Celtic Park was a multi-use stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was used for football matches and was the home of Belfast Celtic F.C. Throughout the majority of its existence it was a greyhound racing track. The stadium was able to hold 50,000 spectators at its height, with 5,000 of those spectators seated.[1]
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 Racingedit
Originsedit
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 historyedit
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 Trigo Cup; William Barnett presented a cup to Celtic Park after his horse Trigo won The Derby and St Leger Stakes. The Trigo Cup would gain classic status some years later in 1944 and second major competition called the McAlevey Gold Cup was inaugurated in 1938. In 1932 and 1943 the track hosted the Irish St Leger one of Ireland's premier races and in July 1946, the first case of a greyhound traveling by air took place. Warrington greyhound Clady Border trained by Ken Newham went from Manchester airport to Belfast to take part in an event at Celtic Park in which he won.[2]
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 historyedit
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]
Closureedit
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]
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Celtic Park was a multi use stadium in Belfast Northern Ireland It was used for football matches and was the home of Belfast Celtic F C Throughout the majority of its existence it was a greyhound racing track The stadium was able to hold 50 000 spectators at its height with 5 000 of those spectators seated 1 Celtic ParkPairc na gCeilteachParadiseCeltic ParkLocation within Greater BelfastLocationBelfast Northern IrelandCapacity5 000 seated overall 50 000 SurfaceGrassConstructionBroke ground1899Opened1901Closed1983Demolished1986TenantsBelfast CelticGreyhound Racing Contents 1 Football 2 Greyhound Racing 2 1 Origins 2 2 Early history 2 3 Later history 3 Closure 4 Competitions 5 Notable track records 6 References 7 External linksFootball editThe 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 editOrigins edit 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 edit 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 Trigo Cup William Barnett presented a cup to Celtic Park after his horse Trigo won The Derby and St Leger Stakes The Trigo Cup would gain classic status some years later in 1944 and second major competition called the McAlevey Gold Cup was inaugurated in 1938 In 1932 and 1943 the track hosted the Irish St Leger one of Ireland s premier races and in July 1946 the first case of a greyhound traveling by air took place Warrington greyhound Clady Border trained by Ken Newham went from Manchester airport to Belfast to take part in an event at Celtic Park in which he won 2 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 edit 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 editBrookmount 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 editTrigo Cup Ulster Derby McAlevey Gold Cup Irish St LegerNotable track records editDistance 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 1970References edit a b c Belfast Celtic Groundtastic Archived from the original on 28 August 2008 Retrieved 11 February 2009 a b c d Genders Roy 1975 The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound page 98 100 Page Brothers Norwich ISBN 0 85020 0474 a b c Genders Roy 1981 The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing page 279 282 Pelham Books Ltd 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 Barnes Julia 1988 Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File Ringpress Books ISBN 0 948955 15 5 All Those Aprils Vol 16 no 4 Greyhound Star 4 April 1998 Barnes Sellers Julia John 1992 Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File Ringpress Books 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 External links editStadium information Stadium information History of Dog Racing in Ireland 54 35 21 N 5 57 45 W 54 589099 N 5 962551 W 54 589099 5 962551 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Celtic Park Belfast amp oldid 1186938879, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,