Ballybrit to spur on Galway tourism

Galway declares itself in a state of suspended animation this week as the annual races festival opened last night at Ballybrit. Some £10 million in bets is expected to be placed, and, coincidentally, the event is valued at £10 million to the local economy.

Although skies were cloudy for the opening yesterday evening, helicopter taxi companies were predicting a busy week ahead. Air transport to Ballybrit Racecourse is no longer the preserve of the moneyed punters at Ashford Castle. With traffic in the city coming to a standstill, many visitors now prefer the two- to three-minute chopper journey at £60 return. "Sure it's only the price of one good bet," said one passenger last night.

More than 125,000 people are expected to attend the event, which may run to seven days next year. Subject to approval by the Racing Board today, the programme may extend to Sunday in 1999, making it the longest of its type in Britain and Ireland.

Tourism interests are hoping the week will enliven a lacklustre season, which has been affected by a surfeit of hotel rooms and a slump in the domestic market. Even the city's arts festival couldn't tempt the sun out over the past fortnight, and rain is expected to reach record levels for July.

This year the hospitality section at Ballybrit has been expanded to 40,000 square feet, or about two acres, and some five tonnes of beef and three tonnes of lamb will be served to hungry punters by 500 catering staff. Two large screens will relay viewing to those spectators who prefer to seek solace at what claims to be the longest bar in the world.

This year is also the last for the famous Corrib Stand, which is to be demolished early next month as part of a multi-million-pound redevelopment plan. The old stand accommodated 6,000 people on two floors, but the replacement will have room for twice that, with more than 4,000 square metres of internal accommodation and seating for 2,000. The stand has been designed by the Cork-based engineers Ove Arup, while Galway man Steve Cunningham is the project manager.

Total prize money for the week has broken the half-million-pound mark, and the value of the Galway Plate has risen to £65,000.

Political correctness has not influenced the hosting of Ladies' Day, which is on Thursday.

One woman with more than hats on her mind will be Tracy Piggott, the television presenter, who takes to the water early this morning. She is attempting a six-mile swim across Galway Bay from Finnavarra Point, Co Clare, to Salthill, in aid of the John Durkan Leukaemia Trust.