Cork punters race to pub to soak up special Cheltenham buzz

On what is widely considered the biggest week of the year in horse racing, the Cheltenham Festival kicked off yesterday with strong Irish support, as usual.

Although many people travelled to the event from Cork, many more will be soaking up the atmosphere right here on Leeside.

The Echo paid a visit to The Castle pub in Glanmire for the opening day and the venue was packed with punters gripped by the horse racing action on every screen.

For Paul Harris, from Glanmire, the anticipation of Cheltenham is something he looks forward to every year.

Paul Harris (in front) has a laugh with Leslie O’Sullivan, Keith O’Callaghan, and Rob Dwan.

He said: “I come here every year with the lads. We take a week off work for it. There is a great atmosphere. Cheltenham brings a load of people together.

“We are all working and busy. The only time we see one another and that we can have a few days with one another is around the festival.”

He added that the next day, he will get up, shower, have breakfast, and be back down at The Castle again.

Soaking up the atmosphere

Another Glanmire native soaking up the racing atmosphere was Cian O’Sullivan.

He said: “I have been looking forward to it all year. I have been looking forward to it since Christmas. I am working out in Belgium and I flew home for the week.”

Mr O’Sullivan will be heading over to England to catch the end of Cheltenham.

“I am heading over on Thursday morning, flying out of Dublin. I am bringing my father over — it’s his Christmas present. This is the last thing on his bucket list.”

He said he has been “threatening” to go over the last few years.

He added: “It’s all systems go now for Thursday.”

Highlight

Between now and Friday, when the highlight — the Cheltenham Gold Cup — takes place, bars and venues across Cork are anticipating a roaring trade.

Horse racing fans enjoy the atmosphere at The Castle pub in Glanmire as the first day of the Cheltenham Festival gets under way. Pictures: Larry Cummins

For James Jeffrey, marketing manager at The Castle, this is one of the most enjoyable working weeks of his year.

He said: “The last four or five weeks, it has been building up.

“We have got the Cheltenham buster board up and a busy atmosphere.

“A lot of people are in today and it will only get busier and busier as the week goes on.

“Gold Cup day will be huge here. It is a very enjoyable week.

“The mood is good. Everyone is on a high, so it’s great.”