Tens of thousands of people are expected to flock into the city this Bank Holiday Weekend to bring to an end what has been a €100m month for Galway.
With the first fully-attended Galway Races in three years set to conclude on Sunday evening, it has been revealed that the event is worth almost €60m to the Galway economy.
Coming hot on the heels of the Galway Arts Festival which ended last Sunday; and the Galway Film Fleadh earlier in the month, July is worth an estimated €100m to local retailers, hospitality and service providers.
130,000 racegoers are expected to have passed through Ballybrit by Sunday evening, spending in excess of €23 million in the immediate locality on hospitality, entertainment, travel and accommodation.
The return to non-restricted crowd sizes has benefitted all of Galway’s festivals.
John Crumlish, Chief Executive of the Galway International Arts Festival, told the Advertiser that it was a privilege to present GIAF 2022.
“To see so many people out and enjoying so much great art was wonderful. It was a great two weeks.”
Artistic Director, Paul Fahy, said it was brilliant to be back with a full-scale Festival in the usual July dates.
“The city felt alive as artists and audiences from Ireland and all over the world joined together to share so many magical moments.”
Galway Chamber chief executive Kenny Deery said that this has been a tremendous month of activity for Galway, which is now set to finish off with the full return of the Galway Races.”
“It’s been a special month and hopefully it is one we will see repeated regularly in the future,” he concluded.
