Celtic Park (Belfast)
Páirc na gCeilteach | |
Paradise | |
  Celtic Park Location within Greater Belfast | |
| Location | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,000 seated, overall 50,000. |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1899 |
| Opened | 1901 |
| Closed | 1983 |
| Demolished | 1986 |
| Tenants | |
| Belfast Celtic Greyhound Racing | |
Celtic Park was a multi-use
Football
The stadium ceased to host Belfast Celtic matches when the team stopped playing competitive matches in 1949.[1] Like Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland, it was known as "Paradise" by its fans. The football team ran into financial issues and finally dissolved in 1960 but the stadium was then firmly established as a greyhound stadium.[2]
Greyhound Racing
Origins
Two Belfast bookmakers called Joe Shaw and Hugh McAlinden visited to Belle Vue Stadium in 1926 to view the new form of greyhound racing around an oval. They duly formed the National Racing Greyhound Company with the assistance of Paddy O’Donoghue and James Clarke.[3] It was the first greyhound track to open in Ireland on Easter Monday 18 April 1927, and one of the first in the United Kingdom.[4] The company would take control of Ireland's second track Shelbourne Park in 1927.[3]
McAlinden was the chairman of Belfast Celtic and he instigated the lease of the stadium for the racing which would be governed by the Irish Coursing Club, the official regulatory body of greyhound racing in Ireland. On opening night racing consisted of two hurdles races in the six race card and one race ended with a dead heat between Keep Whistling and Imperial Jimmy.[3]
Early history
The first ever winner (not only at Celtic Park but in Ireland) was a greyhound called Mutual Friend (Three Speed x Lazy Peggy) on the Easter Monday; the April 1923 whelp was owned by Jim Tuite of Railway House, Oldcastle, County Meath.[5]
Duneynie Castle claimed the Belfast Telegraph Cup competition in the summer of 1927 and re-opening for a second season in March 1928 patrons were able to purchase a complete form guide of the previous season from all Irish Coursing Club tracks for one shilling. Two months later on 11 May Mick the Miller finished third in the Abercorn Cup final at the track over 526 yards.[2]
A major event introduced in 1926 was the
The first Racing Manager at the Track was Jim Rice and after his passing he was honoured by the track hosting the Jim Rice Memorial Trophy. Another competition called the Ulster Sprint Cup was a regular event from 1930 and the Trigo Cup was also known as the Ulster Derby for many years.[2]
Later history
In 1955, Spanish Battleship appeared at the track for his final race in Ireland. The track suffering from a lack of investment and hampered by the troubles in Northern Ireland began to go downhill. However, in 1978 a new board of directors took over, Sean and Brian Graham and Jim Delargy closed the track to allow for refurbishment and Eddie O'Hagan the Racing Manager retired. The changes included an all-sand track from grass.[6] The track finally opened two years later during April 1980.[7]
Closure
Brookmount Properties bought the site for redevelopment and the last meeting was held on 31 October 1983.[8] The site of Celtic Park is now occupied by a shopping centre.[1]
Competitions
- Trigo Cup/Ulster Derby
- McAlevey Gold Cup
- Irish St Leger
Notable track records
| Distance (yards) |
Greyhound | Time | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 375 | Derryten | 24 October 1941 | ||
| 375 | Fair Mistress | 20.52 | 1960 | |
| 375 | Every Effort | 20.37 | 1965 | |
| 375 | Kirkland Darkie | 19.94 | 1980 | |
| 525 | Priceless Border | 29.54 | 1947 | |
| 525 | Ballymore Cottage | 29.38 | 1947 | |
| 525 | Northern Customer | 29.14 | 1960 | |
| 525 | Dillies Pigalle | 28.86 | 1966 | National record |
| 525 | Kirkland Darkie[9] | 28.79 | May 1970 | National record - McAlevey Cup heats |
| 525 | Jemmy John | 28.61 | June 1970 | National record - Ulster Derby |
| 550 | Maghereagh Soldier[10] | 31.45 | 7 June 1935 | Trigo Cup final |
| 550 | Maghereagh Soldier | 31.35 | 15 June 1936 | Trigo Cup first round |
| 550 | Strong Mutton | 31.28 | June 1936 | Trigo Cup |
| 550 | Mazurka | 30.98 | 1950 | |
| 550 | Toms Dog | 30.48 | 1965 | |
| 550 | Sulky Mac | 30.38 | 1980 | |
| 600 | Smartly Fergus | 33.99 | 1945 | National record |
| 600 | Itsamint | 33.34 | 1970 | |
| 600 | Blissful Pride | 32.90 | 1970 | |
| 640 | Bright Brindle | 37.12 | 1978 | |
| 860 | Ilene Darling | 51.55 | 1950 | |
| 375 H | Soft Slide | 21.80 | 1935 | |
| 375 H | Neidin's Carnero | 21.46 | 15 June 1936 | |
| 525 H | Magheragh Major | 31.07 | 1937 | |
| 525 H | Nicotiana | 31.05 | 24 June 1938 | |
| 550 H | Neidens Beautiful | 32.70 | 1970 | |
| 600 H | Another Circle | 36.28 | 1970 |
References
- ^ a b c "Belfast Celtic". Groundtastic. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
- ^ ISBN 0-85020-0474.
- ^ ISBN 07207-1106-1.
- ^ http://greyhoundderby.com/Belfast%20Celtic%20Greyhound%20Stadium.html[permanent dead link] Greyhound Derby
- ^ Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd. p. 26.
- ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ^ "All Those Aprils". Vol. 16, no. 4. Greyhound Star. 4 April 1998.
- ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
- ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1970) May edition". Greyhound Star.
- ^ "Trigo Cup Final at Celtic Park". Belfast Telegraph. 8 June 1935. Retrieved 26 November 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.