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Greyhound Racing Ireland’s stadiums were between 70% and 91% empty at races last year – statistics which leave no doubt that the Irish public has largely rejected the cruel, dog-killing activity.
Attendance details for tracks were released in response to a Dail Question from Paul Murphy TD (Solidarity-People Before Profit).
Greyhound Racing Ireland has deceitfully attempted to boost its “total attendance” by ridiculously including the presence of those involved in racing at tracks, i.e. greyhound owners, greyhound trainers and bookmakers. However, when this large proportion of entries is removed, a true picture of actual attendance emerges.
Limerick Stadium - headquarters of Greyhound Racing Ireland - was the emptiest track at races in 2023. It has a stated capacity of "2,012 persons, between the ground and first floor" but recorded an average attendance of just 173, meaning it was around 91% empty at race meetings.
This was followed by Tralee Stadium (88% empty on average), Shelbourne Park (86% empty), Galway (83% empty), Youghal (83% empty), Waterford (81% empty), Curraheen Park (78% empty), Newbridge (73% empty) and Mullingar (70% empty).
Only two of Greyhound Racing Ireland’s tracks had an average paid attendance (i.e. not including children) greater than 170 people - they were Shelbourne Park Stadium (597) and Curraheen Park (281).
The other tracks had average paid attendance ranging from 164 down to 31 - Galway Stadium (164 people), Limerick (158), Newbridge (157), Tralee (133), Waterford (76), Mullingar (66) and Youghal (31).
Greyhound Racing Ireland’s inclusion of greyhound owners/trainers and bookmakers in its “attendance” figures is a deliberate attempt to mislead and convey a level of public support for greyhound racing which does not exist. The entries by owners/trainers and bookmakers boost the "total attendance" figures by a massive 67,182.
A breakdown of attendance figures for the privately-operated tracks - Clonmel, Dundalk, Enniscorthy, Kilkenny, Thurles - are not yet available.
Greyhound Racing Ireland claimed to Paul Murphy TD that, for the private tracks, it "can only report the attendance totals". However, a breakdown of the figures was previously provided for 2022 and for the period 1 January 2023 to 10 October 2023.
The low level of public interest in greyhound racing has again been brought to the attention of the government as part of a renewed appeal to politicians to end the massive state grants that keep greyhound racing afloat. Since 2001, over €347 million in funding has been shamefully handed over to Greyhound Racing Ireland, including €19 million for 2024.
Growing awareness about suffering and death in greyhound racing is undoubtedly a contributing factor in low attendances.
At races around Ireland in 2023, 257 greyhounds were injured and 134 killed. Since 2014, at least 3,307 greyhounds sustained injuries and 1,194 died or were killed at races. The Greyhound Racing Ireland figures are based on “reported” injuries and deaths, suggesting that the actual number could be even higher. They do not include the greyhounds injured at tracks and later killed elsewhere, or the thousands of greyhounds who are killed behind the scenes every year because they are not fast enough to win races.
Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM
SEE ALSO
Raced to death: 134 greyhounds killed at races in Ireland in 2023
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2024/03/15/raced-to-death-134-greyhounds-killed-at-races-in-ireland-in-2023/
Youghal track: Average race attendance of just 3 people
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/07/04/youghal-track-average-race-attendance-of-just-3-people/
Shelbourne Park greyhound stadium 35% empty for derby final
https://banbloodsports.wordpress.com/2023/10/17/shelbourne-park-greyhound-stadium-35-empty-for-derby-final/
ACTION ALERT
Don’t go greyhound racing or attend events at greyhound tracks.
Urge the leaders of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, the Green Party, Sinn Fein and Labour to end the state funding that is keeping the dying greyhound “industry” afloat.
Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: +353 (0)1 618 3805 or +353 (0)1 889 2442
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Phone: 021-432 0088
Leinster House: 01–618 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
X: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Eamon Ryan TD
Leader, Green Party
Tel: 01 618 3894
Email: eamon.ryan@oireachtas.ie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EamonRyanGP/
X: https://twitter.com/EamonRyan
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
X: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
Please sign and share the petitions
Stop supporting the cruel greyhound “industry”
https://www.change.org/p/stop-supporting-the-cruel-greyhound-industry
GAA: Stop club fundraisers at greyhound tracks
https://www.change.org/p/gaa-stop-club-fundraisers-at-greyhound-tracks
Tell Gain Pet Nutrition to Stop Sponsoring Greyhound Racing
https://www.change.org/p/jimtracy-glanbia-ie-tell-gain-pet-nutrition-to-stop-sponsoring-greyhound-racing
GREYHOUND TRACK ATTENDANCE STATISTICS FOR 2023
Stated "total attendance" includes "promotional/free of charge", i.e. promotional, children, greyhound owners, greyhound trainers and bookmakers.
Paid attendance excludes promotional, children, greyhound owners, greyhound trainers and bookmakers.
Curraheen Park
Stated “total attendance”: 40,995
Paid attendance: 30,083
Paid attendance plus children: 31,765
Race meetings: 107
Average attendance: 296
Curraheen Park has a capacity of "1340 persons, between the ground and first floor" and was therefore around 78% empty on average at race meetings in 2023.
Population in catchment area of Curraheen Park: 334,200 within 20km and 516,100 within 50km.
Galway Track
Stated “total attendance”: 23,543
Paid attendance: 16,703
Paid attendance plus children: 17,287
Race meetings: 102
Average attendance: 169
Galway track has a capacity of "974 persons, between the ground and first floor" and was therefore around 83% empty on average at race meetings in 2023.
Population in catchment area of Galway Stadium: 151,500 within 20km and 310,000 within 50km
Limerick Stadium
Stated “total attendance”: 29,581
Paid attendance: 17,578
Paid attendance plus children: 19,226
Race meetings: 111
Average attendance: 173
Limerick stadium has a capacity of "2,012 persons, between the ground and first floor" and was therefore 91% empty on average at race meetings in 2023.
Population in catchment area of Limerick Stadium: 182,600 within 20km and 396,300 within 50km.
Mullingar Track
Stated “total attendance”: 16,716
Paid attendance: 6,562
Paid attendance plus children: 7,667
Race meetings: 101
Average attendance: 76
Mullingar Stadium has a stated capacity of 255 (between its two floors) and was therefore around 70% empty on average at race meetings in 2023.
Population in catchment area of Mullingar Stadium - 64,700 within 20km and 486,000 within 50km
Newbridge Track
Stated “total attendance”: 13,173
Paid attendance: 8,459
Paid attendance plus children: 9,155
Race meetings: 54
Average attendance: 157
Newbridge track has a capacity of 630 (between ground and first floor) and was therfore around 73% empty on average at race meetings in 2023.
Population in catchment area of Newbridge track - 187,000 within 20km and 1,902,200 within 50km.
Shelbourne Park Stadium
Stated “total attendance”: 100,646
Paid attendance: 86,629
Paid attendance plus children: 88,164
Race meetings: 145
Average attendance: 597
Shelbourne Park has a capacity of "4200 persons, between the ground, intermediate, first and second floor" and was therefore around 86% empty on average at race meetings in 2023.
Population in catchment area of Shelbourne Park - 1,418,000 within 20km and 1,860,300 within 50km.
Tralee Track
Stated “total attendance”: 34,032
Paid attendance: 20,275
Paid attendance plus children: 23,579
Race meetings: 152
Average attendance: 133
Tralee track has a 1,310-capacity. The track was therefore on average 88% empty at race meetings in 2023
Population in catchment area of Tralee track – 74,200 within 20km and 192,600 within 50km.
Waterford Track
Stated “total attendance”: 16,459
Paid attendance: 7,876
Paid attendance plus children: 8,959
Race meetings: 103
Average attendance: 76
Waterford track has a capacity of "450 persons, between the ground and first floor" and was therefore around 81% empty on average at race meetings in 2023.
Population in catchment area of Waterford track - 115,700 within 20km and 341,700 within 50km.
Youghal Track
Stated “total attendance”: 12,268
Paid attendance: 2,952
Paid attendance plus children: 4,261
Race meetings: 95
Average attendance: 45
Youghal track has a stated capacity of 268 in the "upstairs bar / seating area" and was therefore 83% empty on average at race meetings in 2023.
Population in catchment area of Youghal track - 50,700 within 20km and 453,100 within 50km.
PRIVATELY-OPERATED TRACKS
Clonmel, Dundalk, Enniscorthy, Kilkenny, Thurles
A breakdown of "attendance" figures are not yet available