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

placeholder image — 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

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

By Alan Walsh

Managing Editor

Published 21st Feb 2024, 19:33 GMT

Punchestown: Event has raised over €2 million for Longford GAA since 2003

1.

Caption: Race Day main sponsor Eamon O'Flaherty (Sherry Fitzgerald Brady O'Flaherty), Eoin Fenton with 'Explosive Boy', Seamus Ross, OIiver Barden, Joseph Hagan (wearing Oliver Barden's colours) and Bryn Peters (wearing the colours of Seamus Ross)

2.

Caption: At the launch of the Longford GAA 20th Annual Race Day. Front row l to r; Frank Kiernan, Croke Park Stadium Director Peter McKenna, Longford GAA Co Board Treasurer Eugene Quaine, Longford GAA Co Board Chairperson Albert Cooney, Longford GAA Race Day Chairperson Martin Skelly, CEO Punchestown Racecourse Conor O'Neill, Race Day main sponsor Eamon O'Flaherty (Sherry Fitzgerald Brady O'Flaherty), John Bannon and Enda Conefrey. Back; Joseph Hagan, Bryn Peters, Eamon Reilly, Padraig Brady, Seamus Ross and Oliver Barden.

3.

Caption: In Croke Park for the launch of the 20th Longford GAA Race Day which takes place at Punchestown on May 1 were Bryn Peters, Longford GAA County Board Chairperson Albert Cooney, Frank Kiernan, Longford GAA Race Day organising committee Chairperson Martin Skelly, Padraig Brady, Race Day main sponsor Eamon O'Flaherty (Sherry Fitzgerald Brady O'Flaherty), Eamon Reilly and Joseph Hagan.

4.

Caption: Front; Bryn Peters and Joseph Hagan. Back; Frank Kiernan, Padraig Brady, Longford GAA County Board Chairperson Eugene Quaine, Eamon Reilly, CEO Punchestown Racecourse Conor O'Neill, Longford GAA County Board Chairperson Albert Cooney, Longford GAA Race Day Committee Chairperson Martin Skelly, Eamon O'Flaherty (sponsor, Sherry Fitzgerald Brady O'Flaherty), Seamus Ross, John Bannon, Oliver Barden and Enda Conefrey

Longford

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

Punchestown: Event has raised over €2 million for Longford GAA since 2003

1.

2.

3.

4.

Sign up to our Ireland Live newsletter

Thank you for signing up!