Ratoath

A Dublin commuter village that holds the Irish Grand National in the backyard.

Ratoath is a commuter village 25 kilometres north-west of Dublin city centre, on the N3. It has grown rapidly over the past two decades as Dublin workers push outward looking for space. The village has the look of a place still figuring out what it wants to be: a supermarket, two pubs, and restaurants on the main street, with housing estates spreading backward into what used to be fields.

The reason to come here is Fairyhouse Racecourse, sitting three kilometres off the main road in Ratoath parish. The racecourse has been there since 1848, and since 1870 it has held the Irish Grand National on Easter Monday — the richest horse race in Ireland, three miles and five furlongs over 24 fences, and one of the races that matters.

Outside of race days, Ratoath is a functional commuter hub. The pubs are good, the restaurants are adequate, and the speed you can move through the landscape is fast. Come for the racing, or come because you live here. Otherwise, the village is not particularly a place to linger.