Con and Annie Kirby Memorial to take centre stage at Limerick Greyhound Stadium:
By Limerck Leader Reporter
ALL roads lead to Limerick Greyhound Stadium this March and April for the 10th annual Con and Annie Kirby Memorial, one of the world’s top Juvenile racing events.
The event is sponsored by JP and Noreen McManus in honour of her parents who were well known greyhound owners and trainers having operated in the old track in The Markets Field in Garryowen.
Commencing with the First Round on Saturday, March 25, the competition boasts the biggest prize fund in Ireland after the Irish Greyhound Derby with a total prize pot of €160,000. The Final, regarded as one of the biggest nights of the year in Limerick Greyhound Stadium, will be broadcast live in a special three-hour programme on Freesat channel 250, Sky channel 437 and on sportystuff.tv on Friday 21st April.
Swords Rex was crowned the 2022 Champion, securing the Tipperary-based Riverside Kennels’ first ever success of the prestigious race and a top prize of €80,000.
Speaking following today’s launch event at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, Chair of the Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) Frank Nyhan commented, “As well as being a highlight on Limerick’s sporting calendar this event also generates income for the local economy. Gaelic clubs will once again get a share of the event fund with each greyhound in the event assigned to a GAA, LGFA, Camogie or Handball club.
Over €1.6 million in prizemoney has been generated by the event since its inception in 2013 with €200,000 being awarded to local GAA clubs’ courtesy of the additional prize-fund set up by JP and Noreen McManus.”
“We are expecting another bumper five weekends at Limerick Greyhound Stadium with more than 70 entries from across the country. In just 10 years, the Memorial has launched the careers of more than 700 greyhounds and has quickly become established as one of the top 4 events in Ireland,” stated John Tuohey, Interim RCÉ Chief Executive.
He continued, “One of the highlights of this annual event is the ongoing partnership with Limerick GAA, which has seen clubs from across the city county get involved in the action due to the nominator competition. The winning greyhound’s assigned GAA club wins a nominator prize of €10,000 and a free benefit night at Limerick Greyhound Stadium.”