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One of Galway’s iconic hotels is to be honoured by having its name used across a chain of hotels turning it into the largest hotel brand in the country.

As I write this look ahead at what in my opinion is the best seven days of the year in our wonderful city, I have one eye on the sky above to see if the weather gods, after an absence of two years, can smile on John Maloney and his team who performed a major miracle 12 months ago to complete all seven days racing after a deluge of rain throughout the week, which for the first time in 20 years saw this scribe don weather-proof clothing on each of the seven days of racing.

Become a member of Ireland’s best racecourse—Ballinrobe Racecourse —which at the end of last year won the Racecourse of the Year 2012 accolade from Horse Racing Ireland. Ballinrobe Racecourse is highly regarded for having a very high standard of facilities for the race going public to enjoy. The racecourse currently stages nine race meetings a year, from April through to September, and is always strongly supported by Ireland’s leading trainers and top jockeys.

Become a member of Ireland’s best racecourse—Ballinrobe Racecourse —which at the end of last year won the Racecourse of the Year 2012 accolade from Horse Racing Ireland.

This week sees Ballinrobe Racecourse launch its new members club ahead of the 2013 racing season.

Thursday’s highlight, the Guinness Galway Hurdle, is the richest race of its kind in the land and a total of 74 entries greeted senior handicapper Noel O'Brien who awarded last year’s controversial beaten favourite The Real Article top weight of 11st 10lbs, 5lbs above last year’s hero Moon Dice, with the Edward Harty trained Captain Cee Bee just one pound lower in the ratings.

It may seem that four seasons as we know them have decided to rotate on a daily rather than three monthly basis, but the Galway Racing Festival, no matter what the overhead conditions are, is always guaranteed to deliver a week long episode of that west of Ireland feel good factor that is synonymous with the City Of The Tribes.

• Galway sports stars Ollie Canning, Sean O Domhnaill and Ja Fallon are taking part in the 148km first stage of the ‘Race The Rás’ charity cycle in aid of GOAL and The Irish Cancer Society from Dunboyne to Portumna on Sunday. The three will begin each of the stages three hours before the professional riders begin their leg of the tour, which finishes in Skerries on Sunday week. In total, almost 100 members of the public will join more than 50 current and former GAA personalities to cycle at least one stage of the tour. They are hoping to raise in excess of €100,000 for the two organisations. Other GAA stars who have confirmed their participation include Sean Og Ó hÁilpín and Brian Corcoran, ex-Kilkenny star DJ Carey, Clare’s Tony Griffin and ex-Irish rugby international, Mick Galwey.

Ya know, with all the years when we had money and a few cars outside all of the houses owned, and the Jacuzzi bubbling away on the acre of decking, when every village had its own coke dealer, and the selection of brothels open all hours, when we were just like every other country in Europe nobody ever came calling. We tried to get all shapes of world leader in to show just how far removed we were from the image of the John Hinde postcard.

Horse Racing Ireland has announced that Red Mills Day at Gowran Park will now take place on Saturday February 19, and not February 12 as was previously announced.