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Jennifer Rae, left, and Róisín Ní Liatháin launching Killarney Races' summer racing season and ‘Mad Hatters Day’.
PICTURE: VALERIE O'SULLIVAN
 

 
IT’S A case of hats off to the creative team at Killarney Racecourse as it unveils details of its Mad Hatters Day which takes place on Sunday, May 15. The event will bring Killarney's May Racing Festival, which runs from May 15-May 17, off to a flying start.
On offer are three days of the very best of festival racing. Sunday and Monday are both National Hunt cards whilst Tuesday is an all-flat card. Sunday is Mad Hatters Day and there will be two categories in the competition (both children and adults). The theme for the day is “colour and fun”. The highly anticipated Mad Hatters competitions are generously sponsored by Ryanair and Kerry Airport.
Entrants should proceed (before 3pm) to the Mad Hatters Gathering in the Glass Bar situated upstairs over the Jim Culloty Bar, where the judges will view the spectacular headpieces on show. The winners will be announced in the parade ring at approximately 4.30pm.
There are plenty of fantastic prizes on offer. The first prize for adults is return flights for two to London from Kerry Airport with Ryanair including two nights' accommodation and lunch for two with paired wines at Corrigan’s Mayfair. The second adult prize is two tickets to Killarney Race’s renowned ladies day on July 14 which includes the much-sought-after hospitality in the Panoramic Restaurant.
The children are in for a treat too with a very exciting prize of a trip to London with Ryanair and Kerry Airport. The prize includes return flights for two adults and two children to London with Ryanair from Kerry Airport, two nights' accommodation in a three-star hotel, and a one-day ticket pass for Legoland Windsor for two adults and two children. The second prize is an Apple iPod.
On Sunday Celtic Steps The Show (who are in their second season at Killarney Racecourse) will be performing throughout the day.
“We are really looking forward to our opening day of the 2016 Season and Sunday is an action-packed day which promises to be a great day out for all the family,” said the manager of Killarney Racecourse, Micheál Lucey,
The first race on Sunday, May 15, is at 2.05pm with the feature race of the day being The Grade B Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Hurdle with a prize fund of €50,000.
Monday the 16th May is ‘Lá na gClub’. Six local GAA Clubs (Dr Crokes, Legion, Gneeveguilla, Glenflesk, Milltown/Castlemaine and Laune Rangers) take part in a free-taking competition during and after racing, competing to win a prize of €3,000 for their respective club.
Monday is also Killarney National Night with the running of the “Killarney National” generously sponsored by the McSweeney Arms Hotel. This race promises to be a great spectacle with all the usual thrills and spills of a National and Killarney Racecourse is delighted to boast a €40,000 prize fund for the race. The first race is off at 5.20pm.
Tuesday’s race card is a flat card and the first race is off at 5.50pm.
Packages are still available on all three days for the hospitality suite, for bookings contact 064-6631125.