The Curragh racecourse is Ireland’s most iconic racecourse, home to the country’s five Classics, hosting 24 race days annually with over 150,000 visitors. Beyond racing, it serves as a gathering place for the local Newbridge and Kildare communities, hosting key events, celebrations, and activities that foster local pride. By supporting sporting excellence and community initiatives, the Curragh enhances local identity and serves as an engaged community partner.
Our Schools Outreach Programme included the hosting of a primary schools initiative with over 500 children from local schools spending a morning at the racecourse to learn about the Curragh and horse racing in a fun and inclusive way. The Curragh Racecourse host education days for children and their teachers from local primary schools surrounding the Curragh. They have a chance to have a sneak peak behind the scenes and talk to farriers, the grounds team, local trainers and many more.
The objective is to build a link between the racecourses and their local community and to encourage an affinity with horses among the younger generation in a fun and inclusive way. Also to highlight the importance of the Horse Racing Industry to the local community and local economy. A report in 2019 by leading economist Jim Power valued the Curragh’s contribution at €100 million per year. Economic Impact Study | The Curragh Racecourse
If you would like to register your interest for a school morning for your students, please email Tara Buick.
In May 2025 The Curragh launched its brand-new sensory room, marking a milestone as the first racecourse in Ireland to offer a permanent, purpose-built space designed to support neurodivergent children and their families. MEP Nina Carberry, Racing Legend Johnny Murtagh and Brian Kavanagh CEO of The Curragh Racecourse joined local GAA group for all abilities, Moorefield Heroes to officially open The Sensory Unit at The Curragh.
This Sensory Room at The Curragh will be available on all race days throughout the season, providing a calm, safe, and inclusive environment where individuals with sensory processing needs can take a break from the bustling race day atmosphere. The space is equipped with soft furnishings, mood lighting, tactile wall panels, and interactive elements—all designed to help reduce anxiety and encourage comfort and regulation.
This project is part of The Curragh’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity and accessibility in horse racing. The development of the sensory room was made possible with the support of many including William Buick and his wife, Jane, along with Autism in Racing founder Bobby Beevers. The room was created By The Curragh Racecourse in collaboration with community partners, including Sensational Kids, and suppliers Sensory House and Self Contained, with the purpose-built unit being sourced from them, alongside the contributions of Eamonn Sheridan Groundworks Ltd.
The remarkable legacy of Pat Smullen continues to inspire hope and progress in the fight against cancer. The 2025 Pat Smullen Race Day and the Curragh to Curragh Charity Cycle have raised an outstanding €351,631 for Cancer Trials Ireland, bringing the total funds generated since the initiative began in 2022 to over €1.2 million.
This exceptional support has been instrumental in advancing life-saving cancer research and treatment development through Cancer Trials Ireland.
The Pat Smullen Race Day at the Curragh Racecourse, now a much-anticipated highlight of the flat racing calendar, unites two major fundraising efforts in aid of Cancer Trials Ireland. The Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race, generously supported this year by Ballylinch Stud, featured 22 dedicated riders taking to the track in tribute to the legendary champion jockey and in memory of loved ones affected by cancer.
The very first Kildare Inclusivity Festival was held on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at The Curragh Racecourse. Over 6,500 people attended the day. A free event, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the day was designed to celebrate diversity and inclusion with activities for all ages and abilities, such as the Inclusive Sports Zone, a Family Fun Zone, live entertainment, and food stalls.
The 2026 Inclusivity Festival is scheduled for 10th May
Events which take place at the track also include many fabulous charity events that we are very proud to be part of. One of these is Relay for Life, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 2023 at its spiritual home, the Curragh racecourse.
The charity is a fund-raising vehicle for the Irish Cancer Society, and has been excellently run (technically, walked) at a number of venues in Kildare over the last decade under the watchful eyes of the two Peters – O’Neill and White. The Racecourse has been proud to play host to this 24-hour, community-based celebration which honours all of those affected by cancer.
A very poignant part of Relay is the Candle of Hope ceremony where Candle Bags, decorated and dedicated to someone who has survived cancer or have lost their battle, are lit and come alive with memories.
The race day is themed as Newbridge Parishes Community Raceday, a very popular and fun family day in the racing calendar. In excess of €550,000 has been raised for projects benefiting the local community since the Newbridge Parishes Raceday was launched over 35 years ago, including the development of the Parish Community Centre.
Newbridge Parishes Community Race Day 2026 is scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday 4th May
The Curragh Racecourse supports a variety of local festivals including the Kildare Derby Festival, Junefest, St Patrick’s Festival Newbridge, Spirit of Brigid Festival
The racecourse partnered with the St Patrick’s Festival in Newbridge to launch the first St Patrick’s Festival Race Day, while we were lead sponsors of the parade in the town. The race day also gave us the opportunity to work with the Kildare Sports Partnership and Nua Healthcare in order to help promote their work as a leading provider of residential care for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Health conditions in the county.
We have worked closely with Club Kildare GAA, Local Pubs and businesses across our local communities and held race day sweepstake initiatives aimed at benefiting local charities, sports clubs and community groups.
Pictured here: Vincent O’Leary, owner of Fletchers pub in Naas and Caroline Tobin, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Barretstown. Vincent selected Barretstown as Fletcher’s chosen charity for the ‘Friend’s of The Curragh’ Irish Cesarewitch draw at The Curragh in 2024. The Euphrates, the horse which was drawn with Fletcher’s, won and this resulted in a donation of €2,500 to the charity.