Galway Races 2025: Share your best photos from race week
Today at 09:43
One of Galway's most iconic weeks has arrived, the Galway Races, hot on the heels of the Galway International Arts Festival.
With seven days of craic, racing, and fashion now underway, we're calling on racegoers to submit their best photos to the Irish Independent. Whether it's the glamour of Ladies Day, the thrill of Galway Plate Day, the creativity of Sunday's Mad Hatters competition, or simply the electric atmosphere around Ballybrit, we want to see it all.
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Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
'The people of Galway take Race Week off - to spend more time in worse traffic'
If you've been trying to contact Galway this week, sorry about that. Galway's off. Maybe you're in the midlands and you've spotted someone wearing an oversized jumper, with bongo drums, and four thin dogs on bailing twine. You may have thought "that person looks lost - I'll give Galway a call, they're probably looking for that person in Eyre Square"... So you phone Galway and no response. Not even a message minder saying "thanks for calling Shop Street, we'll call back if we get some arts grants". And then you realise. Ah... It's the Galway Races. The lost hippy with the bongo drum will have to find their own way back to their spiritual home. For a city that spends most of the time in traffic, the people of Galway all take Race Week off - mostly to spend even more time in worse traffic. Those who have jobs take Race Week off. Those who don't have jobs take Race Week off too. Credit to the good men and women of the Emergency Services who are always working. Them, and people who sell coffee or chips from trailers. So you might see work happening if someone scalds themselves with an americano after bumping into someone with a snackbox. Other than that, forget about it. There's a small minority who wear their special clothes and watch wonderful tiny people do amazing things on horses. Everyone else is having pints or - in these challenging times - slightly less expensive cans. Neachtains pub will be so crowded there might even be people in there who don't qualify for an arts grant. Many people celebrate their time off by avoiding the city and instead visiting the towns and villages they actually live in. Oranmore, for example, will be packed as there will be a huge influx of people from Oranmore. There might be tourists. You'll know them because they'll be dressed for the weather - not for a Netflix drama based in industrial England. You can tell it's Race Week because there's fewer helicopters in the sky. Locals might quip: "It must be the races because it's not like Apocalypse Now". So if you need to contact Galway, wait two weeks. Or maybe give Clare, Sligo or Mayo a shout instead.
RTÉ News
a day ago
- RTÉ News
Galway woman named Best Dressed Lady at 2025 Galway Races
Ballybrit has been once again lit up with dazzling outfits as racegoers descended on town today for one of the most glamorous dates in the Irish social calendar: the crowning of Best Dressed Lady at the Galway Races. Now in its 156th year, the Galway Races Summer Festival is a highlight of the year for fans of the racing as well as fashion, with plenty to thrill onlookers - not least Ladies Day, which takes place on the Thursday of the races. One of the biggest days in the Irish Racing calendar, this event always delivers showstopping looks as attendees dress to the nines in an effort to land the coveted title and cash prize. This year also marks the first in a three-year partnership between the Galway Races and multi-award-winning Irish skincare brand Ella & Jo, a powerhouse brand led by two female co-founders that is known for championing real skin, real women, and real confidence. The judging panel for ladies day this year is led by trusted voices in Irish fashion and beauty, with Galway Races icon Mandy Maher returning as Head Judge for the fourth year running, joined for the first time by Niamh Ryan, co-founder of Ella & Jo and Lisa McGowan, founder of Lisa & Co and Lisa's Lust List Best Dressed Lady Taking home the coveted €10,000 prize for Best Dressed Lady was Megan Cunniss from Newcastle Co Galway, whose look embodied the Ella & Jo ethos - bold, original, and completely her own. "I just can't believe it I am ecstatic. I'm from Galway so this means so much to me." Cuniss, who is a regular at Ladies Days throughout the year, wowed in a striking monochrome ensemble, stepping out in a sleeveless white dress white contrasting black trim and black buttons. She paired this with a black and white clutch bag hired from Mála Hire, sheer black gloves and black and white stiletto heels. She topped off her look with an elegant white wide-brimmed hat with a black trim, created by Millinery By Mairéad. Best Hat The prize for Best Hat went to Bride Butler from Thurles Co Tipperary, who was awarded the €3,000 prize for a standout piece by Michelle Kearns. The judges applauded the design for its originality, craftsmanship, and sheer presence. The Judges The stylish judges were just as impressively dressed, leading the charge for the Ladies. Head Judge Mandy Maher stepped out in a chic and summery ensemble, wearing a white jumpsuit paired with a woven belt to cinch the waist, a shimmering pale gold long jacket and gold pointed toed heels. She finished her look with a sculptural gold headpiece that swirled elegantly around her head. Niamh Ryan also opted for summer whites, wearing a stunning white dress with voluminous off-the-shoulder sleeves and floral embroidery at the hem in shades of pale pink and beige. She paired this with a wide-brimmed straw hat and gold heels. Guest guest Lisa McGowan, meanwhile, went bold and turned heads in a scarlet gown with a slashed high neck and an A-line skirt. She paired this with a red clutch bag, nude heeled sandals and a feathered red headpiece. Speaking about the winning look, McGowan said: "Ladies Day holds such a special place in my heart. The standard this year was phenomenal, not just in terms of fashion, but in the presence behind the outfits. Our winner had that rare magic. She didn't just wear the look, she owned it."
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Day five of Galway Races 2025: Last minute arrival sees Westmeath woman take top style prize in Ballybrit
After a glamorous Ladies Day yesterday, fashion was still firmly on the agenda at the Galway Races today for the Most Stylish competition.
