The presence of local sports clubs at race nights in greyhound stadia or at race meetings like this week at Punchestown have long been a staple of fundraising efforts.
Limerick Stadium brought the idea to a new level again last weekend though, when GAA clubs from across the county were an integral part of an €80,000 race sponsored by local business hero and philanthropist JP McManus.
The Con and Anne Kirby Memorial Stakes is the richest juvenile greyhound race in the world, indicative of Ireland’s standing within the sport.
More importantly for local communities however was the fact that for the second year running local GAA clubs were invited to take part in their event through ‘ownership’ of one of the dogs entered in the competition.
The six clubs who had drawn the dogs that made it through to Saturday night’s final, televised live on RTE2, were there in force at the track and when Boylesports Hero justified favouritism by coming home clear of the field, Galbally GAA were celebrating a €10,000 windfall.
The money will be spent un upgrading facilities at the club which dates back to 1905.
The winner was owned by Boylesports boss John Boyle and provided a neat bookend to a week which started with his company sponsoring the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse and handing over the first prize last Easter Monday to JP McManus.
