Image © Healy Racing
Bellharbour Point-to-Point once again delivered a large crowd, with strong local interest and a vibrant atmosphere throughout the afternoon adding to a successful day according to organsiers.
Last Sunday's fixture staged the opening four-year-old contest of the 2026 season, adding an extra layer of interest to a competitive card. In total, 97 horses were entered across the six-race programme, with 49 runners going to post, a figure that hunt secretary Paul O’Neill felt reflected the strength of the meeting.
“It was a huge success,” O’Neill said.
“We were worried the weather wouldn’t be in our favour after the week we had, but it cleared up to be an exceptional day. It stayed very warm right up to the end of racing and the people just kept coming.”
Set between the Atlantic coastline and the Burren, Bellharbour’s location once again proved a major draw.
“The views are incredible,” O’Neill added.
“You’re looking out on the water, and with it being a bank holiday weekend, people were looking for somewhere to go. For the last number of years, the crowd has been getting bigger and bigger.”
Advertised as a family fun day, the fixture once again lived up to that billing, with a wide range of activities on offer away from the track.
“We really push the family aspect. We had face painting, hobby horse jumps, and we also had three or four funfair rides for the kids.
"Young children don’t want to stand watching racing all day, so it’s important that they’re entertained. Everything is very safe and contained within the field, so families can relax and enjoy the day.”
"Young children don’t want to stand watching racing all day, so it’s important that they’re entertained. Everything is very safe and contained within the field, so families can relax and enjoy the day.”
Behind the scenes, a significant team effort ensured the smooth running of the meeting.
“We have a small but very dedicated committee and the wider hunt committee are brilliant, and we’re constantly pushing to make sure everything is ready early – parking, signage, safety, all of that.”
O’Neill also pointed to the experience behind the operation, with continuity playing a key role in how efficiently the day unfolds.
“Myself and Brian McCarthy have been involved in organising the point-to-point here for over 30 years now.
“We know what’s required and how the day needs to run, and once you have that experience, it allows everything to operate like clockwork.”
“It’s very much a military operation in some ways,” he added. “I probably nearly have OCD when it comes to the way things have to be done.
“But if everyone knows their role on the day and gets there early, you don’t lose time during the day and everything just flows."
That efficiency was evident long after the final race, which went off at 15:32, just two minutes after the advertised time.
“On Sunday evening after racing, everything was cleared away and I was home by six o’clock. That’s down to the commitment of the members.”
The meeting also stands out for its modern approach to promotion. Bellharbour maintains a strong and active social media presence, something O’Neill believes is essential.
“This year we’ve two people, Jenny Lynch and Edel McMahon, looking after all the social media.
“We made the decision that this is the way forward. You need that presence, and it’s also a way of giving something back to our sponsors, who are vital to making the day a success.”
The committee also works closely with Clare FM and Galway Bay FM, using community diary slots in the lead-up to the meeting, while online ‘Like and Share’ competitions and regular updates help keep Bellharbour firmly on the public radar.
On the track, O’Neill was pleased with both the racing and the local representation among the winners.
“The quality of racing was very good throughout.
“The four-year-old race was strong, and the five-year-old was great to see as well. Sam Curling had a nice local winner, as his mother Adelia Greer lives just four or five kilometres from the track, and John Staunton also had a winner for Alan Morgan, a member of the hunt.
"You also had Eoin Mahon riding a double, so there were plenty of local positives.”
"You also had Eoin Mahon riding a double, so there were plenty of local positives.”
The presence of experienced figures such as Derek O’Connor also played a role.
“He’s very good to us,” O’Neill noted.
“He’ll walk the track beforehand and give advice if anything needs adjusting. The support we get from local handlers and trainers is incredible.”
Bellharbour’s long racing heritage and its role in producing top-class horses remains a source of pride. First staged in 1817, when the Burren races were held on the strand at Munnia, the meeting has evolved into its modern format, racing on the first Sunday of February at one of the most picturesque venues in the country.
“That history is something we’re very proud of.
“It’s a fair track and a true test, and a lot of horses that have run here have gone on to do very well.”
That tradition was again highlighted after Sunday’s meeting, when Fact To File, one of the venue’s most notable graduates, added the Irish Gold Cup to his CV at Leopardstown. Other former Bellharbour runners to reach the top include Ball D’Arc, Mall Dini, Way Back Then and Burren Life.
Reflecting on the day as a whole, O’Neill pointed to the community effort behind the scenes.
“The biggest takeaway is the local support. From the committee, the sponsors, the volunteers, everyone just gets stuck in. That commitment is what makes days like Sunday possible.”
