Ballinrobe Racecourse July Festival Family Day

A summer evening at Ballinrobe Racecourse is one of those days that tends to stick in the memory - the rumble of hooves on turf, ice cream in hand, and children who came for the bouncy castle ending up glued to the finish-line rail. The July Festival Family Day on Monday 20 July is the opening day of the racecourse’s two-day July Festival, and it is set up to work for families as much as for racing fans. Kids are free, the flat card gets underway at 5:10pm, and there is enough going on away from the track to keep younger visitors happily occupied for the whole evening.

What to expect

The racing is sponsored by Tote and centres on an all-flat card, headlined by the €22,000 TOTE Handicap - a proper prize-money race that draws competitive runners. The first race goes to post at 5:10pm, giving you plenty of time to find a good spot on the rails before the action starts.

Away from the track, the Family Day entertainment is substantial. Children’s activities include face painting, carnival games, a giant wire maze, a bouncy castle, teacup rides, stilt walkers, cartoon characters, and comedy horse photo opportunities. There is also a children’s playground on site. The combination of live flat racing and all that activity means younger racegoers are rarely standing still, which makes the evening considerably more relaxed for adults too. Children under 14 get in free with a paying adult.

Getting there

Ballinrobe sits in south County Mayo, roughly 15 minutes by road from Claremorris and about an hour from Galway city via the N84 and N17. From Castlebar it is around 25 minutes on the R331. The racecourse is well signposted on approach to the town. On-course parking is standard at Irish racecourses of this size - arrive a little before the first race to pick your spot easily; the gates typically open two hours before racing begins.

Public transport options to Ballinrobe itself are limited, so most people drive or arrange to share. If travelling from Galway, Claremorris, or Castlebar, a local taxi or rideshare for the evening is worth considering if you would like to enjoy the bar.

While you’re in Ballinrobe

Ballinrobe is a market town on the River Robe, with the ruins of a 13th-century Augustinian priory beside the river and some good local pubs for a post-racing pint. There is more to see in Ballinrobe and across Co. Mayo.

Good to know

• Date: Monday 20 July 2026
• First race: 5:10pm (gates open approximately 2 hours before)
• Price: Children under 14 free with paying adult; adult admission applies
• Book / check: ballinroberacecourse.ie
• Part of: the two-day July Festival (20-21 July); the Tuesday card includes an after-race dance