Limerick holds the distinction of being the most recent purpose-built racecourse in Ireland and opened in its current guise as recently as 2001.
The current location at Greenmount Park became the first purpose-built racecourse in Ireland in 50 years, replacing the previous venue at Greenpark, which had closed in 1990 after more than a century of racing.
Limerick stages racing both on the Flat and over jumps, with their major meeting coming at Christmas.
Here's our guide to Limerick racecourse.
What | Limerick Christmas Festival |
Where | Limerick Racecourse, Limerick |
When | Tuesday 26th – Friday 29th December, 2023 |
How to watch | bet365 Sports Live Streaming, RTE & Racing TV |
Jumps
Though the track hosts both Flat and National Hunt racing, it is fair to say that Limerick is best known for action over jumps.
The course has approximately 18 racedays in the calendar year and 14 of those are over jumps.
The midsummer Martin Molony Evening card is the highlight on the level, taking place in June. Over obstacles, the Munster National card in mid-late October is always a key attraction but it is at Christmas that Limerick really comes to life.
Their four-day festive meeting runs parallel to the one at Leopardstown, from 26th-29th December.
Though Limerick cannot boast the sustained quality of the Dublin venue, their Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase is a well-established and strong event, renamed after the great Faugheen won it in 2019.
That meeting also hosts the Sporting Limerick 4YO Hurdle and the Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle – both Grade 2 contests.
On the level, Limerick is a right-handed circuit of a mile-and-three-furlongs. There is a steep climb on the latter half of the back straight, before a downhill run on the approach to the straight of three-furlongs, which is also on a slight incline. It is a track that can really change character depending on what the ground is like and testing ground can often prevail, especially in the jumps season.
The jumps circuit is a galloping, right-handed oval track of a mile-and-three-furlongs, with similar gradient changes as the flat track. There are seven fences to a circuit of the chase course, five of them in quick succession in the back straight which is situated on the outside of the hurdles track, and there is a run-in of around a furlong.
Owing to those five fences in the back straight, it is quite a tricky track to ride, with the final two fences also potentially problematic for riders that don't have local knowledge.
Limerick Racecourse, also known as Greenmount Park, is 8km south of Limerick City and it replaced the old track at Greenpark in the city after the latter closed in 1990. The new track, the first purpose-built racecourse in Ireland in over 50, opened in 2001.
The wonderful surroundings of Greenmount Park have a variety of dining options to suit groups of any size. On each of the four floors of the grandstand you can select from tasty treats to gourmet fine dining, so you will definitely find a menu to satisfy your appetite.
The award winning catering team from the Fitzgerald's Woodlands House Hotel Adare bring their dedication to fine food and good service for racegoers to enjoy.
Limerick racecourse has a reputation as a popular venue for groups looking to organise outings ranging from staff parties, birthdays, sports and socials to Hen and Stag parties and corporate events.
As well as being close to Limerick city, the racecourse is 6km from the picturesque and famed village of Adare. It is just off the M20 motorway and only one hour's drive from Galway, Tipperary, Clare and Cork in the heart of southern Ireland.
The atmosphere really has to be experienced to be believed. A day (or an evening) at the races is one of top things to do in Limerick for locals and tourists alike.