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Welcome to our Tour Operator Resource Site. This is designed to over you an overview of our product - a Night at the Dogs. After you've read this page, if you'd like to learn even more about greyhound racing and our stadia, please visit www.gogreyhoundracing.ie.
Our Contact Information
GRI Sales Centre
Adddress: Unit F3A & F3B, Innovation Works, Thurles Technology Park, Thurles, Co. Tipperary
Email:sales@grieland.ie
Landline: +353 61 448 080
Feel the Speed….Enjoy the Fun
Do you want to offer your clients an evening entertainment programme that includes great food and features a truly Irish cultural experience? Then you must add a Night at the Dogs to your itinerary!
So what is greyhound racing and what makes it an Irish occasion suitable for all audiences?
The first greyhound race track was opened in Ireland on the 18th April 1927. This was in Celtic Park, Belfast, and was followed immediately by Shelbourne Park, Dublin one month later. Shelbourne Park remains our flagship stadium and is the home to the World famous Irish Greyhound Derby.
In the 1958, Greyhound Racing Ireland, previously called Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) Rásaíocht Con Éireann - is a semi-state body responsible for the control and development of the greyhound industry in Ireland.
After considerable investment over the past 25 years, our modern stadium facilities make a night at the dogs a comfortable and enjoyable night out. Our stadiums, located nationwide, offer a choice of restaurants, private suite dining options, casual group food packages (served in the bar areas) or admission only options.
Our stadiums are located nationwide, so if your clients are driving the Wild Atlantic Way, taking a city break in Dublin or touring Ireland’s Ancient East, they are never too far from a Night at the Dogs.
History of Greyhound Racing
What is Greyhound Racing
Greyhound racing in Ireland consists of 6 dogs chasing after a mechanical hare over distances ranging from 300 yards up to 1035 yards. The most regular distances raced are 525/550 yards. The dogs are allocated trap numbers 1 – 6 with each trap having a colour assigned to it.
A mechanical hare is set in motion and just before it passes by the traps the greyhounds are released. The dogs chase the “hare” around an oval track and the first dog past the finish line is declared the winner.
A Greyhound Race, bend by bend
This video, which was put together for the Irish Greyhound Derby Final, gives a dog's eye view of a greyhound race.
What happens on the night?
The evening itself starts from approximately 6.30pm when the doors open, with racing normally beginning between 7.30 and 8pm. Greyhound racing is fast paced and exciting, races run every 15 minutes and a typical race takes just 30 seconds!
With just 6 Greyhounds in a race, choosing a winner is easier than you’d imagine and if you fancy a flutter (just €1 will do!) then the Tote betting staff are always nearby. We even have a simple guide available in French, German, English, Spanish, Italian, Chinese & Dutch - just ask any member of the Tote team for a copy.
For a VIP touch, adding your clients name to a race will see their group or company name on the race-card and give them a chance to present a trophy to the winning connections of that race on the night.
Racing normally finishes at approx. 10.15 - 10.30pm.
Stadium Facilities
Grandstand Bars
Our Grandstand Bars located downstairs at our stadiums provides and informal night at the dogs offering bar and tote betting facilities. From this ground floor position you can gain access to the terraced area where you can hear the bookies shouting the odds, the sound of the lure, the bang of the traps and the roar of the crowd as they cheer their dog across the winning line.
Grandstand Restaurants
If you would like to experience dinner with a difference, then it’s hard to beat booking a table at the Grandstand Restaurant where spectacular glass fronted restaurant allows you to enjoy trackside racing as you appreciate the fine food and wine. Our dedicated tote and bar staff come to you so there is no need to leave the comfort of your table.
Hospitality Suites
Looking to combine privacy for your group and still enjoy the full excitement and atmosphere of racing – then our private hospitality suites are the place for you. They offer full bar and side table betting making them ideal for Corporate or Family event.
Experience dinner with a difference, it’s hard to beat booking a table at the Grandstand Restaurant where our glass fronted restaurant allows you to enjoy trackside racing, as you appreciate the fine food and wine.
Catering provided by our highly experienced and professional in-house catering team
Tote Betting Information Desk at Shelbourne Park
Our flagship stadium, Shelbourne Park, offers a Tote Betting Information Desk on race nights. For more information on the services offered, visit the Tote Facilities page on the Shelbourne Park website.
Experience a Night at the Dogs
Experience a Night at the Dogs in Ireland in Virtual Reality, the full 360 view. Join us for dinner in the restaurant or cheer home that winner from the busy grandstand. Go behind the scenes with the race commentator or place a flutter with the Tote or trackside bookmakers. We hope you enjoy the experience and we look forward to welcoming you to the real thing soon.
This video is in 360 so make sure you move around the stadium to get the best experience - if you have a VR headset then use it for a fully immersive experience.
Click to view our Trade and Tourism Brochure
Please contact Margaret in our Sales Department directly for contact Margaret directly for 2024/2025 pricing or any additional group pricing (Send your email FAO Margaret to sales@grireland.ie)
There's a range of extras which can be added to your booking to make it extra special. Click here to view some of the extras we offer.
Stadium Capacity, Table Plans & Information
Click on stadium name to download PDF document with Stadium Capacity & Information or click on Table Plans to view Restaurant layout
Curraheen Park, Cork or Stadium Table Plan
Shelbourne Park, Dublin or Stadium Table Plan
Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, Tralee
Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium, Waterford
Ireland General Travel Information
Ireland is a compact island with relatively short distances between all major towns, cities and tourist destinations. Ireland.com provide helpful information on travelling to Ireland.
If the first stop on your itinerary is Dublin, then pop by to see us at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium. Within a one hour drive are two further venues, Newbridge Greyhound Stadium and Mullingar Greyhound Stadium.
If you’re arriving into Cork airport or ferry port, then Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium is just a short drive away. It’s also easy to reach Waterford (Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium), Kerry (Kingdom Greyhound Stadium) and Limerick from there.
If you arriving into Shannon airport, it’s just a short distance to Limerick Greyhound Stadium, with Galway Greyhound Stadium easily accessible by motorway.
Stadium Locations and Race Nights
Stadium Race Nights & Information
Please note that race nights are occassionally subject to change so please contact us or visit the stadium homepage for the current schedule.
Dublin
Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium, South Lotts Road, Dublin 4
Friday: Gates open: 6:30 pm | First Race: 7.42pm approx.
Saturday: Gates open: 6:00 pm | First Race: 7.42pm approx.
Cork
Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium, Bishopstown Road, Curraheen, Cork
Friday Doors open : 6:30 pm | First Race: 7:35pm approx.
Saturday Doors open : 6:30 pm | First Race: 7:35 pm approx.
Galway
Galway Greyhound Stadium, College Road, Galway
Please note schedule is subject to change (advance notice given) as they share a ground with Connacht Rugby
Racing every Friday & Saturday night.
Gates Open: 6:30pm | First Race: 7.50pm approx.
View 360° stadium tour
Kerry
Kingdom Greyhound Stadium, Brewery Road, Tralee, Co. Kerry
Racing every Friday & Saturday night.
Open 6.30pm | 1st Race 7.47pm approx.
Kildare
Newbridge Greyhound Stadium, Cornelscourt, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Race Nights: Friday night
Gates Open: 7pm
First Race: 8pm
Limerick
Limerick Greyhound Stadium, Greenpark, Dock Road, Limerick
Open from 6:30pm | First Race: 7:43pm approx
Racing every Saturday night.
Racing on the final Friday of each month.
Waterford
Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium, Kilcohan, Waterford
Race Nights: Saturday nights
Gates Open: 7pm
First Race: 7.35pm
Westmeath
Mullingar Greyhound Stadium, Ballinderry, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Racing Saturday nights & Sunday afternoons.
Saturday Night: Opening Time : 6.30 pm | First Race: 7.50 pm approx.
Sunday Afternoon: Opening Time: 1.30 pm | First Race: 2.58 pm approx.
Wild Atlantic Way
As the sun sets on your day’s adventures along the Wild Atlantic Way, join us for the excitement of a Night at the Dogs in Galway, Limerick, Tralee or Cork.
Greyhound Racing is a truly Irish experience. Track racing as we know it today began in 1927, but the Irish love of Greyhounds extends long beyond this. Across Ireland, particularly the rural areas you encounter along the Wild Atlantic Way, generations of families work together to rear and train their greyhounds from birth, through their racing career, into retirement.
You’ll be surprised by the pace! Our canine athletes reach speeds of over 70kmph, and a typical race is just 30 seconds long! Our modern stadium facilities include restaurants, bars and food outlets to allow you to sample the local cuisine and produce.
Share your Wild Atlantic Way experiences on social media using #WildAtlanticWay and #GoGreyhoundRacing.
Irelands Ancient East
As you immerse yourself in the stories of Ireland's Ancient East, why not make some of your own with a Night at the Dogs in Dublin, Waterford, Mullingar and Limerick. Get swept away in the excitement as six canine athletes blur past you; sample the culinary delights of the region in our restaurant or try a pint of Ireland's finest in the bar!
If you'd like to listen to the tales of our Greyhound folk, join them soaking up the atmosphere in our grandstand viewing area and bar.
Share your Ancient East experiences on social media using #IrelandsAncientEast and #GoGreyhoundRacing.
We are a Chinese Tourist Welcome Quality Organisation
We have added QR codes at various sites throughout Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium in Dublin and Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium in Cork. Chinese speaking visitors to our venues can scan the QR codes for helpful information on the stadium and what happens on the night. Click here to view the Dublin page and here to view the Cork page.
Click here to visit our Chinese Tourism Trade page
Images for use on promotional material
Click on any of the image links below to download a high resolution image for use with your promotional materials. All of these links will open a Dropbox window to download the image.
Stadium shot (Shelbourne Park)
Restaurant Food (Customer enjoying Dessert)
Restaurant (Customer wine toast)
All of our videos are available on our Youtube Channel for viewing, sharing and embedding.
Sports Inclusion Charter
We support and have signed the Sport Inclusion Disability Charter, working with other sporting organisations to make Ireland a more inclusive place for people with disabilities.
Welfare & Retired Greyhounds
The welfare of our Greyhounds is paramount, to find out more about Greyhound Welfare please click here to visit the Welfare section of our website.
The Irish Retired Greyhound Trust (IRGT) is a registered charity which was established by the Irish Greyhound Board in the 1990's. Read more about the work of the charity by clicking on the image below.
IRGT Meet & Greet
Love Greyhounds? Us too!
We want to spread the message about how wonderful Greyhounds are, and why they make perfect pets. We’re partnering with the IRGT and local Greyhound Stadia across Ireland to offer a new Meet & Greet Service.
Our IRGT volunteers will bring their beloved pet Greyhounds, allowing you to see them up close and discover their placid nature for yourself. If you want to learn more about getting your own pet Greyhound, our volunteers can share their first-hand experience.
IRGT Meet & Greet Events include:
• School / Educational Trips
• Tour Groups
• MICE Travel
• FAM trips
Talk to us today to arrange your IRGT Meet & Greet. Email us on sales@grireland.ie to discuss the opportunities available.
*Please remember this service is supported by volunteers who are providing their time for free. Please allow us 4 weeks notice to facilitate your request, which is subject to availability. T&C's apply.
Our People. In 2018, we had their stories. In 2020, we saw their day. Now in 2022 we meet the Generations.
Watch the full series on here