Who is on RTÉ for Galway today? Ruby Walsh leads the coverage from Ballybrit

Match date: 27 July 2026

Galway takes centre stage in Irish summer racing on RTÉ Player and RTÉ2 HD today, with coverage of the opening day of the 2026 Galway Races Summer Festival from Ballybrit. The action begins at 5.10pm local time, with seven races scheduled through to the 8.20pm finale, as the famous festival gets under way at Galway Racecourse.^[2][3]

The broadcast team brings together some of the most recognisable voices in Irish racing. Ruby Walsh is the presenter, while Richard Pugh is the main commentator. The pundit line-up features Emmet McNamara, Fran Berry and Jane Mangan, with Brian Gleeson and Katie Walsh reporting from the course.

That mix should suit a meeting like Galway, where fast-moving form, course familiarity and the festival atmosphere all matter. The racecard for Monday includes the Galmont Hotel & Galway Bay Novice Hurdle at 5.10pm, the Easyfix Iggy Daly Handicap Hurdle at 5.40pm, the Eventus Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden at 6.10pm, and the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap at 6.40pm, before the feature evening races later on the card.^[2][4]

Ruby Walsh remains one of the biggest names in racing coverage because of his decorated career in the saddle. He is a former champion National Hunt jockey and long-time broadcast favourite, and his analytical style has made him a central figure in major racing coverage on Irish television. Jane Mangan also brings significant depth, having built a strong reputation both as a rider and as a broadcaster, while Fran Berry and Emmet McNamara add recent-racing insight from their own experience in the weighing room.

Richard Pugh provides the in-running call, which is particularly important at Ballybrit, where race position and pace can change quickly on a track that hosts both Flat and National Hunt contests during the week. The Galway Festival runs from Monday 27 July to Sunday 2 August 2026, and all seven days are being shown by RTÉ, with selected races available on RTÉ One, RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player.^[1][5][6]

For viewers looking for the broader festival picture, Galway is one of the standout events in the Irish racing calendar because it blends high-quality action with a uniquely lively summer atmosphere. The meeting’s official materials confirm Ballybrit as the home of the festival and highlight the scale of the event across the week, while racecards show a card built around big fields and competitive handicaps as well as novice and maiden races.^[3][7][10]

What makes today’s opening session especially watchable is the depth of the line-up on air and on track. Brian Gleeson and Katie Walsh are well placed to capture the colour and reaction from the parade ring and winning connections, while Walsh’s role in the studio should help viewers navigate the rhythm of a busy Galway card. With the first race at 5.10pm, the festival’s early momentum is likely to set the tone for the rest of the week.^[2][5]

More on the festival can be found via the official Galway Races site: Galway Races Monday card.

Article generated: 27 July 2026, 17:00 GMT