Killarney Races

Horse racing is simply part of the Irish psyche. Horses are raced on beaches, in fields, from one point to another, over fences and at formal Race Meetings such as here, in Killarney.

Races have taken place in Killarney for hundreds of years and W.M Thackeray wrote of them in 1842 as follows: "By this time we are got upon the course, which is really one of the most beautiful spots that ever was seen: the lake and mountains lying on two sides of it, and of course visible from all. They were busy putting up hurdles when we arrived - stiff bars and poles, four feet from the ground, with furze bushes over them. The grand stand was already full; along the hedges sat thousands of people, sitting at their ease doing nothing, and happy as kings."

In 2008, the Killarney Races will take place on:

11th, 12th and 13th of May
14th, 15th, 16th and 17th of July
30th and 31st of August.

Most businesses in town will close, at least one afternoon, to revel in the sheer excitement of the occasion. The Killarney Race Company website will give you the most up-to-date information on upcoming meetings in Killarney.

Try and get to a Race Meeting when in Ireland. Every week there is one on somewhere and it really is a celebration of Irish life. For full details of all Race Meetings, go to the Horse Racing Ireland website.