200,000 set to flock to Ballybrit

ALL roads lead to Ballybrit next week as more than 200,000 people are expected descend on the famous racecourse as the Galway Summer Festival Race meeting kicks off this coming Monday.The flagship festival is expected to generate up to €80 million for the local economy according to Track Manager John Moloney who told the Galway City Tribune that his team have been working flat out this week to ensure the event is a massive success. “Preparations have been going very well. The ground is in good condition and we watered it on Tuesday and the going is 'good’ at the moment. “The deliveries of food and Guinness and drinks are beginning to arrive and John Sherry and his team at Lydon House who are doing the catering have done a great job to get everything organised.”Mr. Moloney expects that more than 200,000 people will file through the turnstiles during the seven days and betting turnover including tote and bookies will be in the region of €35 million for the 51 races.“Ticket sales are very strong already and internet bookings, which make up about 12% of ticket sales, have been very swift so far so we expect the crowds to be similar to last year. “There are a lot of ...The image used is from an exhibition of works by Grace Cunningham at Kenny's, opeing on Monday