Kingdom Greyhound Stadium

Best of luck to the Kerry teams today! #CiarraiAbu Kerry GAA #upthekingdom 💚💛💚💛

MICHAEL FORTUNE

We have a lost a giant of our sport when we probably needed him most - Rest in Peace Michael you were a once off - our deepest condolences to Ian and Michelle, wife and family from all in the Kingdom Supporters Club - read below a touching tribute from a son to a Dad

Kingdom Greyhound Stadium

We already loved him for being a Kerryman 💚💛 but he's also a great greyhound man too! Skip to 47 minutes to hear the legend that is Micheal O'Muircheartaigh give his first-hand account of greyhound ownership and find out what luxurious life his last racing greyhound leads now! #GoGreyhoundRacing #GreyhoundsAsPets

Kingdom Greyhound Stadium

What a great night 😂🎉👍🏻🐶

Not bad for A3 Grade - looking for you to support it

Hot of the presses - a must read if you own, breed, train or work at a Greyhound Stadium ‘Review of industry needs’ to take place at 16 Irish greyhound stadia Strategic review a ‘significant’ part of IGB’s five year plan The Irish Greyhound Board has announced that a comprehensive, strategic review into the future needs of its 16 licensed stadia to determine the industry footprint of the future is to take place. The review is an integral part of the IGB’s Strategic Plan 2018-2022, which was published earlier this year. It will include an assessment of stadium infrastructure and financial sustainability. The intention is to have the report completed by the end of March 2019, with a procurement process to appoint consultants to begin immediately. The review is timely, arising from the ongoing significant changes that have taken place in the industry generally. CEO of the Irish Greyhound Board, Gerard Dollard, commented: “Stadia will be assessed on an individual and collective basis in several different areas, including finance, population catchment and other competing sporting facilities near each stadium. The greyhound industry, like lots of other industries, has had to change and adapt in a number of different ways in recent years. This review, which is a big step forward in the implementation of the IGB’s five year strategic plan, will progress the industry’s footprint for the future. He added: “It is important to note that this will be an independent review, which will be tasked with making recommendations for the future of the Irish greyhound industry as a whole. Stakeholders within the industry will also be consulted, which is hugely important.” The brief proposed for the study would include the following: · Assessment of the infrastructure, services available and standard of facilities at all 16 licenced greyhound stadia in Shelbourne Park, Curraheen Park, Youghal, Limerick, Tralee, Galway, Mullingar, Waterford, Newbridge, Longford, Kilkenny, Clonmel, Thurles, Dundalk, Enniscorthy and Lifford. · A financial assessment of the future sustainability of each individual track. · An analysis of population catchments and access arrangements for each individual greyhound track. · An analysis of racing schedules for each greyhound stadium. · An assessment of any impact arising from availability of breeders or trainers within the catchment area. · An analysis of relevant competing sporting facilities within the catchment area. · Recommendations regarding the appropriate industry footprint for the future including detailed recommendations regarding individual stadia. · A consultation process with stakeholders within the industry.

Castleisland Tyre Centre Sweepstake Final: Major shock as You Know denies Redzer By Murt Murphy It was a weekend of shocks in the greyhound world with the 14/1 outsider Ballyanne Sim winning the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night, then closer home we had a 10/1 winner You Know winning the Castleisland Tyre Centre ( A3) Stakes Final on Friday night at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium. Then on Saturday night the 2/1 on favourite Black Desire was turned over by Mays Flyingbolt in the KGOBA A6 Final so it was a rough weekend on the punting front. On Friday night Redzer Ardfert was an odds on favourite to deliver from trap six for Pat Reddan and Kathleen Clifford in the Castleisland Tyre Centre Final having clocked 28.35 in his semi-final win and there appeared to be nothing in the field to live with that kind of pace. Early pace is king at Tralee and while You Know and Lanody Mike were quickly away Lisahane Secreto and Redzer Ardfert were slowly away and inevitably this led to traffic problems at the opening bend. Redzer Ardfert was almost knocked over while Lisahane Secreto was also badly baulked and his chances of winning were gone. Meanwhile Longmeadow Raven was prominent along with You Know who railed well and was now in front. It appeared that Redzer Ardfert had no chance but he is all the gears and he came from fifth at half way and ten lengths adrift at a guess to pick his way through the field. You Know was still in front down the home straight but Redzer Ardfert was eating into his lead with every stride but the line arrived in time as You Know prevailed by two lengths from a luckless Redzer Ardfert in 29.09. Brendan Begley who is no stranger to success from his Knocknagoshel kennels owns and trains You Know and at odds of 10/1, the layers were the real winners. There is little doubt that Redzer Ardfert was the quickest dog in the final but it’s all about producing it on the day and unfortunately for the supporters of Redzer Ardfert, he needed to get away quicker to avoid getting baulked at the opening bend. KGOBA A6 Stakes Final: Desire Denied by Flying Bolt The Maurice O’Connor trained Black Desire was strongly fancied to win the Kerry Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association A6 Final as he had won his semi-final by sixteen lengths in 28.61 and nothing else had beaten the 29 seconds barrier. Black Desire was quickly away and everything looked to be going according to plan though he did suffer some crowding at the opening bend. Everything else was crowded at the opening bend including Mays Flyingbolt, the Kilkenny raider and Black Desire set sail for home down the back and had poached a decent lead. However Black Desire was not drawing clear like he did in the semi-final and it was Mays Flyingbolt who began to reel him in as they rounded the final two bends. Black Desire was now threading water as Mays Flyingbolt got up close home to snatch victory by a length in 28.96 thus denying the odds on favourite. Mays Flyingbolt is owned by May Aylward from Carrigeen, County Kilkenny and he reversed semi-final form with Black Desire but to fair to the winner he was checked and crowded in that race. Michael Costello on behalf of KGOBA and Racing Manager Kieran Casey made the presentation to winning connections. Jet wins thrilling Sprint In a high quality open sprint on Friday night very little separated the top three in the betting as Black Agenda, Boher Mays Star and Darragh Jet were sent to traps the 2/1 co-favourites. Boher Mays Star was the sprinter in form as he had run Droopys Steel close and won last time out in a very fast 17.44. In fact Boher Mays Star was quickest away from trap two but Darragh Jet also got away to a flyer on the outside and the race was between the two. Boher Mays Star was still in control as they hit the home straight as Darragh Jet charted a very wide course but once they raced towards the line, he was gaining all the time and caught Boher Mays Star on the line. It was a close photo finish, but Darragh Jet got the verdict by a neck in 17.65 for John O’Keeffe from Lixnaw and Patrick O’Callaghan from Cork and this was win number six. Loher Storm keeps O’Leary’s great run going Noel O’Leary has been in great form with his Loher prefix harvesting four wins in a week and one of the litter he sold, Liberty Gale won a heat of the Juvenile Derby at Shelburne Park on Friday night clocking 28.42 for his new owners. But Noel continues to keep the home fires burning as Loher Storm was send to traps the 6/4 favourite and got away to a flying start from trap five and once she hit the front, she never looked in trouble. There was lots of crowding in behind which made it easier on Loher Storm and she cruised to a five and half lengths win from Fortfield Erin in a quick 28.65 and she will win her share of open class races

Rest in Peace Mike Fitzgerald – You will be sadly missed By Murt Murphy A Strange melancholy pervades me as I pen these words because in truth I never wanted nor wished to have to write a few parting musings to a work colleague and friend ten years my junior but Mike Fitzgerald you will never again pour me that nightly cup of coffee upstairs at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium nor we will ever again have our banter about hurling or football. No the Grim Reaper stole you from us on Saturday night and I think I speak for everyone at the Stadium who either worked with you or drank a pint you pulled when I say you’re sudden and untimely passing has left us all numbed with sadness. Today it envelops me like a silken web, and if I feel this way I cannot imagine how your beautiful wife Kathleen and lovely family are feeling. The words from a poem back in the day springs to mind “T is hard to part with one so sudden called So Young, So Happy and So Dearly loved To see the arrow at our idol hurled And vainly pray the shaft may be removed But it won’t and now we must come to terms with your passing Mike and God how it hurts to have to bid you a final farewell but our loss is heavens gain. Mike Fitz as we affectionately called you was head barman at the Stadium for ten years and during that period he was a most diligent and conscientious worker and I am not lying when I say I doubt if he ever made an enemy which is some achievement when dealing with the public. But it’s a testament to the quality of the man – he was simply “a gentleman from head to toe “and nobody will tell me I am wrong there. But those who make such a huge impact on our lives – never really leave us as they live forever in our hearts and I reckon Mike Fitz is one of those beautiful that one is fortunate enough to meet going through life and though he is gone – his memory will live on. I know he was superb hurler with St Brendan’s winning many medals and played some football too but I will leave that to his club and his team-mates to recount. Mike was a man of many talents and could play the guitar and sing with the best of them but he did confide in me that he regretted missing out on the “boy band” era. Mike I cannot say much more as the tears are flowing like coins from a misers purse but all your work colleagues, patrons , owners and trainers and anyone who came in contact with you over the last ten years at the Kingdom Greyhound Stadium is saddened and shocked at your sudden and untimely passing and we will miss you terribly . Young, loving and beloved! Oh cruel Death! Couldst thou not spare the treasure (Mike) for a while? But if we are grieving at our loss what must Kathleen and your family are going through – we pass on our deepest condolences and we will be there with ye in numbers to bid a fond farewell to our gentle and caring friend and colleague Mike Fitzgerald – May the sod rest lightly on your kind soul. But they say when you are sorrowful look again in your heart and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight. I will finish with a few lines of my tribute to Mike who had me worried two weeks ago ( caught me with set up ) and then left us before he could see the look on my face when I found out Death is the heartache no one can heal; Memories are keepsakes no one can steal. Beautiful memories are all we have left, of the ones we loved and will never forget. Softly the leaves of memory fall, gently we gather and cherish them all. Planted deep in memory's garden and watered daily with tears, Memory has a magical way of keeping loved ones near. These are the Funeral details Michael Fitzgerald of Brandonwell, Ardfert, Co. Kerry, on 28th April 2018, dear son of Brendan and the late Hannah, beloved husband of Kathleen and adored father of Shane, Kieran & Aoife. Sadly missed by his loving family, his grandson Brendan, brothers Thomas & Eamonn, nephews, niece, brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, relatives, neighbours and many friends Rest in Peace Reposing at his home in Brandonwell on Wednesday from 4 to 8 pm. Funeral arriving to St. Brendan’s Church, Ardfert, on Thursday at 11.30 am. Requiem Mass on Thursday at 12 noon. Interment afterwards in the Abbey Cemetery, Ardfert. Family flowers only please enquiries to The Gleasure Funeral Home, Tralee.

A sad day with the news of the passing of one of life's greatest characters Mike "Greengrass" Lawlee. He will be missed by us all in @LoveListowel and in Horseracing, Greyhound, Coursing and Bookmaking circles. Rest In Peace Mike.

Greyhound industry supports Responsible Gambling Week Posters, adverts and race cards at tracks will feature a campaign by the Irish Bookmakers Association and supported by the Irish Greyhound Board to reinforce a responsible approach to wagering. The week long initiative will continue until Sunday and seek to build awareness among patrons around the slogan ‘A Great Tip – Know When to Stop’. The campaign advises customers to set limits in terms of money and time and to never chase losses. Dunlewey Addiction Services (dunlewey.net) provides free, face to face counselling sessions for any person who may need support. These addiction services are funded by the Irish Bookmakers Association.

Eager buyers expected in Thurles Next Friday (9 February) Thurles Stadium will host a sales auction with trials starting at 9AM. The full catalogue will be available on the IGB website and the auction will start at 11AM. The Thurles Sales has a history of discovering top greyhounds in recent years. In September 2016, Knockard Spring sold for €4200 at Thurles and reached the Final of the Scottish Derby 2017 at Shawfield while also contesting the early rounds of the 2017 English Derby. The greyhound has since won seven Open Races in the UK. Monroe Poppy changed hands for €600 in September 2017 and recently recorded 28.99 as a winner at Curraheen Park on Friday 26 January which may be a sign of things to come. Selling for €2,000 last September, Third Choice has won three out of five races at Dundalk over 525 yards recording 28.95, 28.77 and a 28.29. For those attending the National Coursing meeting in Clonmel, weekend accommodation and transport for greyhounds will be available. Credit card facilities will be provided and queries can be made direct to Thurles on 353 (0)504 21003. Further sales meetings at Thurles will take place on 6 March 2018.

Supporters Club A5 Sweepstake Final: ARDFERT CARMAC LOWERS THE FANCIED SLIPPY TOMMY Slippy Tommy was fancied to take this Sweep worth €750 and was sent to traps the 6/4 favourite but he was crowded leaving traps and this handed the initiative to Ardfert Carmac who was quickest away and led around the opening two bends and down the back. Slippy Tom gave chase and got to within a length of the Ardfert Carmac who crossed the line in 28.96 at 4/1 for joint owners Adrian and Kathleen Clifford from Ardfert and trained by Timmy Carmody. In fact the owners were away and also missed a winner on Saturday night when Group Fernando won on 29.40.