Blow for punters as Races crowds are curtailed
Just one thousand spectators can attend each day of the Galway Races seven-day summer festival, which goes to post on Monday, July 26.
Chief Executive of Galway Racecourse Michael Moloney said the decision to restrict numbers to just 2% of the capacity of the famous track was ‘extremely disappointing news’.
And with bars and restaurants due to re-open indoors for the fully vaccinated, it means that Galway’s hospitality businesses, and the city’s streets, could be packed during Race Week…while the track itself is 98% empty.
“We were hoping for more and there was huge support to get back to Ballybrit. It’s definitely disappointing,” Mr Moloney said.
“It’s just over 2% of our capacity and we see other sporting venues around the country this weekend are heading well into the twenties in terms of percentage capacity,” he added.
The decision to severely limit racing numbers came in what was a also milestone week for a couple of Galway’s other big festivals – with mixed fortunes for them too.
While the Galway International Arts Festival announced an innovative if curtailed programme for slightly later in the summer, the Ballinasloe Fair and Festival Committee officially decided to again cancel this year’s event.
So while Ballinasloe will concentrate all its effort on making next year’s 300th Fair a very special occasion, the GIAF team is all set for a later extravaganza than usual, moving the programme from July to late August/early September.
Traditionally that Arts Festival would have preceded the races, with both events combining to see peak visitor numbers to the city – but not this time.
See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now – or you can download a digital copy from www.connachttribune.ie