PRESS RELEASE 19th JULY 2019

Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh to present RTÉ RnaG Galway Races Coverage

Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh will present the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta live coverage for the Galway Races this year, starting on Monday 29 July and continuing until Ladies Day on Thursday 1 August.  RTÉ RnaG will be broadcasting all the races live across the four days, with the inimitable Seán Bán Breathnach doing live commentary.

This is the 150th year of the festival, the biggest horse racing festival in the country, and although Bláthnaid has attended many times as a punter, this will be her first time to present from there.

“I’m delighted to be presenting this year from Ballybrit, it’s great to be part of the 150th festival.  My roots go back to the west, to Connemara, and I know that the Races are such an important event for the west and the whole country, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Seán Bán celebrated fifty years on air in April, and his passion for broadcasting remains undimmed.  Seán first attended the races in the sixties, and he says he’s looking forward to this year’s historic 150th festival, and is also delighted to be back working with Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh again, after almost thirty years.

“It’s great to be back again this year at Ballybrit, and to be working with Bláthnaid almost thirty years after we last worked together on Scaoil Amach an Bobailín when she was just starting out as a young TV reporter.  I’ll get to work with my son Cárthach on the coverage this year too.  We don’t always agree about horses, of course, but that leaves plenty of room for a bit of banter.  But, I have to hand it to him that he was on the money with his tips last year – his first one came in at 10 to 1, and then the horse won in Cheltenham, so I suppose I’ll have to pay close attention to his tips this year!”

Paddy Beag Ó Gríofa from the RnaG sports team will be down at the Parade Ring every day, and out and about amongst the crowd to gather all the news on the ground, and listeners will get expert advice and tips from Mánus Ó Conghaile and Cárthach Bán Breathnach if they fancy a flutter.

Bláthnaid will have loads of brilliant prizes to give away too, including a holiday on the Wild Atlantic Way, a stay at the Galmont Hotel, Lancôme gift sets every day, and special prizes for the best-dressed man and woman on Ladies Day, so stay tuned.

RTÉ RnaG’s programmes will be broadcast live from the roadcaster, An Ródaí, which will be track-side in Ballybrit with a bird’s eye view of the finish line.

The Galway Races 2019 will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta from Monday 29 July to Thursday 1 August, with coverage starting at 5 pm from Monday to Wednesday, and at 2 pm on Thursday.   Check out the station’s social media for photos and videos from Ballybrit throughout Race Week.

–ENDS—