Fancy winning €5,000! Tickets selling fast as Longford GAA Race Day celebrates 20th anniversary milestone

It is one of the most eagerly anticipated events on the Longford social calendar and tickets are already flying out the door for the 20th annual Longford GAA Race Day at Punchestown on Wednesday, May 1, Gold Cup day, the blue riband of Irish racing.

Chairperson of the Race Day organising committee, Martin Skelly said there was much excitement ahead of the 20th anniversary Race Day, adding that they are planning to make this year’s event a special and truly memorable one.

Caption: At Croke Park for the launch of the 20th Longford GAA Race Day which takes place on May 1 in Punchestown were Eamon O'Flaherty (sponsor, Sherry Fitzgerald Brady O'Flaherty), Conor O'Neill (CEO Punchestown racecourse), Longford GAA County Board Chairperson Albert Cooney, Bryn Peters, Joseph Hagan, Martin Skelly, Eoin Fenton and 'Explosive Boy'. Back; Eamon Reilly, Longford GAA Co Board Treasurer Eugene Quaine, Padraig Brady, Frank Kiernan, Oliver Barden, Enda Conefrey and Seamus Ross

“Support for this event since the inaugural Race Day in 2003 has been staggering, to say the least, and it has contributed €2m towards the costs of preparing our county teams. And we are looking forward to an extra special celebration on May 1,” outlined Mr Skelly, the former Leinster GAA and Longford GAA County Board Chairperson.

Two people who were instrumental in the organisation of the first Race Day, the late Carmel Fay and Brian Donohoe will be remembered for their contribution.

And to mark the 20th anniversary in style, all the tables in the Longford GAA pavilion will be entered into a special free draw for a prize of €5,000.

MC on the day will be RTE’s charismatic Marty Morrissey and there will be expert tips from Johnny Ward of Racing TV and all who attended the 2023 event will recall how Johnny predicted the 20/1 winner of the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup, ‘Fast or Slow’.

Mr Skelly thanked his fellow Newtowncashel parishioner, Croke Park Stadium Director Peter McKenna, for facilitating the recent official launch of the Longford Race Day at GAA headquarters.

The main sponsors are once again Sherry Fitzgerald Brady O'Flaherty. Lanesboro native Eamon O'Flaherty said, “Since I came to work and live in Maynooth in 1995, I have always done my best to support my native county at every opportunity and on the other hand I am extremely grateful to the Longfordians living in County Kildare who have supported my business.”

The Longford GAA Race Day will feature a Best Dressed Lady & Best Dressed Gentleman competition (kindly sponsored by Padraig & Mairead Brady and the judge is fashionista and broadcaster, Marietta Doran), four course meal, race card, celebrity tipster, bar facilities, bookies in pavilion and top class music immediately after the last race until late.

There will also be an auction, with All-Ireland tickets up for grabs, and Eamon O’Flaherty will be in charge of the gavel.

Mr Skelly heaped praise on the hard working Race Day committees in both Longford and Dublin. “This is really a joint effort by both Longford and Dublin and it has just gone from strength to strength year after year.”

He thanked John Bannon, Eamon Reilly, Seamus Ross, Oliver Barden, Jas Gilna, Mickey Joe Keogh, Frank Kiernan, Enda Conefrey and Dave Kelly for their work and loyalty since the first Race Day was staged in 2003.

Mr Skelly is really looking forward to May 1. “There promises to be plenty of fun, fashion, frolics and nostalgia in the Longford Pavilion at Punchestown and as it is the 20th anniversary, it will be extra special.”

Tickets for the 2024 Longford GAA Race Day are almost sold, so if you wish to be part of the special atmosphere on May 1 at Punchestown, you need to be first past the finishing post!

Tickets are priced at €170 per person or table of ten €1,700. Contact Martin Skelly (086) 804 0296, Eamon Reilly 086 261 0556, Albert Cooney (086) 811 8580, John Bannon 086 259 7942 or Dublin Coordinator Padraig Brady 086 241 7560 for more information.