Golf and Horse Racing Tours of Ireland: Two Passions, One Private Driver
There are two things that get under an Irishman’s skin in the best possible way — a good golf course and a good horse. I’ve spent 25 years driving visitors around this country, and I can tell you that nothing lights people up quite like a day at the Curragh followed by an afternoon on a links course with the Atlantic wind in your face. So I wanted to put together something for the golfers and the racing fans who come to me asking for “a bit of both” — because honestly, Ireland does both better than almost anywhere else on earth.
One of our Mercedes Fleet ☘️
Why Combine Golf and Horse Racing on One Tour
Golf and racing share the same DNA in Ireland — both are steeped in tradition, both reward patience, and both are best enjoyed without a coach timetable breathing down your neck. When you’re touring with a private chauffeur, you’re not locked into a group’s pace. If the racing at the Curragh runs late, we wait. If you want an extra nine holes at Portmarnock, we adjust. That flexibility is really the whole point of hiring a private driver in Ireland rather than joining a group coach tour.
I’ve built these itineraries around the courses and racecourses I know best, having watched form and studied the card at the Curragh for years myself. It’s not just a job for me — it’s genuinely something I love, and I think that comes through in how I guide people around on race day.
The Horse Racing Circuit
The Curragh, Co. Kildare — Ireland’s premier Flat racing track and home to the Irish Derby. This is the one I know inside and out. I’ll talk you through the form, point out the trainers’ yards on the way in, and get you trackside in comfort in the Mercedes rather than fighting for a parking space.
Punchestown, Co. Kildare — The spiritual home of National Hunt racing and one of the great festival atmospheres in Irish sport. Best visited in April for the Punchestown Festival, but a cracking day out year-round.
Leopardstown, Co. Dublin — Close to Dublin city, making it an easy add-on to an airport transfer or city stay. Famous for its Christmas Festival meeting.
Galway Races — Part sporting event, part social occasion. The Galway Races Summer Festival is one of the liveliest weeks in the Irish calendar, and I can build a full west-of-Ireland itinerary around it.
The Golf Circuit
Ireland’s links courses are world-renowned, and a private chauffeur tour means no dragging clubs through train stations or hire car car parks. I take care of transfers between rounds, hotels, and even tee-time timing, so all you need to think about is your swing.
- Royal County Down — regularly ranked among the best links courses in the world
- Portmarnock — classic, championship links just outside Dublin
- Lahinch — a true Wild Atlantic Way golfing experience
- Ballybunion — dramatic dune-lined fairways on the Kerry coast
A golf and racing combination itinerary usually runs 3–5 days, moving between courses and racecourses with your Mercedes V-Class and driver throughout — no logistics for you to manage at all.
Why Book a Private Chauffeur for This Kind of Tour
A coach tour can’t wait for you at the 18th green, and it certainly won’t get you trackside for the last race if traffic runs long. With Setanta Chauffeur Tours, you get:
- A flexible, personally guided itinerary built around race days and tee times
- Door-to-door comfort in a Mercedes V-Class, seating up to six
- A driver-guide who actually studies the racing form and knows the courses
- Airport transfers from Dublin, Shannon, Cork, or Belfast built in
If you’re planning a golf trip, a racing trip, or want to combine both into one bespoke luxury tour of Ireland, get in touch and I’ll put together an itinerary around the courses and race meetings that matter to you.
Contact Paul at info@setantachauffeurtours.com. Or at WhatsApps +353863409894
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