The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Closures are not enough to stop races
THE organising committee behind Castleisland Horse and Pony Races say that it’s the oldest race meeting in the country and is now in its 159th year.
There probably isn’t a road in this area which hasn’t hosted the ‘Castleisland Races’ in one of its fields down through all those years.
Settled in Powell’s Road now since 2002, the 2018 running of the event will take place on the lands of Maurice Brosnan on Sunday, June 10, at 1 pm.
The committee has gone out of its way to by-pass the fears of those travelling from all over Munster and possibly beyond.
They have been listening to the constant AA Roadwatch bulletins which alerts people to the closure of the road between Castleisland and Farranfore.
‘The Road May Be Closed – But The Races Go Ahead On Sunday, June 10 @ Powells Road’ according to a friendly sign among all those which carry warnings at the Eugene Leonard Roundabout.
That there are two sides to any coin was proven by races chairman Charlie Farrelly last week.
Charlie looked at the brighter side of the said coin and asked the main contractors of the job at Dysart Bridge for advertising for his racing programme.
They facilitated cheeky Charlie’s request and even sponsored a series of adverts for the races on Radio Kerry.
This year’s day at the races will include a sports day beginning at 12 noon in the race track.
This is a family fun day for all with races for the Under-6s up to the Under-16 boys and girls. There will also be face painting and a bouncing castle.
The horse races will include a 10-race card with all the top jockeys on that circuit taking part.
The card will include a local race and anyone wishing to enter this is advised to ring Charlie Farrelly on 087 205 61 50.
Just a short few years ago, Paul Townend, Jack Kennedy and Oisín Murphy raced in Castleisland at the beginning of their careers.
Now Townend and Kennedy can be found among those lining up for the Grand National at Aintree or the Gold Cup in Cheltenham while Murphy has had some notable successes on the flat in recent years.
On the charitable aspect of the racing festival here, a total of €133,875 has been raised for over the past 13 years. All this money went to deserving, local charities.
The beneficiaries chosen for the 2018 windfall are: Scoil Ide, Curranes National School; Kerry Stars Olympics from the races themselves; and Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál will benefit from the Drive-in Bingo which will be held in the Castleisland Co-Op Mart grounds on Sunday, June 17. Glebe Lodge will be the beneficiary of the Humphrey Murphy Memorial 5km and 10km fun run which will start at Limerick Road at 7pm on Friday, June 8th.
Donations will also go to Castleisland Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party; and St Ita’s and St Joseph’s School.
Knockachur native and London resident, ROL Construction managing director Mortimor Reidy, has come on board again as the main sponsor. A host of local sponsors have also thrown their weight and financial assistance behind the events again this year.
“The committee members are extremely grateful for all the support received from all these sources; without them it would not be possible to stage the events,” said committee PRO Pat Hartnett.