THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA AT SHELBOURNE PARK

Ian Fortune

When the doors of Shelbourne Park open this evening, it will mark the beginning of a new era for the sport on these shores.

The famous Ringsend venue is iconic, the best-known greyhound stadium on the planet, a place where enthusiasts come from all four corners of the globe to savour a unique blend of outstanding racing and a wonderful atmosphere. 

For those that love the longtails, there is no better place to watch the action than the steps of Shelbourne Park. It has a long history, spanning almost a hundred years and yet tonight will mark the dawning of a new era.

For the past seven months or so, the ground floor at Shelbourne has been under wraps while it was being given a major facelift. Tonight, for the first time, the public will get to see the ‘new’ Shelbourne Park and, this scribe can promise you, it has been worth the wait.

There is no doubt, the hallowed venue was in need of some major work and those tasked with completing the job have outdone themselves. While tonight is not the official opening of the ground floor, it is fitting that it will act as the official introduction of the Shelbourne Park Museum.

For it would have been easy to only look forward but it’s only right we also look back to see how we got to this point. Whether you can make the journey to St Lotts Road this evening or not, make sure to do so very soon.

Enjoy the wonderful new facilities, the warm and welcoming nature of the new décor and, of course, don’t forget to take a walk down memory lane with a trip to the Shelbourne Park Museum. Nostalgia is a powerful thing and a moment spent in the museum will transport you through almost a hundred years of rich history. For that reason, it’s worth the admission alone.

Here’s to another century of racing at Shelbourne Park, a truly special and historic sporting venue.