Horse racing

If you don’t relish the thought of riding on horseback, then you can always enjoy Ireland’s equine treasures from the ground. 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.

Did you know?

Everything you ever wanted to know about Ireland and the beautiful horse

• Ireland’s horses have a worldwide reputation for excellence – and it’s all in the bones! The country’s legendary emerald pastures are rich in calcium and produce horses with strong, light bones – the finest in Europe. 

• Horseracing in Ireland is known as “the sport of kings”, and with good reason, too. In Celtic times, Brehon law dictated that it should be limited to princes and noblemen. 

• The Ballydoyle Stables in  County Tipperary are world famous, producing some of the finest horses ever raced including Ninjinsky, Sir Ivor, Alleged and The Minstrel.  

• The famous horse Shergar, the easiest Derby winner in history, was kidnapped from the Ballymany Stud near the Curragh in 1983. His fate is still unknown to this day.