THE GALWAY RACES will not go ahead “as an open event” this summer, it has been confirmed.
The news comes after today’s government announcement that no licences would be given for events of more than 5,000 people until September at the earliest.
A statement from Michael Moloney, the general manager of Galway Racecourse, confirmed that they were still hopeful the event would go ahead behind closed doors, pending government approval.
The statement read: “In light of the evolving situation regarding Covid-19, for public health and safety reasons Galway Race Committee has reached the difficult but unavoidable decision that the 2020 Galway Races Summer Festival, due to be held from Monday 27th July to Sunday 2nd August will not be able to take place as an event open to the general public this year. We know this will be a huge disappointment for all our racegoers that attend year on year.
“It may prove possible to run the Galway Races behind closed doors, dependent on Government policy and the approval of Horse Racing Ireland and Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board. This would be for the benefit of the racing industry, our valued partners and our television audiences at home and internationally. We are currently planning for this scenario and we will update you on progress as and when we can.
“For Customers who have already paid for admission tickets and corporate hospitality, Galway Race Committee would like to reassure all of our customers that we will be operating a full refund policy. While the teams at Galway Racecourse and Lydon House Catering will commence this process immediately please bear with us as our teams are operating remotely due to the current Government restrictions in place. We appreciate your patience while this is being carried out.
“We would like to sincerely thank you for your support and understanding during this unprecedented time. Our thoughts are with all those affected as a result of Covid-19. We offer our deepest gratitude to staff at the HSE, front line workers and members of our community nationwide for their dedication and perseverance.
“We look forward to being able to welcome you all back to Ballybrit when it is safe to do so. For now, please look after yourselves. Stay safe and healthy.”
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A lot of so called pundits are calling for Kennys head yet they should be asked one simple question. Who would they replace Kenny with???
@Patrick O Connell: good question.
Another good question would be, Are we going to be happy with… Good individual performances and… Moral victories… For the next 2 years?
The Euros is now more of a target than ever
@Peter Roche: this is the single biggest rebuild we have had to complete in Irish football. We literally had struggled to beat Gibraltar twice and Georgia once (including a draw) under Mick.
Taking the Armenia away game out of it, we have drawn in the Ukraine, beaten the Scots at home, drawn with Portugal and Serbia all while developing a nucleus of young players who’ll be here for the next 10 years. All those teams are better than us no matter how you dress it up, to think otherwise is lunacy.
It was a dirty job that not one other manager would have tried as they’re all about short termism. It’s been a painful ride at times but it’s put us in the best place to go forward
@Patrick O Connell: this is always the silliest argument. If your not performing at your job you get sacked. They don’t sit around crying “who is better out there”. Similarly with Irish job. When it becomes available they will assess candidates.
@Shane Obrien: Lads as a smarter boy than me said he is only a third ofa premier league season into the Job, 20 something games,its awful early to be panicking, and with the players he has,I think they are playing lovely stuff in the main,I’m an aul lad,but I’d love to see a big Hardy hoooor like Patrick Hoban,old fashioned 9 up front…?
@Gerry Campbell: I don’t think they will replace him now but that argument of “who else” is nonsense. Its not like there will never ever be another irish manager
@TheHospitalPass: well said mate
@Shane Obrien: Yes true,and in fairness we’re all Supporters…its nuts,international management, any management in football really,the boss is the lowest paid, club level too,I’m a Leeds fan since,Johnny Giles was playing with United,and some lad said Bielsa was still living in Leeds, fair point,but Aidan O’Brien won’t make a Derby winner by running the bollix out of something that isn’t good enough to win a Derby…we are where we are,and in my humble opinion we have the right man
@Shane Obrien: the Irish team is playing their best football in years compared to the era’s of Trapp and McCarthy. A lot of fans have returned to the Aviva for matches etc.
@Patrick O Connell: I’m not saying he should be sacked now. I’m saying it’s ridiculous to say “who could we replace him with” . Managers leave their jobs everyday in week and are replaced.
For me Kenny will be judged by the fans on the upcoming Euro 2024 campaign. He had to be given time at the start to bed in the new young players and get players used to the new system of playing. Now he’s had that time so it becomes more about results from now on.
@kev egan: I heard the other day that regardless of euro 24 qualifying results they’re is a chance we can get to a play off on the account of our League of Nations results…..now that is pretty funny you have to admit (hope we qualify obviously)
@Noel Doherty: That’s how we got a playoff place for Euro 2020. We could’ve finished last in qualifying and still got it for being one of the better ranked teams in the Nations League who didn’t auto qualify.
You need to look the lads he has brought in..How many players who played in that game against Scotland away on the weekend (a game we were unlucky not to get at least a draw in) were in the squad when Kenny took over.. He’s the only one who gave youth a chance, he plays way more attractive football, and if you look at the players letting him down most of then are actually the senior lads..Duffys passing is shocking, Hourihane was at fault on Tuesday and some of the lads coming through are turning into right little players because Kennys given them the chance..Bozuma, Collins, Ogbene, Molumby, Cullen, Obafemi, the young Centre back at Norwich. He’s developing our strongest team in years.. Hopefully we can get a friendly draw on the 9th and be in with a great chance of getting to the euro’s!
The only ones against Kenny are the barstoolers and Shamrock Rovers supporters.
The strange thing is some people will say Ireland don’t have the players and are not good enough but the same people will give out when they don’t play well.