Irish race meetings buzz with the beat of pounding hooves and fast-paced bets, and are days out with a difference. 

For starters, Listowel in  Kerry, one of the oldest racecourses in the country, packs in the fun for its renowned week-long race meeting.

Thrill-seekers should head to Laytown, County Louth, where the racing takes place on the hard sands of Laytown Beach, and is a spectacle you can't afford to miss.

If you want to combine a flutter with a fling, Downpatrick Racecourse pulsates with atmosphere, and you'll be watched over by the Ireland's patron Saint Patrick, who’s buried at the nearby Down Cathedral.