Irish Greyhound Tracks
Fans of greyhound racing are spoilt for choice in Ireland with 17 Irish dog tracks located in the Republic. There is something for everyone across the Emerald Isle with a wide range of race styles on offer.
Best Irish Dog Tracks
Read on for full details of the best greyhound racetracks in Ireland to prepare for your next visit.
Clonmel
Clonmel Greyhound Stadium opened in 1931 and is one of the oldest and best greyhound tracks in Ireland. It hosts one of the most prestigious greyhound races in the country, the National Produce Stakes, run over 525 yards in June and July. The racetrack is conveniently located close to the town centre of Clonmel, County Tipperary with dog racing taking place every Friday and Sunday evening.
For the €10 entry fee, you can experience a wide range of race styles with distances from 300 yards to 1,015 yards. With a capacity of just 514, the stadium is usually well-attended by locals and tourists alike.
On race nights, which begin at 7:49 pm on Fridays and 7:30 pm on Sundays, you can sample a two or three-course meal in the restaurant, indulge in fast food and take advantage of full bar facilities.
Curraheen Park
Curraheen Park is located in Bishopstown, County Cork, and is one of the most modern Irish dog tracks. It opened in 2000 to replace Cork Greyhound Stadium.
You can join crowds of up to a capacity of 1,340 on Friday and Saturday evenings to experience races run over distances between 330 and 750 yards.
The racetrack hosts the Laurels in September and October. As one of the most important Greyhound races in Ireland, it is run over 525 yards with a prize of €30,000 to the winner. Between 2017 and 2020, the Irish Grand National was held at Curraheen Park.
As you would expect from a modern stadium, you're well looked after with regard to food and drink. The doors open at 6:30 pm on race days with the first race at 7:35 pm, so there is plenty of time before racing begins to take advantage of the facilities.
Attendances at the track are boosted by a range of innovative offers such as the Classic Combo, which includes entry to the dog track, a race program, a €3 Tote betting voucher, and a choice of a drink for €15, plus there is the Sausage Sizzler Special which includes admission and two sausage and chips for €10.
Shelbourne Park
Shelbourne Park is the oldest greyhound track in the Republic of Ireland. It opened in 1927 and its location in the Ringsend suburb of Dublin ensures you'll experience plenty of the legendary craic of Ireland’s capital city, in the company of up to 800 fellow greyhound racing enthusiasts.
The wealth of competitions held at Shelbourne Park tells you that you are attending one of the best greyhound tracks in Ireland with the Irish Greyhound Derby and the Champion Stakes both held in July. The Easter Cup in March and April completes the major events held annually at the Dublin dog track. If a dog triumphs in all three events, the owner will bag the Triple Crown Bonus of €50,000.
Racing takes place every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening, and for just €10, you can visit bars, restaurants and enjoy fast food as you watch dog races over the sprint distance of 350 yards up to the marathon distance of 1,025 yards, making it one of the top Irish greyhound tracks for those who want to experience the full range of racing styles. Successful greyhound racing evenings at the track include the well-attended Student Race Night.
Read our greyhound betting guide too!
Limerick
Opened in 2010 to replace the old Markets Field Greyhound Stadium, Limerick Greyhound Stadium is one of the most modern Irish greyhound tracks.
With a capacity of 2,900, the dog track provides the perfect backdrop for greyhound racing with meetings held every Thursday and Saturday evening. Some of the top greyhound races in Ireland are hosted at the track, including the St Leger in October and the Kirby Memorial Stakes, which offers a total prize pot of €80,000.
The races held in Limerick will appeal to fans who enjoy a variety of races with the sprint distance of 300 yards, middle distances of 525 yards, the stayers distance of 700-750 yards, and the marathon distance of 1000 yards.
The Treaty Cup at Limerick is part of the Sprint Triple Crown alongside the Curraheen Park Supersprint and the Islandbridge Sprint at Shelbourne Park. There is a bonus of €15,000 if a dog wins all three and a €5,000 consolation bonus if the greyhound finishes in first, second, or third place in all three competitions.
The facilities at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, which include the 190-seat Leger restaurant located in the impressive glass-fronted grandstand, make it one of the best Irish greyhound tracks and the obvious choice for the headquarters of Greyhound Racing Ireland.
Galway
Galway Greyhound Stadium, also known as the Sportsground, is located in the city of Galway in the province of Connacht.
Although the city of Galway is more associated with the Galway Races horse racing festival, as one of the most impressive Irish greyhound tracks, the meeting is often a popular event in Galway and the stadium features a range of races from sprint to marathon distance races. The Galway Oaks, which is run over 525 yards, takes place in November and has prize money of €6,000.
Please note that the Galway Greyhound Stadium is shared with Connacht Rugby, so while dog racing is held every Friday and Saturday evening if it clashes with rugby, the meeting is cancelled.
Kingdom
Opened in 1930, Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, located in Tralee, County Kerry is one of the oldest Irish greyhound tracks.
Races at the track are run over 500, 525, 550, 570, and 750 yards on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with 10-11 races taking place on each race day. The Tuesday evening meeting is a quieter affair, with the Friday and Saturday meets best for those who really want to experience the full atmosphere.
Major greyhound events held in Tralee include the Kingdom Derby which takes place in January and is run over 525 yards. In June you can experience the Race of Champions over 550 yards with the winner scooping €15,000. The Juvenile Classic takes place there in February and March over 525 yards with a first prize of €11,000.
Kilkenny
Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium is located in the historic city of Kilkenny. The race distances on offer at the track, which is open on Wednesdays and Fridays, range from 300 to 1000 yards, making it one of the best Irish dog tracks if you like a wide variety of race styles. If you are looking for a quiet visit, opt for the Wednesday meeting; however, if you want to experience the excitement of dog racing in front of a large crowd, head for the track on Friday evening.
The main event at the track takes place in March, the McCalmont Cup, which is run over a distance of 525 yards, offering a prize of €5,000 to the winner. Other competitions include the Champion Open Unraced Stake over 525 yards in May, the Red Mills Juvenile, and the Langton Derby.
Other Tracks
Other popular Irish greyhound tracks include:
Dundalk
Dundalk Stadium is located in Dundalk, County Louth. Major events at the dog track include the Dundalk International, which is run over 550 yards with dogs competing for a €20,000 prize, and the 400-yard Irish Sprint Cup with a first prize of €20,000.
Enniscorthy
Enniscorthy Greyhound Stadium is situated in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, with races between 350 and 600 yards taking place every Monday and Thursday evening. The main event is the Red Mills Future Champion Unraced Stake, which is run over 525 yards.
Kilcohan Park
Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium is located in the city of Waterford. Races are run over distances between 325 and 731 yards. Highlights include the Select Stakes run over 525 yards with a prize of €10,000.
Lifford
Lifford Greyhound Stadium in the town of Lifford, County Donegal features races over 325, 525, 550, 575, and 750 yards every Friday at 7:45 pm and Sundays at 6 pm. The panoramic restaurant is a real highlight of one of the best greyhound racetracks in Ireland, giving you the opportunity to sample an a la carte meal while you watch the action unfold.
Longford
Longford Greyhound Stadium is situated in the town of Longford, County Longford with races held over 525, 550, 750, and 805 yards every Monday and Friday evening. The main events are the Longford Derby and the Longford Puppy Derby.
Newbridge
Newbridge Greyhound Stadium, located in Newbridge, County Kildare, features races between 325 and 750 yards on Friday evenings. The main events include the Juvenile Derby, the Newbridge Oaks, and the Unraced Bitch Stake, which run over 525 yards with total prize money of €17,900 with €6,500 going to the winner.
Youghal
County Cork's Youghal Greyhound Stadium features racing on Monday and Wednesday evenings over distances of 325, 525, and 550 yards. The harebell will sound at approximately 6:05 pm at both meetings.