The Galway Races 2026

Every year, Galway will buzz with the excitement of Ireland’s premier horse racing event – The Galway Races Summer Festival. And this Race Week, there’s no better place to soak up the atmosphere, celebrate, and enjoy every moment than at M Fitzgerald’s Bar!

Why Watch the Galway Races at M Fitzgerald’s Bar?

Experience every gallop and cheer on your favourites with a perfect pint in hand, soaking up the electric Race Week atmosphere, all from the comfort and convenience of M Fitzgerald’s Bar. Expect:

Electric Atmosphere

Join fellow racing fans in an unbeatable setting filled with passion, pride, and plenty of cheers!

Delicious Pub Grub

Fuel up with our delicious menu, from classic fish & chips to our famous burgers. Perfect race-day bites!

Pre and Post Racing Pours

Guinness, cocktails, bubbles, and a fine selection of whiskeys – we’ve got the perfect pour for every celebration.

Pre and Post Racing Cocktails

There’s nothing quite like race week in Galway — the energy, the stories, the sound of footsteps on Quay Street as the city comes alive. At M Fitzgerald’s, we’re pouring cocktails crafted for the occasion — bold, balanced, and laced with a touch of Galway charm.

From crisp, refreshing spritzes to rich, whiskey-forward pours, our Race Week cocktail list brings together the best of Irish spirits and seasonal ingredients. Whether you’re toasting a win or soaking in the atmosphere, our bartenders are ready to mix something special

OUR COCKTAIL MENU

Race Day Feeds to Keep You Going

Big days at the track call for proper food — the kind that sets you up, keeps you going, and soaks up a few celebratory drinks along the way. At M Fitzgerald’s, we’re serving hearty plates, bar bites, and race day classics to keep you well-fed from first orders to last call.

Expect Irish favourites with a twist — think stacked burgers, loaded fries, and sharing boards made for the table. Fresh, filling, and full of flavour.

BOOK A TABLE

Live Music All Race Week

The races might wrap up at Ballybrit — but the real craic carries on in town. At M Fitzgerald’s, we’ll have live music every day of Race Week to keep the good times rolling.

Expect a line-up of brilliant local talent bringing you everything from modern Irish tunes to acoustic takes on crowd favourites. Whether you’re calling in for a quiet pint or staying ‘til last orders, there’s always music in the air and something worth sticking around for.

BOOK A TABLE

Don’t Miss a Moment of the Action!

Get ready for seven days of thrilling racing, incredible fashion, and a truly unique atmosphere. Here are some of the week’s highlights:

Monday: The grand opening day, setting the pace for a fantastic week!
Wednesday: Tote Galway Plate Day: A highlight for racing fans, featuring one of the festival’s most prestigious races.
Thursday: Ladies Day: The pinnacle of fashion and style! Witness stunning outfits and top-class racing.
Sunday: Mad Hatter’s Day: A fantastic day for families, rounding off the festival with fun, colour, and unique hats.

BOOK YOUR TABLE

  • Collage of U.S. Presidents from various eras, arranged around a central bowl of shamrocks, with blended Irish and American flags in the background.
  • Collage of iconic musicians including Prince, Sinead O’Connor, and Bono, surrounded by musical notes, a microphone, a hand making the rock gesture, and the Colosseum in the background with Irish flag colours.
  • Collage of Irish cultural symbols including a pint of Guinness, a bodhrán drum, a shamrock, colourful pub signs, a traditional Irish cottage pub, and a vintage 'Lovely day for a Guinness' poster.
  • Collage of renowned Irish literary figures including portraits of writers like W.B. Yeats and Samuel Beckett, with a feather quill, ink pot, Nobel Prize medal, handwritten script, and classical architecture in the background.
  • Collage of actor Daniel Day-Lewis in various Oscar-winning roles, including Abraham Lincoln and Bill the Butcher, with Irish flag accents in the background and four Academy Award statuettes in the foreground.
  • Collage of Irish actors including Saoirse Ronan, Nicola Coughlan, Cillian Murphy, and Liam Neeson, framed by a glowing marquee-style circle with film reels, clapperboard, crowns, and the word 'Hollywood' across the bottom.
  • Collage of celebrated Irish athletes including Katie Taylor, Rory McIlroy, Rhasidat Adeleke, and others from horse racing and track events, with sporting medals, trophies, and action shots layered over green and orange graphic elements.
  • Collage celebrating Irish aviation history, featuring a vintage Aer Lingus flight attendant, classic aircraft steps, a control tower, Aer Lingus and Ryanair planes, and a modern Ryanair safety card on a yellow seat back.
  • Collage celebrating Irish music and dance, featuring traditional Irish dancers, a couple mid-step, Ed Sheeran smiling with arms crossed, a folk musician playing guitar, a harp graphic, and a hand making a rock gesture with lightning bolts.
  • Collage centred on an orange-hued breakfast martini, surrounded by a jar of marmalade, a hand holding a wooden spoon, an orange tree, a country pub and stone bridge, and kitchen utensils—evoking a blend of Irish tradition and homemade charm.