FUTURE OF GREYHOUND RACING TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT INAUGURAL RCÉ YOUNG PERSONS FORUM

GRI

It was a busy night in Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium on Friday night, as not only did they celebrate their 25th anniversary, they also hosted the first-ever meeting of the Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) Young Persons Forum.  This marks a significant milestone in the sport’s ongoing commitment to youth engagement and future-focused development.

The event was very well attended by young representatives from greyhound stadiums across the country. It provided a dynamic platform for discussion, learning, and collaboration among the next generation of greyhound racing leaders and advocates.

Participants were warmly welcomed by RCÉ Chairman Pat Flanagan and CEO Tim Lucey, who both spoke about the importance of empowering young voices within the sport. “The energy and ideas you bring are vital to ensuring a strong and sustainable future for greyhound racing in Ireland,” said Pat Flanagan in his opening remarks. “We are proud to support this new forum and to hear directly from the people who will help shape the next chapter of our sport.”

The forum included presentations by Pat Meskell, RCÉ’s Veterinary Director, who provided insight into greyhound welfare and care standards, and Orla Strumble, Head of Marketing, who discussed audience social media engagement and new opportunities for innovation.

Attendees were encouraged to contribute their thoughts on a wide range of topics and follow-up actions to be developed and progressed in the months ahead.

Speaking after the session, CEO Tim Lucey noted the value of the initiative, “This forum is about listening, learning, and acting together. What we saw tonight was a clear passion for greyhound racing and a strong desire to contribute meaningfully to its future.”

The RCÉ Young Persons Forum will continue to meet regularly, with its members taking an active role in helping to shape new initiatives. The successful launch at Curraheen Park sets the foundation for what promises to be an impactful journey ahead.

The Members of the inaugural RCÉ Young Person Forum are:

Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium: Will Cogan
Kingdom Greyhound stadium: Daniel O’ Rahilly
GRI Representative: Abbie Donnelly
Youghal Greyhound Stadium: Caoimhe Gubbins
Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium: Anna Barber
Limerick Greyhound Stadium: Lucy Roche
Kilcohan Park Greyhound Stadium: Jake Mongey
Galway Greyhound Stadium: Cian Mulrooney
Newbridge Greyhound Stadium: Chloe Cronin
Mullingar Greyhound Stadium: Bobby Kelly
Dundalk Greyhound Stadium: Billy Reilly
Clonmel Greyhound Stadium: Emer Dunne
Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium: Katelyn Leahy