The Wife’s Guide To Goffs

Written by Tamso Doyle Cox

How to make the most of sales week in County Kildare. If you’ve found yourself accompanying a husband, partner, friend or family member to a bloodstock sale, you may initially wonder what on earth you’re going to do while everyone else discusses pedigrees, black type and fetlocks.

But actually, why should you just be accompanying someone?

Buying a horse is not a boys’ club, and you certainly don’t need to leave the serious horse business to someone else. Women have always been an important part of racing and bloodstock, and there is absolutely nothing to stop you getting involved yourself — whether that means buying a share in a racehorse, joining a syndicate or, if you really fall in love with one, buying a horse of your own. And you couldn’t choose a better place to start. Ireland has some of the best racing, trainers, breeders and bloodstock in the world, and Goffs is right at the heart of it.

Even if you arrive knowing very little about buying a horse, there is no reason not to ask questions, look through the catalogue and get involved. You might be surprised how quickly you find yourself studying a pedigree or developing a very strong opinion about which horse you like.

The good news is that Goffs is in a particularly brilliant part of the world for this. Goffs is right in the heart of County Kildare — the home of the Irish thoroughbred — and is conveniently close to Dublin city and Dublin Airport. So you can easily make a trip of it: stay in Dublin and enjoy the city, or base yourself closer to the sales and explore Kildare.

I’ve spent most of my life around bloodstock sales, and I still love them. There is something very special about the atmosphere: I get an instant buzz as I arrive at the top sales, the beautifully turned-out horses, the familiar faces appearing from all corners of the racing world, the anticipation before a horse enters the ring and, of course, the inevitable post-sale dinner where everyone analyses what just happened. But my advice is not to feel that you have to spend every waking hour at the sales. Enjoy some of it. Take in the atmosphere. Have a wander around. Ask questions. And then, when you need a break from it all, escape for a few hours and make the most of what’s on the doorstep.

A little about me

I have quite literally grown up around the bloodstock sales. My parents were racehorse trainers, bloodstock agents and consignors, so some of my earliest memories are of the sales yards, horses, busy auction rings and the wonderfully familiar rhythm of sales week.

Today I live in County Kildare with my family where we run Baroda Stud (https://www.barodastud.com), which is both a breeding operation and also one of Europe’s leading thoroughbred consignors. Over the years I’ve travelled to many of the major bloodstock sales around the world, and I’ve learned that there is far more to sales week than what happens in the ring. I love the people, the horses, the atmosphere, the impromptu lunches and dinners and the slightly surreal experience of seeing the thoroughbred world descend on one place for a few days. But I also know that if you’re accompanying someone who is there to buy horses, it’s rather nice to have a few ideas of your own.

So here is my guide to making the most of Goffs and the surrounding area.

First things first: getting your bearings

One of the great things about Goffs is that it is remarkably easy to navigate. The barns are laid out in a grid, with the Barns arranged alphabetically, so once you get your bearings you can find your way around without too much trouble. And don’t be intimidated by the fact that everyone else appears to know exactly what they are doing. Pick up a sales catalogue from the front desk. Apart from being incredibly useful, it immediately makes you feel as though you belong.

Barbara Bashford is always wonderfully friendly and helpful, as are the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing team (https://www.itm.ie), who are particularly useful for international visitors. If you are traveling from overseas to buy, ITM is well worth knowing about. They can help with sales visits, itineraries and travel, and their buyer incentive scheme can contribute towards flights for eligible purchasers.

What to wear

The good news is that there is no real dress code at Goffs — and that is part of the charm. You’ll see plenty of smart jeans, good boots, cashmere layers and silk shirts, but equally people are dressed very practically because they are spending the day walking around looking at horses.

Comfort definitely wins. A good pair of boots that you can wipe clean is probably the most important thing to bring. After that, think nice but practical: jeans, a cashmere sweater, a shirt, a good coat and perhaps a pair of funky trainers. You’ll see plenty of Lucy Nagle cashmere (https://www.lucynagle.com) around the place, one of my favourite brands and she’s closely associated with racing too.

There’s no need to overthink it. You want to look put together, but you also need to be able to walk around the barns, stand outside watching horses and generally get involved as well as being prepared for hot, cold, sunny or wet!

And if you’re staying in Dublin, you have the added bonus of Brown Thomas (https://www.brownthomas.com Ireland’s leading department store and one of my favourite shopping destinations in the world) and all the other great city-centre shopping on your doorstep.

The sales survival kit

Comfortable runners or boots: Essential. There are horses involved. You will see a lot of funky trainers on peoples feet at the sales!

A sales catalogue: Your passport to looking like you know what you’re doing (you can go pro and download the sales catalogue app and have the catalogue on your iPad or tablet.

Layers: Irish weather. Enough said.

A good coat: Particularly for the autumn sales.

A handbag you can actually carry around: You’ll be walking. Mine is usually enormous and loaded up or a nice Cross body is very handy too.

Children: Goffs is a wonderful place for children who love horses, and my own children love coming. But it is a working sales complex, so keep little ones close and choose your timings carefully. Steer care of the earnings and no running around the horsey areas . Horses and busy people are moving around constantly, so safety comes first.

Coffee, lunch and a little hospitality

Goffs makes a real effort to look after people during the sales.

There are good coffee and food options on site, with Lily & Wild providing the catering, and Peter Bark’s coffee offering a very welcome caffeine stop.

There are two main restaurants, one in the pavilion outside and another upstairs, closer to the sales ring. Personally, I prefer the upstairs one, I like to be close to the action so I can pop in and out of the sales ring with the balcony overlooking the rostrum.

And keep your eyes open as you walk around the barns. Quite a few consignors have hospitality at their barn ends, which can be a lovely place to stop for a coffee, a drink or a quick catch-up.

Sales week is surprisingly sociable. Even if you arrive knowing very few people, you’ll probably leave knowing rather more. 

Where to stay

One of the great advantages of Goffs is its location. You can stay in Dublin and have the whole city on your doorstep, while still being able to get to the sales easily.

If you’d rather stay in the countryside, The K Club (https://www.kclub.ie) and Barberstown Castle (https://www.barberstowncastle.ie) are two of my favourite options. Both are close to Goffs, set in beautiful surroundings, and have good restaurants and lovely places to walk.

For absolute convenience, Goffs Hotel (https://www.clubhotel.ie) is the obvious choice as it is within walking distance of the sales and soon (not complete yet) there will be padel courts (which can be rented separately to the hotel) there which would be another fun thing to do. 

In Naas, Lawlor’s Hotel (https://www.lawlors.ie) is a practical town-centre option, while Killashee House Hotel (https://www.killasheehotel.com) is another good choice if you fancy something a little more relaxed, with a spa, sauna, steam room and good relaxing Elemis treatments. They have a great gym there too. 

Naas: your shopping escape

If you have a few hours away from the sales, go to Naas (5mins drive/taxi).  It is one of the best boutique shopping towns in the area and is right on the doorstep of Goffs. It is very easy to walk around and plenty to see.

It is a close run race for the top spot, but for me it would be between Gallery 9 (https://gallery9.ie) and Emporium Kalu (https://emporiumkalu.com). Emporium Kalu is the grand dame of boutiques in Ireland, it is a beautiful, high-end boutique over two floors, run by Kate and Louise and their team, who are excellent at putting an outfit together. Think beautiful cashmere, winter coats, silk dresses and some very good labels including Mantu. It is not the place to go if you are trying not to spend money. Then there is Gallery 9 founded by Niamh McCoy. It can be quirky and has an excellent edit of international designers. Victoria Beckham is among the brands currently stocked. 

Aria Boutique (https://ariaboutique.ie) is another one worth putting on the list and is only around the corner.

There are plenty of other independent shops around the town, so I would allow yourself time simply to wander. Tuckmill crafts, Granny’s Attic and Meadows and Byrne are all lovely to browse and shop for treasures.

Kildare Village

And then there’s Kildare Village (https://www.thebicestercollection.com/kildare-village/en/), one of my all-time favourite places to shop. It’s less than 15 minutes from Goffs, very easy to park at, and has a great mix of designer and contemporary brands — think Burberry, Hugo Boss, Moncler, ba&sh, American Vintage and Seven for All Mankind. There are some lovely places to eat too, and Sprout is a particular favourite of mine for its amazing salads. A new addition is Wrights of Howth, which has just opened and is another good reason to stop. One of my top tips is to book the personal shopping service in advance — they’re excellent and can make the whole experience much easier. And if you’re making a proper day of it, the Irish National Stud (https://irishnationalstud.ie) is only a couple of minutes away, so you can combine a little shopping with a visit to see some of Ireland’s famous stallions and have a wander around the stud.

Coffee is serious business

If you are a coffee person, Naas is a very good place to be.

PS Coffee (https://pscoffeeroasters.com) is one of my favourites. It is a proper artisan coffee destination and the team behind it are passionate about their beans and coffee.

Then there is Vault Coffee (https://www.instagram.com/thevaulttrailer) which is in the centre (opposite Kalu) and makes excellent coffee. But whatever you do, don’t leave without trying one of their dates filled with pistachio or peanut butter. You have been warned.

I also love Gra Coffee (https://gragallery.com), right in the middle of the Main Street, serious protein balls there to accompany your caffeine hit. And you can’t go wrong with Butlers and their gorgeous coffee accompanied by a seriously delish complimentary chocolate (https://butlerschocolates.com/pages/butlers-chocolate-cafe-naas).

Where to eat

Vie de Château: For me, this is one of the standout restaurants in Naas. (ViedeChateaux) It has a lovely French feel, with locally sourced Irish ingredients given a French twist, and a very good wine list. I would be tempted by the starter prawns and the mussels — and basically anything else that looks as though it has come from a French holiday.

Neighbourhood: Another excellent option if you want somewhere smart but relaxed. It has a wood-fired grill, a great wine list and regular steak nights. It has also received Michelin Guide recognition and was named Best Restaurant in Kildare for 2026. (Neighbourhood Naas) And the cocktails are worth knowing about.

TANI: If you’ve had enough Irish and French food and fancy something Japanese, I love TANI. (https://tani.ie/naas/)

There are plenty of other restaurants around Naas, but those would be my first three recommendations. If it’s brunch or lunch you are after another lovely place to visit is Naas racecourse (https://naasracecourse.com), they have a cafe on site run by Lily & Wild which is both airy and bright, easy to park and delicious. 

Your beauty emergency is also covered

After several days of early mornings, muddy boots and late dinners, you may decide you need a little maintenance.

Essence is a new hair salon in Naas and one I would particularly recommend (https://www.essencehairsalon.ie). Lawrence Harrington is a fantastic hair stylist and worth knowing about if you want your hair looking good for a sales lunch or dinner (https://www.kevillehair.com/index.php/about/team#).

Peter Mark is another very handy option, particularly if you need a last-minute blow-dry (https://www.petermark.ie/salon/naas-shopping-mall-kildare/)

And there are plenty of nail bars around town. Ambiance, close to Lawlor’s Hotel, is a useful one to know for a manicure or pedicure (https://ambiancenailspa.ie)

Basically, Naas has most things covered.

Escape to the river

One of my favourite discoveries for a little break from sales week is Treehouse Sauna. It is tucked away beside the River Liffey in Naas and feels like a complete change of scene. You can book a 50-minute sauna session for €15, with riverside views, cold plunges and a jacuzzi. (Treehouse Sauna)

It is exactly the sort of thing I would recommend if you have spent several hours walking around the sales and need to switch off. There is fresh air, the river flowing beside you, the smell of wood and sauna, and just enough time to completely reset before getting back into your sales-week clothes.

And if you really want to escape…

If you have a little more time, staying in Dublin gives you another whole dimension to the trip.

You can enjoy the sales during the day and then head back into the city for dinner, drinks, shopping or simply a change of scenery. Brown Thomas and the rest of Dublin’s shopping are an obvious bonus. My favourite places to stay in Dublin are the Merrion Hotel (https://www.merrionhotel.com) & the Westbury (https://www.doylecollection.com/hotels/the-westbury-hotel). They are close to the action and give great service, but there are lots of cool new hotels in Dublin too that offer better value and are also a great place to stay. My Top places to visit in Dublin is the National Gallery of Art on Merrion Square (https://www.nationalgallery.ie), this is one of the most incredible gallery spaces and has an inspiring collection of Irish art in particular which I adore, think Yeats, Roderic O’Connor, Paul Henry, etc. 

And that is really the beauty of coming to Goffs. You don’t have to be a bloodstock expert to enjoy it. Come for the horses. Stay for the atmosphere. Have a look around the sales, enjoy a long lunch, find a beautiful jumper in Naas, disappear for an hour in a riverside sauna, and meet everyone for dinner afterwards.

You may even find that, by the end of the week, you know what everyone is talking about when they start discussing the catalogue. Or at the very least, you’ll know where the good coffee is. And that, in my experience, is never a bad thing to know.