Adding to the positive appointment of a familiar face to the Department responsible for Sport, there was more good news for Horse and Greyhound Racing with Martin Heydon stepping up from the Minister of State role in Agriculture to the Senior Ministerial appointment.

Heydon launched the Horse Racing ireland Strategic Plan back in April 2024 (pictured above) and was an enthusiastic and positive speaker at the Horse Racing Ireland Awards in December.

His Grá for the sport is obvious given that the Curragh and Punchestown are both within his political base and constituency in Newbridge, County Kildare.

His first job as a teeenager was as a fence builder at Punchestown Racecourse so the phrase of rolling your sleeves up and getting to know the brief can perhaps be put to the side in this instance.

We will await the appointment of his replacement as Minister of State with specific responsibility for the sporting element of the brief next week.

 

SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

Adding to the appointment of Patrick O’Donovan at the Department of Arts, Culture, Communication, Media and Sport, this has been a positive series of announcements for sport around the cabinet table.

WHAT’S UP NEXT?

The Dublin racing Festival at Leopardstown on February 1st and 2nd might be the Minister’s first public outing in his new role.

MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS

Horse Racing Ireland and Greyhound Racing Ireland are active members of the Sport for Business community. 

 

 

 

The Sport for Business Membership comprises nearly 300 organisations, including all the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies. 

Find out more about joining us.