Your next proper day out...

Located in the heart of  Co. Kildare, the Curragh racecourse benefits from one of the most spectacular backdrops in world horse racing  with expansive views across the gentle rolling grassland plains of The Curragh, an area of historical, ecological and architectural importance.

The word ‘Curragh’ means place of the running horse and this racecourse is home to world-class flat racing. The Curragh racecourse is famous for attracting classy racehorses, elite trainers and world class jockeys who battle it out for the prestigious Irish Classic titles.

The Curragh racecourse hosts The Irish Classics meetings which take place throughout the summer as well as day 2 of Irish Champions Festival which takes place in September. There are 23 days of world-class quality racing, including Ireland's 5 Classic races and a total of 11 Group 1 races. 

There are five Irish classics, all of which are run at the Curragh Racecourse. These prestigious races attract many seasoned racegoers along with members of the public to enjoy the spectacular facilities and entertainment the Curragh racecourse has to offer.

The Irish 2,000 Guineas, The Irish 1,000 Guineas,  The Irish Derby, The Irish Oaks and the Irish St Leger all take place at the Curragh racecourse with fast-paced, exhilarating action and nail-biting finishes. 

The Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas takes place at the Curragh in late May over a two-day weekend meeting. It is the first Irish Classic of the year and is a great social occasion with regular fashion activations and family entertainment. 

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is a stand-out event in the flat season calendar. Attracting competitors and spectators from all over the world, the best horses, jockeys and trainers travel from all over in a bid to take home the prestigeous trophy. The Irish Derby, a three day festival takes regularly takes place in late June/ early July. Featuring a fantastic line-up of racing, live music from well-known bands and fashion competitions throughout the weekend, this is not to be missed.

Irish Oaks Weekend takes place at the Curragh racecourse in late July and features two days of exciting racing.  Saturday's featured races include the G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks, G2 Barberstown Castle Sapphire Stakes, and the G2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup. Sunday is a dedicated family day and has lots of family  friendly entertainment to compliment the fantastic racing which includes the G2 Romanised Minstrel Stakes, the G2 Rathbride Stakes and Corinthian Challenge Charity race. 

There are hospitality options to suit all tastes and budgets at The Curragh Racecourse ranging from coffee shops in the public racing hall to private boxes in the grandstand offering spectacular views of the racetrack. With many different restaurants and food facilities dotted throughout the track there is something for everyone. 

Check out The Curragh’s upcoming race meetings and experience a proper day out.

By Road:

From Dublin take Exit 9 off the M50 onto the N7 southbound. Take Exit 12 off the M7. When you arrive, you'll find plenty of free car parking. Regular racegoers can opt for annual preferred car parking at a nominal rate.

The Curragh offer a FREE shuttle bus from Newbridge and Kildare train stations for all fixtures in 2023. The buses will commence with the arrival before the first race and finish an hour after the last meeting, or two hours for the larger festivals.

By Rail:  

Mainline trains from Heuston Station (Dublin), Waterford, Cork, Limerick and Galway to Kildare Town.

Train  to Kildare Town Station with complimentary Shuttle Bus to the racecourse also collecting in the Square in Kildare Town. Trains also to Newbridge with complimentary shuttle bus to racecourse collecting on Main Street.  See www.curragh.ie for latest information