Omey Races

Experience the thrill of “The Other Galway Races” a spectacular day of horse racing held entirely on the tidal sands of Omey Strand in Claddaghduff!

Re-established as a beloved annual tradition in 2001, the Omey Races have grown year after year, offering a unique summer spectacle shaped entirely by the natural rhythms of the Atlantic Ocean. Because Omey is a tidal island, the entire event is beautifully unpredictable, requiring races to be perfectly timed and completed before the high tide returns to cover the beach.

It’s not just about the pony racing, either. The strand comes alive with a vibrant festival atmosphere featuring food and drink stalls, live Irish music, pony equipment vendors, traditional basket makers, and bookmakers ready to take your wagers.

• Start Time: The first race commences at approximately 1:00 PM (Start and finish times depend heavily on the tide).
• Location: Omey Strand, Claddaghduff (a few miles from Clifden on the western edge of Connemara).
• Parking & Access: On-beach parking is available. Simply head to Claddaghduff, take the turn toward Omey Strand right beside the church, and local stewards will assist you with parking instructions.
• Directions from Clifden: Take N59 and L1102 Streamstown to Claddaghduff 15 min (11.6 km)
• Take the Westport Rd/N59. Continue to follow N59 for 3.5 km
• Turn left onto L1102 Streamstown (See the signs for An Cledach Dubh – Claddaghduff)
• Continue on the L1102 through Doon, Cushatrough, Leagaun and Grallagh and Claddaghduff.
• At Claddaghduff take a left to the L11025 Tidal Rd

Come celebrate Connemara’s rich cultural heritage, community spirit, and Ireland’s deep-rooted love for horse racing at this unforgettable beach side event. The races came to a halt in 1963 and did not resume until 2000, when a four person committee decided to resurrect them for the millennium. Fechine Mulkerrin, along with Malachy King, Tom Delappe and Trina Sweeney. Horse racing on the strand is an old practice in Ireland, and the Omey Races go back farther than anyone can recall “Long before my grandfather remembers,” said Feicin Mulkerrin.

The beach at Omey is a spectacular spot for horse racing. Surrounded by views of the sea in one direction and the Twelve Bens mountain range, in the other, the mile long beach reveals itself only as the 10-foot tide recedes. At low tide, you can drive from the mainland across to Omey island.

For the latest updates and tide-dependent scheduling, please check the official Omey Races Facebook Page.