Tag Archives: Tralee Racecourse

Business/Property, News

Ard Rí Group Plans To Build Distribution And Manufacturing Facilities On Tralee Racecourse Site

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THE company, who purchased the Tralee Racecourse site earlier this year, plan to use the land to build a further distribution centre, as well as a  manufacturing facility and possibly a housing development.

The 100 acre site was bought by the Ard-Rí group, owned and run by the Fitzgibbon family from Tralee, whose brands include Déanta Doors, Henley Stoves and Fitzgibbon Interiors.

Speaking to Radio Kerry, Managing Director of the Ard-Rí group, Neil Fitzgibbon, said they plan to build a further distribution centre for their products and a range of manufacturing facilities throughout the site.

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He also said they were looking at developing housing due to the shortage of stock in the Tralee area. It’s envisaged this building work will take place over the next three years.

The company employs hundreds of people in Ireland, the UK and internationally with 100 of these jobs located in Tralee. The development has the potential to create 100 more locally when completed.

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News

Cllr Expresses Concerns About State Of Boundary Wall At Racecourse

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A LOCAL councillor has expressed safety concerns about part of the old boundary wall at Tralee Racecourse.

Sinn Féin Cllr Cathal Foley was speaking at the online meeting of Tralee Municipal District on Monday, where he asked that Kerry County Council request the owners of the former racecourse to repair or remove the boundary wall at Clash Industrial Estate as he said it is in a very dilapidated and dangerous state.

He said the wall is in a terrible condition with parts of it falling down and stonework loose. While he said no one like to see historic walls demolished, something needs to be done.

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Thankfully, he said, the footpath is on the other side of the road, but there were still safety concerns.

In reply, the Council said they would engage with the relevant property owners with a view to them considering these concerns and actioning any safety issues that may be identified.

Entertainment, News, WHAT'S ON

Racecourse To Host The Kerry Motor Club Rally Sprint This Weekend

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The ‘Kerry Motor Club Rally Sprint’ will be taking place at Tralee Racecourse this weekend.

TRALEE Racecourse is fast becoming a thriving hub for a different style of racing as it prepares to host the ‘Kerry Motor Club Rally Sprint’ on Saturday July 18.

Gates will be opening at 10.30am on the day and with public admission only €5 and children free in, it’s certainly not a day to be missed for the car and racing enthusiasts out there.

Organisers for the event are offering an 2.3km stage with a fee of €160 for a driver and navigator, on a course of mixed surfaces with a minimum two runs for each competitor.

It is expected that the stage will be run at four different times to ensure value for money for those taking part.

Previous winner Pat O’Connell is set to return in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 in a bid to make it an impressive three wins in a row. The Cashel man has been very hard to beat here the last two years and will be the man to catch once again this year.

Other notable entries including Ed O’Callaghan (Ford Escort Mk2), Mike O’Connor Jnr (Subaru Impreza) and Eamon Howard (JB Buggy).

Local entries will include PJ O’Dowd (Talbot Sunbeam), Patrick Slattery (Honda Civic), Ray Stack (Subaru Impreza) and John Browne (Honda Civic).

The first run is expected around 11.30am, so set those alarm clocks and enjoy something just a little different this weekend.

Sport

VIDEO: Club Gets Motoring With Amazing Driving At Ballybeggan Racecourse

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There is some fantastic footage of the second round of the Kerry Motor Club 2015 Autosolo Championship in Association with KK Hydraulics.

WHILE Ballybeggan is looking forward to welcoming back racing at the upcoming Kerry International Horse and Pony two-day festival on June 27-28, there was a different type of horsepower on display last weekend at the famous course.

A new video, released by ‘Kerry Motor Club’ for the 2015 Autosolo Championship, shows there was plenty of entertainment at the track on Saturday.

Drivers from all over the region returned to test their skills and wits against the twists and turns of the intricate buildings for the second round of the championship as they hoped to build on their first round performances. (See here for the story on Round 1)

The footage shows off some spectacular driving from all who took part and we are even treated to some fine aerial shots to get a full sense of the track.

This is the 11th year of the Autosolo Championship, sponsored by KK Hydraulics, with this year’s championship aiming to encourage new competitors into the sport.

The 2015 Championship will be decided on a competitor’s best 3 scores out of the 4 counting rounds of the Championship. The overall winner of the second round was Liam Cashman, while Brendan Farmer finished second on the day.

Anyone looking to get involved only need go onto the website here where they will find all the rules and regulations that they will need. Entrance fee on the day is €50. The next round of the championship will be in September.

See video below…

Entertainment, News, WHAT'S ON

VIDEO: Tralee Racecourse Hosts A Very Different Type Of Horsepower

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The Kerry Motor Club 2015 Autosolo Championship in association with KK Hydraulics.

IN its heyday, the racecourse here in Tralee was very much used to seeing its fair share of excitement and experiencing the ‘heart in mouth’ feeling as the horses rounded the final corner and hurdled toward the finish line.

That was then though and a new video released by the ‘Kerry Motor Club’ shows that the racecourse has attracted a whole new group of patrons and competitors and they are definitely bringing with them a brand new level of excitement.

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It shows competitors in the Autosolo Championship flying around the grounds of the racecourse showing great driving skills and is well worth a look to see them manoeuvre under and around the stands.

This will be the 11th year of the  Autosolo Championship, sponsored by KK Hydraulics, with this year’s championship aiming to encourage new competitors into the sport.

The 2015 Championship will be decided on a competitor’s best 3 scores out of the 4 counting rounds of the Championship.

Brendan Farmer from Tralee was the overall winner on the day taking home first place amongst the competitors.

TraleeToday.ie got in contact with one of the organizers PJ O’Dowd behind the championship and see why they chose the racecourse as their venue of choice and what people can expect from the championship.

“The tarmac surface [at the racecourse] is very good. We need good tarmac to run it. There’s a nice tricky little section in and out of the stands there too. It’s a lovely venue for spectators, they can use the stands there and it’s very easy for us to organise it there,”  said PJ.

At the moment, the club is attracting on average close to 30/40 spectators but hoping to open up the events to more spectators and competitors.

“New competitors are always welcome. It’s the best form of motorsport if anyone is looking for an introduction to it. It’s the cheapest and just a great way to get into it.”

“You must 16 or over. If you are under the age of 18 then, you must get a signature from a parent or guardian.”

Anyone looking to get involved only need go onto the website here where they will find all the rules and regulations that they will need. Entrance fee on the day is €50.

The next three rounds will take place on June 14, September 26 and October 11.

Scroll down for the highlights of Round 1 of the championship…

 

 

 

Sport

Tralee Set To Be Featured In New Book On Racecourses In Britain And Ireland

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Tralee Racecourse

TRALEE Racecourse is set to be featured in a new book about the great racecourses of Britain and Ireland.

The book ‘From Epsom To Tralee – A Journey Round The Racecourses Of The British Isles’ (not many will be happy with that title!) is written by Roy Gill, who chronicles his visits to every racecourse in Britain and Ireland.

His journey started as a 12 year old boy at Epsom in 1955 and finished in 1992 as he reached his final racecourse in Tralee.

EpsomWhile we haven’t seen his account of his visit to the course – which held its last official HRI meeting in 2008 – it should make for interesting reading.

Every course that he visited is vividly recalled in the highly personal account. The author recounts all the interesting happenings and the behind-the-scenes sto­ries of each venue, along with their highs and lows, heroes and vil­lains, with per­sonal anec­dotes about the courses, the horses, the jock­eys and trainers.

The book is said to be beautifully illustrated and will feature previously unseen and unpublished archived photographs.

So, if you are a fan of ‘The Turf’ or maybe would like to reconnect with some memories of this old course here in Tralee, then keep an eye out in shops in March when the book, published by Medina Publishing, will be on sale.