Shelbourne Park
Location | Ringsend, Dublin |
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Coordinates | 53°20′25″N 6°13′49″W / 53.340378°N 6.230236°WCoordinates: 53°20′25″N 6°13′49″W / 53.340378°N 6.230236°W |
Race type | Greyhound |
Notable races | Irish Greyhound Derby |
Official website |
Shelbourne Park is a greyhound racing stadium in the south Dublin inner city suburb of Ringsend.
The stadium also played host to the home matches of Shelbourne FC, who play in the League of Ireland, from 1913/14 up until 1948/49. The first match was a 1-1 draw against Bohemians and their last match there was a 2-2 draw against Waterford. Shels left Shelbourne Park with the intention of building a new stadium in the nearby district of Irishtown.
While Shelbourne Park was the home of Shelbourne FC, they won one Irish Cup while competing in the Irish League and upon becoming founder members of the League of Ireland in 1921, won five league titles and one FAI Cup before moving on.
Shelbourne Park was the venue for two FAI Cup Final replays, in 1927 and 1929.
Trivia
Shelbourne Park appeared in the British motoring programme, Top Gear where Richard Hammond using a Mazda MX5 raced against a greyhound around the track. Despite Hammond's best efforts, the greyhound won.
Speedway Racing
Shelbourne Park staged speedway racing 1950 to 1954 and again in 1961. In 1951 it was a base for a team of American speedway riders including Nick Nicolaides, Don Hawley, Johnny Roccio, Manuel Trujillo, and Lloyd Campbell. The team raced at most of the UK tracks and often featured Ernie Roccio who was based at Wimbledon.
Limerick
Shelbourne Park is the name of a public park off Shelbourne Road in the north west suburbs of Limerick City. The park has two playing pitches; one each for rugby and soccer. It was refurbished in late 2007 and it is expected to re-open in early 2009 pending satisfactory grass growth.
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