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sport · Friday 3 July 2026 · 17:30 
Bellewstown Summer Festival - Day 2
At Bellewstown Racecourse · Bellewstown, Co. Meath (Drogheda area)
At Bellewstown Racecourse · Bellewstown, Co. Meath (Drogheda area)
The second evening of the Bellewstown Summer Festival is a proper Meath occasion. Horse racing up on the Hill of Crockafotha, a 17:30 start as the evening light softens over the Boyne Valley, and a crowd that has been coming to this hilltop course for generations. It suits anyone who enjoys a day at the races with real atmosphere - families, racing regulars and first-timers alike find something to enjoy here, and the setting alone is worth the trip.
Bellewstown is one of Ireland’s oldest racecourses, with records of racing on this hill going back to 1726. The course runs left-handed over about a mile and a furlong, with enough undulation and a kink before the finish straight to keep things interesting for punters and spectators. Day 2 of the summer festival features a mix of National Hunt and flat racing - so you get hurdle action alongside flat contests on the same card, which is unusual and gives the evening variety.
Races typically run until close to 9pm, giving you several contests over the course of the evening. General admission and hospitality options are available. The atmosphere at Bellewstown is informal by Irish racing standards - it draws local families and Drogheda crowds as much as seasoned racegoers, and the hilltop setting with views stretching to the Mournes and the Irish Sea to the east is genuinely impressive on a clear July evening.
Bellewstown sits roughly 11 kilometres south of Drogheda and about 37 kilometres north of Dublin, just off the main N1/M1 corridor. By car, take the Bellewstown exit and follow signage to the course - on festival days the roads are well marshalled. Parking is on-site at the racecourse. Bus Éireann services run between Dublin and Drogheda, and from Drogheda local taxis can reach Bellewstown without difficulty. The Dublin to Belfast rail line stops at Drogheda, making it an accessible evening out from either city.
The village itself is quiet, but the surrounding area rewards a short detour - the Boyne Valley is just a few minutes away in any direction, with some of the most significant prehistoric and early Christian sites in Ireland. There is more to see in Bellewstown and across Co. Meath.
Heading to Bellewstown Racecourse in Bellewstown? Meath has plenty more to see. Read the Bellewstown area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.