up...

I think the hotels will take a lot of the crowds, Radisson, Clayton etc, did last year, especially ladies day.

joeKel73

Heads up on some of the traffic plan;
http://connachttribune.ie/your-guide-to-the-galway-racecourse-traffic-system-343/

Mrs OBumble

Excellent .. our annual whinge about the races thread :-)

bobbyss

I will be doing my annual best to ignore everything about it.

joeKel73

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Excellent .. our annual whinge about the races thread :-)

Well I'm looking forward to it - will be going to the track Thursday and Friday. If you can't beat 'em, go online and whinge about them join 'em.

timmyntc

Bus services:
Special Bus Éireann Races services will operate every 15 minutes from Eyre Square to the Racecourse from 3pm (as required) on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. On Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, the service will be from 11am (as required). Tickets are €6/€3 for adults and children one-way and €9/€5 return.

Routes 403 and 409 will terminate at Briarhill junction between 9pm and 5pm Monday and Tuesday; 12.30pm to 4pm on Wednesday; 11.30am and 3.30pm on Thursday and 4pm to 6pm on Friday.

Typo or are buses absent from Parkmore from 5pm onwards today?

joeKel73

timmyntc wrote: »

Typo or are buses absent from Parkmore from 5pm onwards today?

That seems to be the case due to...

Also, there is no access to the Monivea Road eastbound by the lights at the Briarhill junction (Western Motors) during road closure times (Monday and Tuesday 4pm to 6pm; Wednesday 12.30pm to 4pm; Thursday 11.30am to 3.30pm and Friday 3.30pm to 5.30pm).

Traffic for Monivea and the Airport will be directed onto the M6 and can exit at Exit 19 (Glenascaul) and proceed to Carnmore Cross.

Seems unusual to have a diversion using a motorway. Bit awkward for L plate drivers...

Mrs OBumble

timmyntc wrote: »

Typo or are buses absent from Parkmore from 5pm onwards today?

Typo. Should say 3-5pm. Same applied tomorrow. Different times later in the week.



Shameless plug for my own write up of every races bus you never heard of: http://news.galwaytransport.info/2016/07/ballybrit-galway-races-shuttle-bus-special-2016-august.html

Zzippy

J o e wrote: »

That seems to be the case due to...



Seems unusual to have a diversion using a motorway. Bit awkward for L plate drivers...

That section between Briarhill and Glenascaul isn't motorway though, it's DC with a 100km/h limit.

joeKel73

Ah you're right. In that case the diversion is onto the N6, not M6... another typo on the article!

randomname2005

J o e wrote: »

That seems to be the case due to...



Seems unusual to have a diversion using a motorway. Bit awkward for L plate drivers...

And cyclists (not wanting to start a war but), my usual commute home takes me eastwards on the Monivea road at the bottom of Parkmore. Maybe the Gardai will be nice and let us cyclists turn left rather than having to deal with a massive detour and cycling along beside a 100k dual carriageway.

timmyntc

randomname2005 wrote: »

And cyclists (not wanting to start a war but), my usual commute home takes me eastwards on the Monivea road at the bottom of Parkmore. Maybe the Gardai will be nice and let us cyclists turn left rather than having to deal with a massive detour and cycling along beside a 100k dual carriageway.

You have to go east at the bottom of Parkmore/Monivea. You can't go west towards briarhill when the diversions are in place. Essentially whats being done (if i'm reading this right) is that the junction at Briarhill/The Clayton is now bidirectional only, only north/south on the dual carriageway. Anyone else trying to get to parkmore has to go north via tuam rd, or south via the m6, approach galway airport from the east, and then enter parkmore from the south entrance.

There's a map on the website that explains things better

randomname2005

timmyntc wrote: »

You have to go east at the bottom of Parkmore/Monivea. You can't go west towards briarhill when the diversions are in place. Essentially whats being done (if i'm reading this right) is that the junction at Briarhill/The Clayton is now bidirectional only, only north/south on the dual carriageway. Anyone else trying to get to parkmore has to go north via tuam rd, or south via the m6, approach galway airport from the east, and then enter parkmore from the south entrance.

There's a map on the website that explains things better

Sounds right from the map.

snubbleste

No helicopters?

Zzippy

randomname2005 wrote: »

And cyclists (not wanting to start a war but), my usual commute home takes me eastwards on the Monivea road at the bottom of Parkmore. Maybe the Gardai will be nice and let us cyclists turn left rather than having to deal with a massive detour and cycling along beside a 100k dual carriageway.

If you're coming from Parkmore you'll be fine. If coming from city on N6 I'd say you'll be able to turn left. If coming from Briarhill (Dunnes side) you'll probably have to take the underpass to get across the junction.

Arghus

Used to have no opinion on the races. Then I hated them for a few years. Now I'm back to not caring again.

Zzippy

Drove from town to Doughiska about 6.15 this evening. Quickest I've ever done the trip, virtually no traffic at all.

biko

I used to like it but then when I lived in the city I would just take my holidays around this time, too crowded.

That said, daytime is often fine but try navigate the centre after 8pm..

loriexxx

Live in the apartments beside the clayton and everyone is just parking here so it's now half 9 and no parking left for residents, so frustrating!

Zzippy

loriexxx wrote: »

Live in the apartments beside the clayton and everyone is just parking here so it's now half 9 and no parking left for residents, so frustrating!

Do you have permits? If so I'd just park behind someone with no permit and block them in. Have a lie in tomorrow and take your time moving the car...

loriexxx

Zzippy wrote: »

Do you have permits? If so I'd just park behind someone with no permit and block them in. Have a lie in tomorrow and take your time moving the car...

Unfortunately no permits, guess it's going to be a week of not driving anywhere

dastardly00

snubbleste wrote: »

No helicopters?

I counted one anyway.

MadYaker

I was in Neachtains last night and that end seemed quiet by raceweek standards. The Quays was busy but that was it. I didn't see too many f*cked people when we were walking home either. All very civilised.

Your Face

MadYaker wrote: »

I was in Neachtains last night and that end seemed quiet by raceweek standards. The Quays was busy but that was it. I didn't see too many f*cked people when we were walking home either. All very civilised.

Its early days yet.

jimbobaloobob

the wet night wont help the pub crawling. Wait till we see what tomorrow and Thursday brings to it.

I avoid it all at this stage.

Copper_pipe

Hi all,

Few of us going up Saturday morning for the races and coming home Sunday. We're staying in Corrib Village (Student Accomodation) what's the best way to get to ballybrit from there? Would a taxi be mad expensive

timmyntc

Copper_pipe wrote: »

Hi all,

Few of us going up Saturday morning for the races and coming home Sunday. We're staying in Corrib Village (Student Accomodation) what's the best way to get to ballybrit from there? Would a taxi be mad expensive

Corrib village do shuttle buses into the city center I think, from there Bus Eireann are running regular buses out to the races for 7 euro(?) return, I think.

death1234567

Copper_pipe wrote: »

Hi all,

Few of us going up Saturday morning for the races and coming home Sunday. We're staying in Corrib Village (Student Accomodation) what's the best way to get to ballybrit from there? Would a taxi be mad expensive

A Taxi would be about €15 although it might cost more if traffic is bad.

Mrs OBumble

timmyntc wrote: »

Corrib village do shuttle buses into the city center I think, from there Bus Eireann are running regular buses out to the races for 7 euro(?) return, I think.

Corrib Village do indeed have a shuttle bus. Drops you to the top of Eyre Square. I think it runs on demand.

Races special buses are E9 return vs Regular buses are 2.10 each way, or 1.60 if you have a leap card. more details here: http://news.galwaytransport.info/2016/07/ballybrit-galway-races-shuttle-bus-special-2016-august.html

weshtawake

Looks like the regular buskers on Shop Street/High Street have been "shunted".
At least 4 or 5 different groups of young teenagers all playing the same trad tunes there today instead. Orchestrated (forgive the pun!!)??

ArtyC

Need to bring in laws re amps. Could stop the headache re buskers especially this week

inisboffin

ArtyC wrote: »

Need to bring in laws re amps. Could stop the headache re buskers especially this week

Jesus sure you'd need an amp to have a conversation during race week! :P

youngrun

Racecourse numbers are down a bit which is disappointing, and bookies etc also way down seems less people about the city also v other years, hotels not yet full . Has the racing week gone a bit flat ?
Would expect it to be picking up towards 150K racegoers but its gone the other way, maybe they need to weatherproof the venue a bit more for the ordinary joe. Was out there Monday and a good day out, 20 mins drive from westside to races , no traffic issues and everything like clockwork.

ben.schlomo

youngrun wrote: »

Racecourse numbers are down a bit which is disappointing, and bookies etc also way down seems less people about the city also v other years, hotels not yet full . Has the racing week gone a bit flat ?
Would expect it to be picking up towards 150K racegoers but its gone the other way, maybe they need to weatherproof the venue a bit more for the ordinary joe. Was out there Monday and a good day out, 20 mins drive from westside to races , no traffic issues and everything like clockwork.

The weather has been mostly sh1t, it always has a negative effect on numbers when it's that way.

youngrun

ben.schlomo wrote: »

The weather has been mostly sh1t, it always has a negative effect on numbers when it's that way.

Yes true in a way same other years also though and plenty of cover etc , I wonder is it just that or are other factors affecting the week like prices, people driving up and down and not staying over, a lot of locals /friends i know avoid races which is a pity its a good day out and a big event for city

dastardly00

Plenty of choppers today!

Utopia Parkway

youngrun wrote: »

Racecourse numbers are down a bit which is disappointing, and bookies etc also way down seems less people about the city also v other years, hotels not yet full . Has the racing week gone a bit flat ?
Would expect it to be picking up towards 150K racegoers but its gone the other way, maybe they need to weatherproof the venue a bit more for the ordinary joe. Was out there Monday and a good day out, 20 mins drive from westside to races , no traffic issues and everything like clockwork.

Was in the Radisson last night. Seemed a lot quieter than the same night last year. Sure it'll be mobbed tonight though.

Goofy

Can anyone tell me if you have to pay to park at the races? And also if I come out of the tunnel (red) exit after, can I turn right? Thanks!

bigpink

youngrun wrote: »

Racecourse numbers are down a bit which is disappointing, and bookies etc also way down seems less people about the city also v other years, hotels not yet full . Has the racing week gone a bit flat ?
Would expect it to be picking up towards 150K racegoers but its gone the other way, maybe they need to weatherproof the venue a bit more for the ordinary joe. Was out there Monday and a good day out, 20 mins drive from westside to races , no traffic issues and everything like clockwork.

Knew loads that use go every year ladies etc.They either have kids now getting married or alot going abroad this year

charlie_says

Was watching amused as lots of dressed up ladies carefully navigated the cobbles on Shop Street in high heels.

biko

You know it's summer when it's Ladies Day

youngrun

Goofy wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if you have to pay to park at the races? And also if I come out of the tunnel (red) exit after, can I turn right? Thanks!

2 euro and no you must go left, but easy get a right at clayton and back to town via ballybrit/ballybane

Mrs OBumble

charlie_says wrote: »

Was watching amused as lots of dressed up ladies carefully navigated the cobbles on Shop Street in high heels.

They're called foals.

El_Dangeroso

Most quiet ladies' day I've seen in my 9 race weeks:

https://thecladdagh.com/webcam/

dastardly00

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

Most quiet ladies' day I've seen in my 9 race weeks:

https://thecladdagh.com/webcam/

Haha that could be hilarious to watch in a few hours

El_Dangeroso

dastardly00 wrote: »

Haha that could be hilarious to watch in a few hours

'tis heating up a bit more now alright!

Went for a drive around town to check out the carnage, tis early but people were behaving and the schtyle was mighty.

Zzippy

youngrun wrote: »

Racecourse numbers are down a bit which is disappointing, and bookies etc also way down seems less people about the city also v other years, hotels not yet full . Has the racing week gone a bit flat ?
Would expect it to be picking up towards 150K racegoers but its gone the other way, maybe they need to weatherproof the venue a bit more for the ordinary joe. Was out there Monday and a good day out, 20 mins drive from westside to races , no traffic issues and everything like clockwork.

I'd say about half the attendance on the early evenings is local, a lot of whom are put off by bad weather. Was up there on Tuesday, the weather was sh1te, lots of people were just betting on the tote rather than going outside to the bookies so their take was well down.

ben.schlomo

Zzippy wrote: »

I'd say about half the attendance on the early evenings is local, a lot of whom are put off by bad weather. Was up there on Tuesday, the weather was sh1te, lots of people were just betting on the tote rather than going outside to the bookies so their take was well down.

Yep the weather is the biggest factor, the Friday last year was a washout so tomorrows attendance should tell a tale, one way or the other.

Fozzie Bear

El_Dangeroso wrote: »

....tis early but people were behaving and the schtyle was mighty.

Was going into work this morning at 5.30am. Heading up the hill at Parkmore I met two young lads walking/swaying towards me. They were taking both sides of the footpath, bottle of buckie each and the suits hanging off them, ties long gone and shirt tail ends out. They looked absolutely mangled the two of them.

I was impressed and a little jealous all at once. I was that soldier in my younger years. Married, older, sensible (a little bit more at least) and a mortgage and kids these days..

Mind you the thoughts of the monsterous hangover that is biding its time before ripping their brains out made me smile and softened the jealousy...

pappyodaniel

Lads, I know the general area of where the races are on but can you tell me where the entrance is to the Galway Racecourse?