Greyhound Racing in Ireland
Greyhounds have been in existence for longer than any other breed of dog and for all that time, have been prized for their speed, grace, agility, hunting prowess and as loyal pets and companions.
The only breed mentioned in the Bible, greyhounds appear in early cave drawings, adorning the tombs of Pharaohs and are celebrated in many paintings, stories and poems. In 124 A.D. The Roman Flavius Arrianus (Arrian) sang the praises of his Celtic greyhound "Horme".
"She is moreover, gentle and kindly affectionate, and never before had I a dog with such regard for myself. When I am at home she remains by my side, accompanies me in going abroad, follows me to the gymnasium and while I am exercising myself, sits down near me. At meals she pats me with one foot and then the other, to remind me she is to have her share of the food. Nothing is as helpful as a soft warm bed. It is best if they can sleep with a person because it makes them more human and because they rejoice in the companionship of human beings".
In modern times, greyhounds, traditionally used for hunting, were introduced to the mechanical lure and greyhound racing as we know it began. The first greyhound racing meeting in Ireland was held on 14th May 1927 at Shelbourne Park in Dublin. More than 8,000 people attended on this auspicious fist day and since then, racing in Ireland has gone from strength to strength.
Today, you can enjoy greyhound racing on any night of the week in more than 17 Stadiums nationwide. The Greyhound Industry employs nearly 700 people and is enjoyed by over 1.3 million people each year, across each county. However, our single greatest asset has always and will always be...
Our Greyhounds!
