Galway races 27th July - 2nd August

Whereisgalway · 21-07-2020 9:49am #1

Anyone hear the must hotels are booked up for race week? What are all these tourists going to do? Can’t go to the race track so be hanging around the pubs/resturants and hotels?

biko · 21-07-2020 10:12am

I didn't hear that. Do you have a link?

Edit - added dates to title so people know

zell12 · 21-07-2020 11:17am

Hotels are reporting a surge in bookings for Race Week, with holidaymakers and racing fans expected to flock to the city – despite the seven-day festival being held ‘behind closed doors’. https://connachttribune.ie/hotels-report-surge-in-booking-for-galway-races/

Maybe it's just some spin

21-07-2020 2:15pm

I wonder will many people go to watch from areas outside the course where you can see from. Ballybrit business park for example.

I'd be up there 7 days most years so its a big downer not having the races proper this year but I'd consider going to catch a glimpse of a few races if I knew it was going to be quiet and no packed with people.

king_of_mayo · 21-07-2020 3:05pm

Whereisgalway wrote: »

Anyone hear the must hotels are booked up for race week?

I have heard that from a friend who's involved in the hospitality sector. That was a few weeks ago though when it was expected the pubs would be open, not sure what the current state of things is.

inisboffin · 21-07-2020 3:06pm

I may have seen a link (but for the moment heresay) about Hotels putting on events in house to make it more attractive. Like best dressed lady etc.

gordongekko · 21-07-2020 4:36pm

The headline on the front of the city tribune last week seemed to suggest this is the case

Mrs OBumble · 21-07-2020 4:40pm

inisboffin wrote: »

I may have seen a link (but for the moment heresay) about Hotels putting on events in house to make it more attractive. Like best dressed lady etc.

Dunno about others, but Hyde cancelled theirs when ghd not food pubs weren't allowed to open.

Zzippy · 21-07-2020 10:03pm

A 30 second booking engine search shows rooms available in all the hotels, at rates that would suggest they are not in huge demand. Fake news?

biko · 22-07-2020 10:22am

I checked the The Railway Hotel (aka The Great Southern / Hotel Meyrick / The Hardiman) and they still have availabilities. Mind, there are some nights booked.

_Whimsical_ · 22-07-2020 3:48pm

I heard the Nest is Salthill is mostly booked up from someone who works there.

TwoWheeledTim · 22-07-2020 4:05pm

Zzippy wrote: »

A 30 second booking engine search shows rooms available in all the hotels, at rates that would suggest they are not in huge demand. Fake news?

I have family visiting two different weekends in mid August and the hotel rates are crazy. Not races week, I think Galway is just a popular spot for Staycations.

Bobeagleburger · 23-07-2020 7:55am

I'd expect a lot of people will cancel because the pubs are shut.

inisboffin · 23-07-2020 5:08pm

Claregalway Hotel still have programmed events.

Apparently Galway to be divided into 'Zones' and policed.

Anyone spot a map of these zones?

Fitz* · 23-07-2020 5:13pm

6 wrote: »

I'd expect a lot of people will cancel because the pubs are shut.

A good few pubs are now bringing in external food vendors to serve food, just to get their doors open.

Jack lemmon · 24-07-2020 5:47pm

Nyla Raspy Magician wrote: »

I wonder will many people go to watch from areas outside the course where you can see from. Ballybrit business park for example.

I'd be up there 7 days most years so its a big downer not having the races proper this year but I'd consider going to catch a glimpse of a few races if I knew it was going to be quiet and no packed with people.

That area is in private ownership(BSIL). A lot of construction work being carried out by them in this area also. There’ll definitely be no access to the public.

fergiesfolly · 24-07-2020 5:51pm

Jack lemmon wrote: »

That area is in private ownership(BSIL). A lot of construction work being carried out by them in this area also. There’ll definitely be no access to the public.

Is there not a public right of way through the grounds there since the Digital days.

Jack lemmon · 24-07-2020 5:58pm

fergiesfolly wrote: »

Is there not a public right of way through the grounds there since the Digital days.

Right of way to where? The whole race course is completely fenced. Since the old APC factory(previously part of digital) was purchased by BSIL, they own that whole area including the road in front.

Fitz* · 24-07-2020 6:16pm

There is a walk way in alright, but there's a couple of gates that can be closed off. They are left open for the majority of the year the walkers/runners everyday but are closed for the month prior to the races starting to ensure the grounds are kept in too condition.

To access the other entrance from that side, you have to walk down by the dual carriage and then turn in left in the car entrance which always has security on it during the races. This has been my entrance for years. Sometimes get caught at the gate as the first race is abut to start but it is sound as you get a nice first hand view of the race.

Alternatively, you can stand on the grass at the back of the HP building and watch the track, over the fence, from there.

Jack lemmon · 24-07-2020 6:29pm

“Alternatively, you can stand on the grass at the back of the HP building and watch the track, over the fence, from there.“

This is the area that I would defiantly expect to be off limits to the public.

OpenAllHours · 24-07-2020 7:10pm

I’m one of those who booked 5/6 weeks ago with the expectation that things would be back to some normal as per government road map. Struggling to see what or where to go as only so much one can eat in the day in order to get a pint!

Mrs OBumble · 24-07-2020 7:12pm

OpenAllHours wrote: »

I’m one of those who booked 5/6 weeks ago with the expectation that things would be back to some normal as per government road map. Struggling to see what or where to go as only so much one can eat in the day in order to get a pint!

You have to buy the food. There's no one forcing you to eat it.

Storm 10 · 24-07-2020 7:41pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

You have to buy the food. There's no one forcing you to eat it.

Lot of pubs in Galway where you don't have to buy the food, say no more

24-07-2020 9:34pm

Jack lemmon wrote: »

“Alternatively, you can stand on the grass at the back of the HP building and watch the track, over the fence, from there.“

This is the area that I would defiantly expect to be off limits to the public.

Specifically this year? As every other year there is a decent crowd watching for there I can see them from the stand when I’m at the races.

Bobeagleburger · 24-07-2020 9:51pm

There's a lot of construction work going on behind HP these days. Not sure it's as accessible as previously.

fergiesfolly · 24-07-2020 11:39pm

There's still a path around the site that's accessable to the public.
Workers use it for break time walks.

I have a vague recollection of the residents from Casltegar taking a case against APC many years ago when they tried to stop access around the site.

sgthighway · 25-07-2020 12:16am

Boston Scientific have SISK in there doing a load of building at the rear of the old APC Building so they could put extra Security on. I was up there during the week and there was a lot of digging machinery moving about along the old Pitch and Putt Course. As you look at HP you can stay to the right of the building and you can walk through a pedestrian gate next to a big gate here:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/53%C2%B017'31.6%22N+9%C2%B000'15.0%22W/@53.2921138,-9.0047095,168m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d53.2921128!4d-9.0041608

I would chance that way. If i was going up I would bring a radio and keep to myself as not to attract attention.
I think Mon and Tues are all flats so not much action the dip.

Jack lemmon · 25-07-2020 8:26am

fergiesfolly wrote: »

There's still a path around the site that's accessable to the public.
Workers use it for break time walks.

I have a vague recollection of the residents from Casltegar taking a case against APC many years ago when they tried to stop access around the site.

Yes there is a path around this site, and it is used at break times by the workers, it’s not there as a public park though. It’s private property, there’s plenty private property signs up along the route. I think a FEW people up there with radios and workers does happen over race wk, but this year is very different and there’s no way that there’ll be large crowds allowed in there. There’s no public parking anywhere either.

Storm 10 · 25-07-2020 8:30am

inisboffin wrote: »

Claregalway Hotel still have programmed events.

Apparently Galway to be divided into 'Zones' and policed.

Anyone spot a map of these zones?

No dividing taking place

https://www.facebook.com/148746965181554/posts/3215165821872971/

pjohnson · 25-07-2020 8:30am

Storm 10 wrote: »

Lot of pubs in Galway where you don't have to buy the food, say no more

Which kips are doing it this time?

Whereisgalway · 25-07-2020 8:07pm

biko wrote: »

I didn't hear that. Do you have a link?

Edit - added dates to title so people know

https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0725/1155509-galway-tourism-update/

“The general manager at the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill said it is running at almost full occupancy from now until the end of August.”

Other Hoteliers in Galway are reporting brisk business, which translates to we’re packed

Galway races 27th July - 2nd August

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