Ireland’s most southerly greyhound track lies just outside the County Cork town of Youghal. Formerly a site of both economic and military importance, these days Youghal is known predominantly as a tourist hotspot thanks to its picturesque seaside location and town centre crammed with sites of historical interest.
The greyhound track is a popular destination with both holidaymakers and the locals and provides all the facilities required for an excellent evening including fast-food facilities, a bar, and indoor and outdoor viewing areas.
What’s on at Youghal?
Youghal plays host to two fixtures per week, taking place on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Gates open at 5pm on both days, with the first of 13 races beginning at 6:05pm, and the last getting underway at 9:25pm.
Track Information
- Circuit Length – 464y
- Sprint Distance – 325y
- Middle Distances – 525y – 550y
- Stayers Distance – 700y
- Marathon Distance – 790y
What Can You Expect?
Adult admission is priced at €10, with students and OAPs gaining entry to the stadium for €5. All adult tickets come with a free race card. Those prices apply for the majority of the year but in July and August the track grants free entry to all for both the Monday and Wednesday evening fixtures.
Snack Bar, Fast Food Outlets & Bar
One of the more back-to-basics venues to be found on the Emerald Isle, there are no restaurant or executive suite facilities available at Youghal. However, the track does possess a range of snack and fast-food outlets and a fully stocked bar, enabling racegoers to grab a bite to eat and a pint or two. A combination of holidaymakers in a party mood and the famed Irish craic means an excellent atmosphere is all but guaranteed.
In addition to the standard admission, the track may also occasionally offer special food and drink deals, with the best advice being to check the track’s official website for the latest offers.
How to Get There
The stadium address is: Youghal Greyhound Stadium, Youghal, County Cork. Racegoers travelling to the track by car are advised to take the M7 or M9 southbound, before turning onto the N25 towards Youghal. The track then lies on the R634, around a 10-minute walk from the town centre. Whilst not boasting an official car park as such, an area of dirt land adjacent to the main road is commonly used by racegoers. An alternative is to park within the town centre and complete the journey on foot, or via the 40 or 260 local bus services – both of which stop close to the venue.
Cork Train Station is the closest to the track, around a 50-minute drive to the east of Youghal. The number 40 bus service, which travels through Youghal, departs from Cork city centre and takes just under an hour to reach the track.
How to Get in Touch
- Tel: – 061 448 052
- Email: – sales@grireland.ie
- Twitter: – @YglGreyhound
What Else Do I Need to Know?
It was during the 1940s that plans first began to take shape regarding the building of a greyhound facility in the area. Backed by the newly formed Youghal Racing Company, building works were soon underway at a site just to the south of the town centre.
By 1948 the track was ready to open for business, with the first meeting taking place on the 30th of July of that year. The stadium remained a relatively low-key venture in those early years but saw an increase in profile when taken over by Greyhound Racing Ireland (Bord nag Con), in 1972.
Finnbar Coleman & Kathleen Brennan
Finnbar Coleman acted as the first racing manager under the new owners and remained in place until moving into retirement in 2002. During his 30-year tenure, Coleman oversaw the introduction of several high-profile contests, including the Aherne Memorial Cup, Paddy Stakes and Blackwater Cup – named after the nearby estuary.
In 2006, Kathleen Brennan took over in the role of racing manager, becoming the first female to fulfil such a role in Irish greyhound racing. Being the daughter of the renowned owner and breeder Denny Brennan, Kathleen came from fine racing stock and remained in position until making the switch to Kilcohan Park in 2012.
A Much-Needed Facelift
The year 2012 also marked the most significant recent upgrade of the track, with €134,000 pumped into a much-needed facelift and the building of a new judge’s box.
In addition to investing in the facilities, the track has also done more than its fair share for the community. In 2015, it was announced that, in partnership with Curraheen Park, Youghal Greyhound Stadium has raised an impressive total of €5 million for good causes.