Kildare

Try the famed K Club in County Kildare in Straffan, which will play host to the 2006 Ryder Cup.

The Curragh Racecourse in Kildare has been the headquarters of horse racing in Ireland since the first race took place in 1741. It’s also one of Ireland's premier sporting venues and is home to the undisputed highlight of the Irish racing calendar, The Curragh Irish Derby.

A four-day spectacle (late April/early May) that attracts the cream of National Hunt Racehorses from across Europe.

There are seven sales spread throughout the year, and even if you’re not quite in the market for a thoroughbred, it’s definitely worth a look.