Pilots operating in the west of Ireland are advised that a Temporary Restricted Area (TRA) will be established over Galway Racecourse, Ballybrit, Co. Galway, during the 2026 Galway Races festival. The restriction has been put in place by the IAAat the request of An Garda Síochána to support security operations during one of Ireland’s largest sporting and social events.
The TRA will be active daily from Monday 27th July to Sunday 2nd August 2026, between 0900 UTC and 1900 UTC. Pilots should note that the restriction applies each day throughout the duration of the Galway Races festival. A NOTAM will also be issued to formally activate the restricted airspace.
The temporary restriction covers:
Radius: 0.75 nautical miles
Centre: 53°17’41″N, 008°59’41″W
Vertical limits: Surface to 1,500 ft AMSL
The area encompasses Galway Racecourse at Ballybrit and the immediate surrounding vicinity. The IAA has stated that the following operations are exempt from the restriction:
- State aircraft operating on official duties.
- Irish Coast Guard aircraft on operational missions.
- Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) aircraft conducting operational tasks.
- Aircraft specifically authorised by the controlling authority.
- Aircraft intending to land within the restricted area, provided prior permission has been obtained from the controlling authority.
All other aircraft operations are prohibited within the TRA during the published activation periods. The notice also makes clear that any other permissions, exemptions or alleviations normally available to civil general air traffic are not valid within the restricted area while it is active.
The full notice is available to read here.
