It is her enthusiasm for the role that strikes you first. This is not her first festival working for Galway racecourse, but it will be her initial festival in the pivotal role of Commercial Marketing Manager.
A native of West Wicklow, Olivia Lynch Ward has arrived at Ballybrit via a First Class Honours Degree in Sales & Marketing from the ATU which led her to the Graduate Programme at TikTok, followed by a return west of the Shannon to her initial role of Partnership and Engagement Executive at Galway racecourse.
Earlier this year Olivia emerged as the successful candidate after a rigorous process to appoint the racecourse’s new commercial marketing manager. She had previously looked after the multitude of sponsors who play such a vital part in the success story of Ireland’s favourite sporting and social event. ‘Partnerships, more than sponsorships’, she outlines as we discuss the incredible longevity of some of the festival’s most famous associations. Sixty years for Diageo, forty years for Chanelle, this is year fifteen for The Tote’s sponsorship of the iconic Galway Plate. Olivia is effusive in her praise of the local businesses and the support they give the festival, not just the headline sponsors, but many local businesses including the local hotels who provide support year after year. The racecourse in turn recommends these hotels to the many thousands who flock west in late July every year.
Olivia is a passionate advocate for all things Galway, though her first interest in horseracing was sparked at another iconic racetrack. ‘Growing up, Punchestown was the holy grail for us’, she outlines, and living just over the Kildare county boundary in Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow, ‘you met everyone at the festival in Punchestown’.
Galway was always a second home to Olivia, and her grandparents, Victor and Peggy Lynch, who lived close to the University of Galway, were regular visitors to Ballybrit. ‘They would love that I now have this role, and would be so excited’, Olivia says and she also quotes her mother Rachel, ‘though Olivia has now moved away from home, she hasn’t really’.
It is a whole festival
There have been a number of wonderful initiatives over the years, but for most people, the Galway festival is still primarily a racing festival. The feature races have long established sponsors, and everyone knows what people are referring to when they mention the Plate, or the Hurdle, or the Amateurs Handicap or the Mile handicap. Olivia is grateful for the support these iconic races receive from their sponsors, and is keen they are recognised for this: The Tote for their sponsorship of The Galway Plate, Guinness for the Hurdle and also for Friday’s feature race, The Guinness Handicap, The Connacht Hotel for the (Q.R. ) Handicap, Colm Quinn for the mile Handicap and BoyleSports for their Handicap Hurdle, Saturday’s highlight. Sunday’s feature race is The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ahonoora Handicap.
Olivia is optimistic that this year’s festival will be a huge success. ‘Advance ticket sales are well ahead of last year’ according to Olivia and the track have laid on a number of improvements which patrons will see later this month. She expects strong local support, as up to 70 per cent of attendees every year come from the local Galway area, and close to 90 per cent from the greater Connacht area. ‘It is a great day out, and such good value. It is very affordable for local people and compares favourably with other events or sporting occasions’. ‘It is something not to be missed, sitting at home watching the Galway Plate is just not the same’, and the races in Galway are a ‘destination, there is so much that goes with the races, music, fashion, it is a whole festival’. Listening to Olivia, it is clear this is no marketing spiel, her enthusiasm for the festival is infectious, and, I expect, everyone she meets in the coming weeks will find themselves in Ballybrit on at least one day between July 28th and August 3rd.
New this year
A new Refresh stand will be unveiled this year for those who would like to do themselves up, without having to queue for bathrooms. This will be a type of ‘girlie glitz and glam space, to do up your hair, your make-up and hopefully to top up your sun cream’. It will be located in the middle of the enclosure.
A ‘turning circle’ has also been added to the winners enclosure for the victorious horse after each race, to ensure the safety and comfort of all.
Racing Club
The Club Bar, previously the Owners & Trainers Bar, is available exclusively for members of The Club and has been renovated this year to create a warm and inviting space for members to mingle. The Club has proven a huge success since it was launched a few years ago, with over 1,200 members this year.
Everyone is welcome to be a member of The Club with all Annual Badge purchasers automatically signed up.
An annual membership of The Club goes on sale for €100 before Christmas each year and would make an ideal gift for the racing enthusiast in your life.
Recent trips have included Willie Mullins’ Closutton stables, where Willie and son Patrick were wonderful hosts sharing their time and some memorable anecdotes. The members have also visited Goffs, Coolmore, Laytown and Ballinrobe Races amongst others in recent years. An upcoming trip will see the members visit Listowel for The Kerry National in September. Many who joined with a single membership have made friends with fellow racing followers as the club membership continues to expand.
Music and entertainment
This year’s festival is also set to serve up a week of electrifying live music.
The festival kicks off in style on Monday, July 28, with a performance by The Galway Tenors, who will open proceedings before the first race. They will sing the National Anthem at the winning post as the runners make their way to the start.
Later that afternoon, the Rockshore Marquee comes alive with sets from DJ DOC and Rhythm Train DJ from 4pm to 8pm, building the atmosphere ahead of the evening’s headline act. Festival favourites Spring Break will take to the Main Stage from 8pm to 10pm.
On Tuesday, it’s a double-bill on the Main Stage, with popular local band The Gamblers playing from 5pm, followed by The Conquerors. Music will also be flowing throughout the Rockshore Marquee, Champagne Bar, and Guinness Cube all day.
Wednesday marks Country Music Day, a highlight for jiving fans from across the county. Festival-goers are encouraged to bring their dancing shoes, as Jimmy & Claudia Buckley headline the Main Stage from 8pm to 10pm.
Thursday brings a mix of fresh energy and seasoned talent, with Sum Craic, Rhythm Train DJ, The Conquerors, and The Gamblers all performing at various times across the enclosures. Whether you’re soaking up sounds in the Guinness Cube or enjoying the stylish vibes of the Champagne Bar, Thursday’s line-up has something for everyone.
On Friday, crowd-pleasers The Bentley Boys take the Main Stage for the evening headline slot. Earlier in the day, the Rockshore Marquee will once again host a line-up of high-tempo DJ sets, setting the perfect scene for Friday evening.
Saturday sets the stage for a lively weekend, with festival favourites Dakota bringing their signature sound to the Main Stage for an electrifying evening set. Earlier in the day, The Gamblers will also return for another crowd-pleasing performance.
Sunday rounds off the week with the ever-popular Family Fun Day, hosted by DJ Ronan Lardner. The day promises fun for all ages, with live entertainment from Lackagh Comhaltas, bringing a traditional Irish music flair, and a final rousing performance from The Gamblers, who close out the festival in style.
A great place to work
‘This is a great place to work’ says Olivia, ‘whatever problems we face, we face together’. ‘Problems are tackled as a group’ and very little comes up which has not been dealt with before. There is a great combination of tradition and continuity mixed with youth and new ideas and the need to progress every year. ‘From long term employees who work in the office, people who come to work for the festival year after year, and Gerry Broderick and his team on the track’, people work very hard to ensure race week is a success for everyone involved. This iconic Galway institution is overseen by Michael Moloney (incredibly, it is 10 years since his first festival in charge ), and the board under new Chairman, Dr Colm O’Flaherty who has replaced Anthony Ryan in this position.
Olivia takes particular pleasure in seeing three generations of the same family attend the festival. ‘People feel safe here, from tiny babies to the elderly’, as she reflects there are not many sporting occasions where everyone in the family can attend in comfort and safety, and at a very reasonable cost.
But that’s the thing about The Galway Races, isn’t it? Just like many of the items we think we own, we don’t really, it has just been handed down to us from a previous generation and we will hopefully pass it on to a future generation in better condition. With Michael, Olivia and all at the helm of The Galway Races, I think future generations have much to look forward to. But they can wait. This year, it is our turn, again.
This year’s Galway Races festival takes place from Monday, July 28, to Sunday, August 3. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday are evening meetings, with afternoon racing taking place on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
There are great value discounts available for advance ticket purchases, and a flexi ticket allows admission on any of the seven days.
