← All events
sport · Monday 31 August 2026 · TBA 
Roscommon Racecourse - Late August Fixture
At Roscommon Racecourse · Roscommon Racecourse, Co. Roscommon
At Roscommon Racecourse · Roscommon Racecourse, Co. Roscommon
August bank holiday Monday lands on a race evening at one of the west of Ireland’s most enjoyable tracks. Roscommon Racecourse has been drawing crowds since 1885 - and before that the British Military were staging meetings here as far back as 1837 - so this is a racecourse with proper roots. An evening fixture on the last day of August is the third of three August meetings, and it suits anyone who wants a sociable outdoor event that does not demand you know the form book to have a good time.
The course is a right-handed oval, a shade over a mile and a quarter around, with a long run-in of three and a half furlongs that gives races a proper finish to watch. August fixtures are flat racing, run in the evening, so you get the soft late-summer light over the Connacht countryside as a backdrop. The track is considered sharp and fair - front-runners tend to do well, which makes for clear, readable races even if you are not a seasoned punter.
On-course bookmakers and Tote are both present so you can have a small bet without any preparation. Bars and restaurants are open throughout the meeting, and the racecourse typically puts on live music after racing, which turns the evening into something longer than a quick dash and dash. Free wifi and a digital ticketing system are in place. The racecourse runs ten meetings across the season (May to September), and this late August slot has a loyal local following.
Roscommon town is roughly equidistant from Dublin, Galway and Sligo - about 1 hour 40 minutes from Dublin on the N4/N61, 50 minutes from Galway, and just under an hour from Sligo. There is a rail connection on the Dublin Heuston to Westport line, with Roscommon station a short taxi ride from the racecourse. Free car parking is available right beside the course for every meeting, so driving is uncomplicated. Evening start times mean you avoid the worst of any afternoon traffic if you are coming from Dublin.
The town itself is compact and easy to walk around, with Roscommon Castle - a large thirteenth-century Norman ruin - sitting just a few minutes from the centre. There is more to see in Roscommon and across Co. Roscommon.
Heading to Roscommon Racecourse in Roscommon? Roscommon has plenty more to see. Read the Roscommon area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.