KIRBY MEMORIAL IS ALWAYS A PERFECT 10!

feature which has and never before has a short lifespan. so

Ably hosted within the wonderful confines of the new Limerick Greyhound Stadium, the race is named in mem ory of Noreen McManus’s late parents, and how fitting a tribute for Con & Annie who were an integral part of this sport for generations of the greyhound community at the Old Markets Field venue in the city.

McManus genius

Inheriting a greyhound love and legacy from her parents, the sporting interests and exploits of Noreen and hus band JP McManus are known the world over and their investment of sponsorship funding to stage the “Kirby” is precious in the extreme. However, it is their sprinkling of genius to add a concurrent competition for the GAA Clubs of Limerick which has made the Kirby a unique event of every season as a brace of sporting commu nities combine to create an atmosphere for this event which simply cannot be rivalled!

From tonight’s final, and from each staging of the Kir by, €20,000 will be shared amongst the GAA Clubs who have been matched with a finalist and winners in past seasons will testify to the lifeline that this event has been for successful clubs, providing essential funding boosts.

Of course, the bulk of the McManus sponsorship is re served for the greyhounds and with a total prize fund of €160,000, it is scarcely possible to quantify the positive reach that a lucrative event like the Kirby can have for all in greyhound racing. Yes, one lucky set of connections will exit with half that purse as the winner pockets a cool €80,000 but what the Kirby has become over ten events is a reference point for excellence with tentacles that reach far beyond the confines of the race itself.

Future stars

The Kirby is a birthplace for future stars of racing and as such, advertises prospective champions and their sires, but more pertinently advertises brood dams whose progeny have proven worthy contenders, and for breed- will garner an extra glance, just to check if they will indeed be eligible for the next Kirby and so it begins again, the buying, the selling, the dreaming!

The Kirby had hardly grown out of infancy before it became glaringly apparent that the form lines here would prove the most influential of all juvenile events and only a brief perusal of the names that were beaten in finals at Limerick will emphasise just how significant the McManus event quickly became. Our 2015 runner-up Rural Hawaii went on to claim Irish Derby victory the following season while our 2016 third Witches Belle would subsequently become Irish Oaks champion. Behind her in that final, the redoubtable Clares Rocket would go on to Produce Stakes victory soon after while the 2017 third Coolavanny Pet would retire following her sparkling racing campaign to commence her breeding career by giving birth to possibly the fastest greyhound who ever lived in Pestana!

It would require digests to continue detailing the exploits of Kirby graduates, but those names mentioned give a sense of how influential this competition can be, and if those ultimately came up short, is it any wonder that our winners become instant stars to be remember forever?!

Our inaugural 2013 event was claimed the brilliant Owen McKenna trained Roxholme Bully as he posted 28.65 in final victory but in the following five years, we would have just two winning trainers as Brendan Matthews claimed his first title in 2014 with the swashbuckling Boylesports Hero in 28.31 before the racing powerhouse Cable Bay defeated Rural Hawaii in a race for the ages in 2015, posting 28.11 at the outset of his stellar career.

Buckley hattrick

2016 would then bring a truly brilliant renewal and completing an unbeaten campaign with 28.10, Droopys Roddick sparked a near incredulous hattrick of Kirby victories in a Pat Buckley training feat which will be recalled amongst the greatest training performances for generations to come. Guiding Bentekes Bocko to victory in 2017 when posting 28.39 in advance of a most gallant with pandemic restrictions, there was a hugely popular victory for young local owner Michael O’Dwyer when Stonepark Leo contained Da Machine in 28.38 for trainer Michael O’Donovan before Swords Rex delivered a much-coveted title for trainer Graham Holland last season after the kennels had supplied more finalists than any in previous Kirbys. Revealing himself as a rare talent ahead of his stunning racing career, Swords Rex defeated Magical Kuba in 28.27.

Modern day classic

While in classic terms, the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial is an infant, there is no event in racing that would be more deserving of a listing in those terms alongside the original classics of greyhound sport which have shaped the participation of aspiring kennels for generations. More accurate to label a modern-day classic perhaps, the Kirby fulfils all the criteria for any exalted title, and it is truly incredible that after just ten renewals, an entire greyhound racing world can scarcely remember the days before we had it and would not dare to even contemplate what our greyhound lives would be missing without it!

For the purist we have the best young greyhounds in the sport. For the casual racegoer we have thrilling racing entertainment to the soundtrack of joyful packed stands. For the GGA Clubs we have exciting participation through the pursuit of a €10,000 first prize while providing an inclusive social outing for young & old away from the training and playing fields. And, for everyone, we have a most unique month of sport, culminating on final night with colour and fervour amidst a palpable atmosphere that only the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial can deliver.

Thank You!

From the outset, the Kirby has been graced by the cream of elite greyhound talent who just by doing their thing on track, thank Noreen & JP McManus for providing this