Of the 17 officially registered greyhound tracks in Ireland, possibly the most spectacular is to be found in the west coast city of Limerick. First opening at the current site in 2010, this state-of-the-art venue provides some of the very best that the Irish greyhound scene has to offer.
Racegoers attending either of the punter-friendly Thursday or Saturday evening fixtures will be greeted with an imposing glass-fronted grandstand containing a selection of bars, fast food facilities, a highly rated restaurant, and executive suites. The action on the track is also top-notch, with Limerick being the home of the Irish St Leger. Also acting as the base of operations for Greyhound Racing Ireland, the track has become the headquarters of Irish Greyhound Racing.
What’s On Offer at Limerick?
Limerick offers a regular programme of Thursday and Saturday evening fixtures. Thursday’s 12-race card gets underway a little before 7 pm, with the traps opening for the last race shortly before 10 pm. Also consisting of 12 contests, the hugely popular Saturday card kicks off at around 7:30 pm, running through to approximately 10:25 pm.
The conclusion of the last race doesn’t always represent the end of the fun though, with the track famous for its post-racing musical entertainment. The major events of the season are the Irish Greyhound St Leger which takes place in November, and the valuable Kirby Memorial Stakes which is held in April.
Track Information
- Sprint Distance – 300y
- Middle Distances – 525y (standard) – 550y
- Stayers Distance – 700y – 750y
- Marathon Distance – 1000y
What Can You Expect?
General admission prices for both the Thursday evening and Saturday evening meetings are €10 for adults, and €5 for OAPs and Students, whilst all children under the age of 14 go free. All general admission tickets come with a free race programme, and grant access to the ground floor, outdoor Grandstand, on-site bars, and fast food catering options.
“Punters Pack” Deal
One of the most popular options at the track is that of the “Punters Pack” deal, consisting of admission, a race programme, a meal from the fast food outlet and a beer/house wine/soft drink – all for only €18. Note that Punters Pack deals must be booked and paid for in advance and are only available to parties of six or more.
“Thursday Night Special”
Racegoers attending on a Thursday evening may wish to take advantage of the excellent value “Thursday Night Special”, which for €20 includes admission, race programme, main course meal in the glass-fronted restaurant, and reserved table complete with bar and betting table service. For those taking the family along, two and three-course children’s meals are available for €11.50 and €15 respectively.
Leger Restaurant
The most luxurious race-day experience is provided by the glass-fronted Leger Restaurant. Available to groups of two or more, restaurant tables must be booked in advance at a cost of €20 per head. This price includes stadium entry, a reserved table for the evening, and bar and betting table service. All food and drink are ordered and paid for on the night, but the track will knock €20 off the total bill at the end of the evening.
How to Get There
The stadium address is Limerick Greyhound Stadium, Greenpark, Dock Road, Limerick, V94 Y17X. Those driving to the track should take Exit 2 from the N18 onto the R510 which leads directly onto Dock Road. Once in the vicinity of the track, motorists will find the stadium to be very well signposted. Ample free parking is available to all racegoers just outside the stadium.
Limerick Train Station is the closest to the track but is still around a 40-minute walk from the stadium which lies in the South-West of the city centre. A free shuttle bus operates from the station to the track for all Saturday evening fixtures, whilst the local bus services of the 13, 14, 301, 304, 304A, 304X, 314, 320 and 321 all stop only a short walk from the venue.
How to Get in Touch
- Tel: – +353 61 448 080
- Email: – sales@igb.ie
- Twitter: – @LimkGreyhound
What Else Do I Need to Know?
Whilst the current stadium may have only been in operation since 2010, greyhound racing has taken place in this corner of County Limerick for far longer than that.
Formerly a Multi-Purpose Site
It was back in 1933 that the idea for organised racing in the area was first touted, leading to the formation of the Limerick Greyhound Company. Four years later, in 1937, those plans came to fruition with the grand opening of the stadium at Markets Field. Designed as a multi-purpose site, in addition to the greyhound racing, the stadium also played host to Gaelic games and acted as the home of Limerick FC right up until the club’s demise in 2019.
New Location on Docks Road
Following the disappearance of Limerick FC under a mountain of debt, the decision was taken to relocate the greyhound action, with grand designs put in place for one of the most impressive facilities in the country. €18 million later, the new stadium on Docks Road – previously home to the Greenpark horse racing venue – opened to great fanfare on the 10th of October 2010. The old stadium meanwhile was rescued by a donation from the JP McManus Charitable Foundation and is currently the home ground of the relaunched Limerick FC – now going by the name of Treaty United.
With a 2,900 capacity, 190-seater restaurant, hospitality suites and more, the venue was immediately one of the very best greyhound stadiums in the country, and soon had racing to match.
Famous Races
Held at the Markets Field venue since 1940, the Classic contest of the St Leger was immediately transferred to the venue. Hot on its heels came the new race of the Kirby Memorial Stakes. Supported by JP McManus, the €80,000 total purse made it one of the richest contests in British or Irish greyhound racing upon its debut in 2014.
Lauded as one of the most successful recent developments in the sport, the track has become a huge draw to local fans and those from further afield. It is well worth checking out should you get the chance.