Hundreds of Aramark Ireland chefs, servers, and hospitality staff kept the pace and excelled in the home stretch during Ireland’s largest sporting hospitality event.
The iconic Punchestown Festival—held this year from April 29th to May 3rd—attracted approximately 138,000 visitors from all over the world to this annual celebration of sport and culture at the home of Irish National Hunt Festival, Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare, Ireland. Friday, May 2nd, broke all records with more than 42,000 racegoers, the highest figure ever recorded.
For the past several years, the team from Aramark Ireland delivered exceptional service to 10,000 corporate hospitality guests over the five days of racing.
“Our team worked relentlessly from the early hours of the morning until late into the night, preparing and serving thousands of delicious meals to our Festival guests,” said Tom Neville, President and CEO, Aramark Ireland. “I am proud of their commitment, enthusiasm, and passion. Hospitality and service shone bright, leaving a lasting impression on everyone involved.”
Richard Li, Director of Sports and Entertainment at Aramark Ireland, added, “The Punchestown Festival is a standout event in the Irish sporting calendar, and it’s always a privilege to play a part in delivering an exceptional guest experience. I’m incredibly proud of our team’s dedication, precision, and commitment to excellence throughout the week. Their work behind the scenes is what truly brings these large-scale events to life.”
In all, 3.5 tonnes (more than 7,700 pounds) of fresh vegetables, 60 kilos (132+ pounds) of artisan cheeses, and more than 10,000 meals were served across the five days. In addition, a team of nearly 80 bar staff poured over 28,000 pints, filled almost 5,000 champagne glasses, and mixed countless cocktails.
In a new collaboration this year, Punchestown Racecourse, Aramark Ireland, and St. Kevin’s Community College in Dunlavin joined forces to launch Elevate 2025, a program that provides real-world skills training and immersive work experience to secondary school transition year students.
Over a five-week period, 119 transition year students took part in the hands-on training program that began in the classroom and ended in a paid service experience at Punchestown, where 70 students worked side-by-side with seasoned Aramark hospitality professionals.
Community service and local pride were also part of the students’ experience. Punchestown plays a vital role in the local community where the Festival contributes more than €60 million annually.
