Drumbo Park greyhound track in Northern Ireland has closed down
BREAKING NEWS: Drumbo Park greyhound track in Northern Ireland has announced that it has CLOSED DOWN.
The Sporting Press newspaper is reporting that “there were shock waves throughout the sport on Monday (31 August 2026) when it was announced that Drumbo Park in the North is to stop racing with immediate effect, making last Saturday's meeting the final one at the venue.”
It added that greyhound owners and trainers were “stunned” and “disgusted” when they were told that the directors had decided to close the track.
Quoted in the report, the track supporters’ club representative said that there had been "talk of some sort of plan where footage of our racing would be sold, along the lines of SIS or BAGS, and we were told in December 2025 that wouldn't be long; but then were told it wouldn't be happening. Two weeks ago there was talk of that being done with match races and now, two weeks later, we're closed."
The owners and trainers are said to be looking at “a business plan to see if we could run it”, but according to the Sporting Press, “with rent, rates and other overheads to be paid, a lot would need to be done by volunteers; and while the locals would like to run the racing end of it, they wouldn't manage the expense of the big stand and restaurant.”
The closure of Drumbo Park is another major blow to the dying greyhound industry. It follows the closure of other tracks in recent years:
Longford track - 2020
Lifford track - 2019 (this track later re-opened in 2023)
Harold’s Cross stadium - 2017
Greyhound tracks around Ireland are surviving thanks to massive government grants. Since 2001, Greyhound Racing Ireland has received over €386 million (€386,806,146), including €19 million for 2024, €19.82 million for 2025 and €19.82 million for 2026. This is unacceptable and must be stopped.
A RED C opinion poll commissioned by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports confirmed that a two-thirds majority of people want the government to stop this funding (with just 16% in favour of it continuing). The latest survey – carried out by Norstat on behalf of GREY2K USA Worldwide found that 70% oppose greyhound racing subsidies, while only 11% support them.
Petitions urging the government to end the funding have more than 400,000 signatures.
ACTION ALERT
Please join the "Ban Greyhound Racing" protest on Saturday 12th September 2026 (5.15pm to 7.15pm) outside Shelbourne Park Stadium, South Lotts Road, Dublin, D04 W5C3.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/3139802376217300
Don’t go greyhound racing. Tell the leaders of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein to stop supporting funding to greyhound racing and bring this cruel, dog-killing gambling activity to an end.
Micheál Martin TD
Leader, Fianna Fail
Email: micheal.martin@oireachtas.ie; info@fiannafail.ie
Tel: 01 619 4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michealmartintd/
X: http://www.twitter.com/@MichealMartinTD
Simon Harris TD
Leader, Fine Gael
Telephone: 01 281 3727
Email: simon.harris@oireachtas.ie; finegael@finegael.ie
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DeputySimonHarris
X: http://www.twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD
Mary Lou McDonald TD
Leader, Sinn Fein
Tel: (01) 727 7102
Email: marylou.mcdonald@oireachtas.ie
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryLouMcDonaldTD
X: https://twitter.com/MaryLouMcDonald
Please sign and share the petitions
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
Watch RTE’s award-winning “Greyhounds Running For Their Lives” documentary
https://youtu.be/ZYTb2qBjlMM
SEE ALSO
89 greyhounds killed at races in first 7 months of 2026
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1377244911214774&set=a.603523135253626