Punchestown visitor guide | Kerrygold Champion Steeplechase guide
Punchestown racecourse is located in County Kildare, Ireland, 5km from the suburb of Naas and 35km from central Dublin.
The course has a rich history, with the first recorded race taking place in 1824. There are 17 racedays at Punchestown yearly, held in two stages, from January to May followed by a Summer break and then from October to December.
However, the course’s flagship event is the Spring Festival, held in April, which is a major attraction for overseas visitors.
A state of the art Event and Exhibition Centre was added to the Punchestown complex in 2001 and holds a range of events and exhibition,
Away from the racecourse, nearby sites worth visiting include the Japanese Gardens in Kildare Town, and the stately homes Russborough House and Castletown. There is also golf, fishing and pony-trekking nearby.
Surrounded as it is by water, Ireland is only accessible from mainland Britain by air or ferry.
Due to the large amount of accommodation in the Irish capital as well as its tourist and entertainment options, Dublin is the obvious base from which to travel to Punchestown racecourse
Just 30km from the course, the Republic of Ireland capital is a major airport hub served by various locations across the UK, Europe and beyond.
As an added bonus, the city has a bus service, Bus Eireann, which runs from Dublin to the racecourse on race days only.
If travelling by train, Newbridge is the closest railway station to the course, and can be reached from Dublin. From Newbridge, a taxi can be taken to the racecourse.
If feeling a little flush, helicopter landings at the racecourse are also available. You can book flights through www.premieraviation.ie.
For those travelling direct to the course by car, be warned that parking is prohibitively expensive. As an alternative, you may wish to park nearby in tNaas and catch a taxi or local bus to the course.
If you need an overnight stay and would rather be close to the course than stay in Dublin, a recommended option is the 4-star Osprey Hotel in Naas, which has a spa as well as a highly regarded restaurant.
