Killarney Racecourse is Irelands most scenic racecourse with four fantastic boutique festivals each year.
All meetings are incorporated into one spring festival in May, two summer festivals in the months of July and August and one autumn festival in early October.
Racing is held primarily in the evening time making the racecourse the ideal venue to round off a day of sightseeing.
Spring Festival
May 9th-12th
The month of May signals only one thing to the loyal punters of Dan Linehan’s Bar, the start of the Killarney Races.
Winter gets left behind as a colourful carpet of cherry blossom lines our laneway. We look forward to brighter evenings, the summer ahead and our bustling racing calendar!
As the Munster final will take place in Killarney Sunday 10th May the race meeting will take place on Saturday 9th instead.
Summer Festivals
July 13th-17th
Spanning five days, this festival attracts top horses, jockeys and trainers from across the country. Enjoy thrilling races and a vibrant atmosphere. This meeting features fashion competitions, family-friendly activities and live entertainment, offering something for everyone.
August 20th-22nd
A vibrant three-day horse racing event. This action-packed meeting features exhilarating races with top horses, jockeys, and trainers competing at the highest level. Get down to the live music in the Jim Culloty Bar at the end of each race day.
Autumn Festival
October 4th & 5th
There’s a lovely, relaxed vibe in autumn. Think warm coats, flat caps, and a hot whiskey in hand as you watch the horses fly by. October marks the start of the National Hunt season, so you’ll see some exciting early-season form and future stars in action.
Irish Racing Pub of the Year
For us at Dan Linehan’s, the Killarney Race meeting in May is one of the highlights of our year.
In 2008 we were awarded Irish Racing Pub of the Year by Racing Post and Racking UK.
Dan Linehan would have been proud! He was a regular at Irish and UK race meetings and was something of a pundit. Thanks to his love of the horses his legacy still lives and breathes in his pub.
Our Racing Pub of The Year accolade is an important nod to the tradition of Dan’s legacy. So, every year we invite our loyal customers to join us in the VIP section at the Killarney Races in May. It has become our tradition and is full of excitement, fun, camaraderie and the odd good tip!
The Michael Linehan Heartsafe Killarney Charity
2022 marked a poignant year for the Linehan family. So, being the 20 year anniversary of Michael Linehan’s passing, we donated all of the Race Day ticket sales to the charity in his name. We were thrilled to raise over €4,000!
A very warm and sincere thank you to every single person who so generously bought a ticket, donated money and came along to enjoy the day.
This important fundraising was impossible without you.
Thank You.
