Horse Racing Breaks

Racing in Ireland is unique. With 27 tracks located around the island and over 350 days racing you have endless opportunities to join in one of Ireland's most popular pastimes from the buzz of the Irish National Hunt Festival at Punchestown to the excitement of a thrilling finish at the Curragh.

Racing Breaks Include:

  • Return off peak flight from Britain on direct service to Dublin (based on restricted budget fare) †
  • Two nights bed and full Irish breakfast in twin/double en-suite room
  • Budget Car Hire – Group 3 (for three days). See Car hire for details
  • Admission to General Enclosure and Racecard for one fixture

We feature inclusive arrangements for the popular Festivals and Classics (which can be tailor-made). We can also arrange an inclusive holiday or short break by air or sea. Our Flexible Motoring Holidays and short breaks are easily linked to a racing itinerary. Self-catering accommodation is available on request.

Flexible Racing Break

The Irish fixture list features over 350 great days of racing. Our flexible racing break* can be adapted to suit many of these meetings at any time of the year.

* Excludes Festivals, Classics, Group One Meetings, Bank Holidays and Special Events.

† Full details of routes + schedules advised when booking.

Accommodation Price per person based on two sharing from
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct 01 Nov–14 Dec
B & B £245 £250 £250 £275 £275 £250 £245 £245
3* Hotel £249 £265 £265 £290 £290 £265 £249 £249

For more or less travelling or longer stay, please request a costing.

Racing Festivals & Classics

Learn more about short breaks and holidays created especially for these spectacular racing events:

Festival Meetings 2008

Cork Easter Festival
Sat 22nd, Sun 23rd & Mon 24th March
Fairyhouse Grand National Festival
Sat 22nd, Sun 23rd, Mon 24th & Tues 25th March
Punchestown NH Festival
Tue 22nd – Sat 26th April
Killarney May Festival
Sun 11th, Mon 12th (e) & Tues 13th (e) May
Curragh Guineas Festival
Sat 24th & Sun 25th May
Listowel June Bank Holiday Festival
Sun 1st & Mon 2nd (BH) June
Curragh Derby Festival
Fri 27th June (e), Sat 28th & Sun 29th June
Bellewstown Summer Festival
Thurs 3rd (e), Fri 4th (e) & Sat 5th (e) July
Curragh Oaks Festival
Sat 12th & Sun 13th July
Killarney July Festival
Mon 14th (e), Tues 15th (e), Wed 16th (e) & Thurs 17th July
Galway Summer Festival
Mon 28th (e), Tues 29th (e), Wed 30th, Thurs 31st July, Fri 1st (e), Sat 2nd & Sun 3rd August
Tramore Summer Festival
Thurs 14th (e), Fri 15th (e), Sat 16th (e) & Sun 17th August
Tralee Rose Festival
Tues 19th, Wed 20th, Thurs 21st, Fri 22nd & Sat 23rd August
Galway Autumn Festival
Mon 8th (e) & Tues 9th (e) & Wed 10th September
Curragh Autumn Festival
Sat 13th & Sun 14th September
Listowel Harvest Festival
Sun 14th, Mon 15th, Tues 16th, Wed 17th, Thurs 18th, Fri 19th & Sat 20th September
Gowran Park 2-day Festival
Fri 3rd & Sat 4th October
Down Royal Festival
Fri 31st October & Sat 1st November
Punchestown Winter Festival
Sat 15th & Sun 16th November
Fairyhouse Winter Festival
Fri 28th, Sat 29th & Sun 30th November
Leopardstown Christmas Festival
Fri 26th, Sat 27th, Sun 28th & Mon 29th December
Limerick Christmas Festival
Fri 26th, Sat 27th, Sun 28th & Mon 29th December

(e) Evening Meeting

See also Horse Racing Ireland for the full list of Irish Fixtures.