The Galway Races Summer Festival 2025 was officially launched yesterday with a style-packed event at the Radisson RED Hotel in Galway, marking the countdown to one of Ireland’s most iconic sporting and social occasions.
The festival will take place from Monday, July 28th to Sunday, August 3rd at Ballybrit Racecourse and is expected to attract over 130,000 racegoers for a week of top-class horse racing, fashion, live music, and family entertainment.
The launch event was hosted by broadcaster Gemma Ní Chionnaith and attended by several key figures, including Dr. Colm O’Flaherty, the newly appointed Chairman of the Galway Race Committee, and Michael Moloney, CEO of Galway Races.
This year’s festival will feature 53 races, with over 800 horses competing for a total prize fund of €2.17 million.
Among the highlights are the Tote Galway Plate and the Guinness Galway Hurdle, each offering a prize fund of €270,000.
There will be 50 live music performances scheduled across the week, along with 57 food and beverage outlets.
More than 70,000 meals are expected to be served, while racegoers will enjoy over 171,000 pints, five tonnes of Irish beef, and upwards of 5,000 bottles of wine and champagne.
The event will be supported by 1,600 staff members, including 10 full-time employees, to ensure smooth operations across the venue.
Sponsorship remains a central pillar of the Galway Races, with The Connacht Hotel renewing its support for Monday’s feature race for another three years, marking a 16-year partnership.
A new addition this year is award-winning Irish skincare brand Ella & Jo, which has been announced as the title sponsor for Ladies Day. The three-year agreement includes a €10,000 cash prize for Best Dressed Lady and a €3,000 prize for Best Hat, alongside exclusive Ella & Jo experiences, including a Mist Bar and festival giveaways.
Fashion will once again be a major focus of the week, with Lisa McGowan, a former Best Dressed winner and leading fashion influencer, returning as Guest Judge for Ladies Day, while the week wraps up with the Mad Hatters Family Fun Day on Sunday, sponsored by Ireland West Airport.
Organisers have also reinforced their commitment to sustainability, with measures including the installation of 160 solar panels, the planting of 2,700 native Irish trees, and a zero-waste-to-landfill policy across the festival site.
Tickets for the Galway Races Summer Festival 2025 are now available online and by phone.
Business of Golf Event
Sport for Business is hosting our second annual Business of Golf event at Carton House on the morning of Tuesday, July 1st, followed by an exclusive golf experience at the Golf Ireland Academy.
We will gather at the prestigious Carton House, a Fairmont Managed Hotel, from 10 AM with a series of conversations taking place from 1030 to 1230 and then a walk around to the Academy for a session in the bays and on the green with Golf Ireland’s world-leading coaches.
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