Killarney Racecourse gets €1.5m building boost

A €1.5M building planned for Killarney Racecourse has been described as the most ambitious development in the 70-year history of the local race firm.

Killarney has also been given an additional day’s racing this year, on September 11, bringing the total number of days to eight. Work on a corporate building will start on September 12. It will include changing and weigh room facilities, a racegoer’s club and a corporate entertainment venue. The project is a joint development between Killarney Race Company and Horse Racing Ireland.

“This is the second year of a five-year development plan and we’re talking about a total investment of at least €5m,” said race company chairman John Buckley.

“We hope to see the September meeting develop into a two-day fixture and an attractive all National Hunt racing card isscheduled,” he added. The next meeting will be from May 8 to May 10, with the €70,000 Murphy’s Irish Stout Handicap Hurdle being the feature race. This marks the 22nd year of Murphy’s association with the races and is also the start of a new three-year sponsorship deal. Murphy senior brand manager Pat Maher attended the announcement.

Killarney’s July festival meeting is being linked to SummerFest and will run from July 11 to July 14.

Race company manager John Looney said the link was an excellent match between the race company and the festival.

Wednesday will be Children’s Day, while the ever-popular Queen of Fashion competition will be a sure-fire crowd-puller, and will be on Thursday.