Cork greyhound racing stadium that attracts no paying customers to spend €50,000 on track upgrade

As of the end of 2025, Youghal had attracted no paying customers whatsoever to its twice-weekly track meets. File picture: Larry Cummins

A Co Cork greyhound track that attracts no paying customers to its meetings is to have its racing surface upgraded at a cost of €50,000.

Youghal Greyhound Stadium, which was previously the subject of several bailouts, is to have its track surface overhauled over a two-week period.

A new tender launched by industry body Greyhound Racing Ireland calls for interested parties to express interest in the six-month €50,000 contract, which would see the entire surface of the track removed and its foundations rebuilt.

As of the end of 2025, however, Youghal had attracted no paying customers whatsoever to its twice-weekly track meets.

Some 7,524 people attended the stadium in total last year, all of them either owners or trainers.

When asked if the track upgrade represented prudent expenditure given Youghal attracts no paying spectators, a GRI spokesperson said its meetings represented a “significant commercial contribution to the organisation”.

“Racing at this venue is scheduled at times when it is not primarily presented for a visiting public audience,” the spokesperson added.

Youghal’s meetings are primarily held for the British satellite broadcaster Sports Information Services (SIS), which provides predominantly live greyhound and horse racing for the international gambling markets.

The stadium runs meets between 11am and 2pm on Mondays and 2pm and 5pm on Saturdays. However, the track also holds a meet on the first Thursday evening of every month between 7pm and 9pm.

The new works on the stadium will see the sand topping removed and transferred elsewhere on site, before the underlying drainage stone is ruffled and an additional eight inches of drainage stone and coarse sand is added.

The original silica topping is then to be replaced. A two-week window is proposed for the works as they will necessitate closing the track for their duration.

Of the track upgrade, GRI’s spokesperson said it “regularly undertakes ongoing improvement works across its stadia estate as part of its commitment to maintaining high standards of infrastructure and operations”.

“These works are carried out as required and are aligned with both operational needs and the long-term development of the sport,” the spokesman said.

Youghal came perilously close to being closed in early 2023, when it was days away from shutting its doors before receiving a last-minute bailout, the extent of which was not made public at the time.