Galway Races helicopter landings up 25% on last year

The number of helicopters that landed at the Galway racecourse during the annual Galway Races increased 25 per cent this year compared with 2016.

Some 150 privately chartered helicopters landed at the racecourse over the seven-day period, up from 120 last year, according to figures from the event organisers.

Executive Helicopters were offering return trips from Galway docks to the racecourse for €250 per person during race week. One-way trips from the docks were €150 per person.

In 2008 a 2½-mile journey from Oranmore to the racetrack cost €350 return per person and €200 one way.

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In 2007 this newspaper reported that more than 700 helicopter landed over the course of the week, with 289 landings on Ladies’ Day alone. At that time there were more helicopters per capita in the Republic than in both the UK and the US.