TG4 to televise three days of Galway

TG4 has announced that the station will broadcast three days of the Galway Races exclusively live on the station on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of next week's Festival.

The channel's cameras return to Ballybrit again on Friday 30th July with an extended live programme of racing, betting news and tips, features and celebrity interviews and continue on until Sunday afternoon. In total 21 races will be broadcast live over the three days.

TG4's own Hector Ó hEochagáin, whose love of horses is well known, will be reporting from in and around the parade ring meeting various owners, jockeys and personalities from the racing world, along with Mick Ó hUallacháin, while race commentary will be provided by Micheál Ó Sé and Brian Tyers.

The coverage on TG4 should get off to a great start with the unique atmosphere of the Friday evening meeting at this year's Festival. The channel's coverage of this special evening in the annual Galway extravaganza has become something of a fixture on TG4. Transmission from Ballybrit on the Friday begins at 5pm and will feature all seven races live starting with the Guinness Handicap Hurdle at 5:10 and continuing on until the final race of the evening at 8:30.

The following day the cameras will capture this year's Dawn Dairies Day and will feature all seven races live starting with the Jockeys' Association Maiden Hurdle at 2:15 and continuing on until the final race of the afternoon at 5:20.

On Sunday Rásaí na Gaillimhe 2004 will start with the Mercer Court Beginners Chase at 2:15 and continue on until the final race of the afternoon at 5:20.

Daithí Ó Sé will present the programme and his unique knowledge and acquaintance with all the characters of Galway will add a special flavour to the proceedings. TG4's betting experts, the shrewd Breandán Ó Ruairc and Seosamh Ó Braonáin, will have to discern whether to be led by local fervour or by past form. Their insights and instincts have been well rewarded in previous years. Can they repeat the feat in 2004?

Welcoming the new extended coverage, TG4 Sports Editor, Rónán Ó Coisdealbha, said the channel had won much praise from horse racing followers for its pioneering television coverage of Galway. “Audience reaction to our coverage of Galway has been overwhelming,” he said. “We look forward to another Festival of top class racing over the coming week.”