Irish Cup: quality meeting at a quality venue

WHEN the National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel, the biggest event in Irish Coursing, was still a pup, the Irish Cup was already full-grown.

This year, 2005, Clonmel celebrated its 80th birthday, Keen Laddie its first winner of what was then a combined event, for dogs and bitches (separation came five years later).

This is the centenary year for the Irish Cup, first won by Peerless de Wet in 1905; it will be held this weekend tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, at Limerick Racecourse, in Patrickswell.