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Celtic Park (Belfast)

Coordinates: 54°35′21″N 5°57′45″W / 54.589099°N 5.962551°W / 54.589099; -5.962551
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Celtic Park
Páirc na gCeilteach
Paradise
Celtic Park is located in Greater Belfast
Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Location within Greater Belfast
LocationBelfast, Northern Ireland
Capacity5,000 seated, overall 50,000.
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground1899
Opened1901
Closed1983
Demolished1986
Tenants
Belfast Celtic
Greyhound Racing

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]

Football

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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

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Origins

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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][5] 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

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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.[6] The 55th Old Boys Silver Band provided entertainment on the opening night.[4]

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

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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.[7] The track finally opened two years later during April 1980.[8]

Closure

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Brookmount Properties bought the site for redevelopment and the last meeting was held on 31 October 1983.[9] The site of Celtic Park is now occupied by a shopping centre.[1]

Competitions

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Notable track records

[edit]
Yards Greyhound Time (sec) Date Notes/ref
375 Caim Star 21.4-5 17 May 1929 [10]
375 Solitude Star 21.2-5 28 April 1930 [11]
375 Confusion 21.40 1 August 1930 [12]
375 Divorced Princess 20.92 8 May 1931 [13]
375 You Have Me =20.92 24 August 1934 [14]
375 You Have Me 20.89 31 August 1934 [15]
375 Dark December 20.87 23 September 1935 [16]
375 Lone Keel 20.83 18 September 1936 [17]
375 Derryten 20.64 24 October 1941 [18]
375 Fair Mistress 20.52 22 April 1942 [19]
375 Hilarious Champion 20.16 9 July 1956 [20]
375 Rito 20.13 26 October 1962 [21]
375 Tanyard Chief 20.08 1962 [22]
375 Fiery Effort 20.07 25 October 1965 [23]
375 Kirkland Darkie 19.94 10 September 1971 [24]
525 Guiding Pal =30.60 18 July 1930 [25]
525 Mike's Fancy =30.60 21 July 1930 [25]
525 Sister Olive 30.49 10 August 1931 [26]
525 Queen of the Rock 30.40 6 May 1932 [27]
525 Maghereagh Soldier 30.37 17 May 1935 [28]
525 Maghereagh Soldier 30.25 29 May 1936 [29]
525 Morning Signal 30.16 7 October 1936 [30]
525 Myroe Roving Boy =30.12 June 1939 [31]
525 Braemar Monty 29.95 15 September 1939 [32]
525 S. M. Oddity 29.60 18 October 1940 National record[33]
525 Smartly Fergus =29.60 26 June 1945 McAlevey Gold Cup heats[34]
525 Priceless Border 29.54 23 May 1947 [35]
525 Ballymore Cottage 29.38 27 June 1947 Trigo Cup[36]
525 Coolkill Hero 29.36 4 June 1954 [37]
525 Dunmore King 29.36 4 May 1956 McAlevey Gold Cup semifinal[38]
525 Cautious Customer 29.19 14 September 1956 [39]
525 Nimble Star 28.98 30 May 1958 [40]
525 True Picture 28.97 2 June 1958 National record[22]
525 Dillies Pigalle 28.86 13 May 1966 McAlevey Gold Cup final, National record[41]
525 Kirkland Darkie 28.79 11 May 1970 National record, McAlevey Cup heats[42]
525 Jemmy John 28.61 26 June 1970 National record, Ulster Derby final[43]
550 Maghereagh Soldier 31.67 24 May 1935 Trigo Cup heats[44]
550 Maghereagh Soldier 31.50 31 May 1935 Trigo Cup semi-final[45]
550 Maghereagh Soldier 31.45 7 June 1935 Trigo Cup final[46]
550 Maghereagh Soldier 31.35 15 June 1936 Trigo Cup first round
550 Strong Mutton 31.28 11 June 1936 Trigo Cup semifinal[47]
550 Mazurka 30.98 30 April 1948 [48]
550 Racing Nig 30.60 31 July 1959 [49]
550 Racing Luck 30.54 1 August 1960 Ulster St Leger 2nd rd[22]
550 Normac Venture 30.53 22 May 1964 [50]
550 There's Hope 30.51 29 July 1964 Ulster St Leger[51]
550 Tom's Dog 30.48 13 August 1965 Ulster St Leger final[52]
550 Sulky Mac 30.38 7 August 1967 Ulster St Leger SF[53]
600 Moorland Rover 34.3-5 22 April 1929 [54]
600 Aughamore Lass 34.54 8 April 1938 [55]
600 Sullivan's Mild 34.31 30 April 1945 [56]
600 Smartly Fergus 33.99 15 June 1945 National record
600 Multiforbo 33.91 4 October 1957 [57]
600 Ashley Park Boy 33.60 11 July 1958 [58]
600 Ashley Park Boy 33.45 18 July 1958 [22]
600 Yellow Streak 33.40 28 September 1966 Ulster Cesarewitch heats[59]
600 Circular Grand 33.39 30 September 1966 Ulster Cesarewitch rd2[60]
600 Clahane Flash 33.38 9 June 1967 [61]
600 Fiery Sahara 33.36 21 August 1967 [62]
600 Itsamint 33.34 20 October 1969 Ulster Cesarewitch final[63]
600 Blissful Pride 32.90 4 October 1971 Ulster Cesarewitch 1st Rd
640 Dragon's Flight 37.3-5 9 September 1928 Trigo Cup heats[64]
640 Bright Bundle 37.12 17 May 1931 [65]
860 Clovis 52.20 11 October 1929 [66]
860 Ilene Darling 51.95 14 October 1931 [67]
860 Ilene Darling 51.55 30 October 1931 [65]
375 H Soft Slide 22.28 15 March 1935 [68]
375 H Neidin's Carnero 21.46 15 June 1936
525 H Flail 32.00 12 September 1930 [69]
525 H Macaroni 31.12 28 June 1935 [70]
525 H Magheragh Major 31.07 22 May 1936 [71]
525 H Nicotina 31.05 24 June 1938 [65]
550 H Neiden's Beautiful 32.70 10 September 1937 [65]
600 H Drumhaw 37.1-5 17 May 1929 [72]
600 H Flail 36.40 1930 [73]
600 H Another Circle 36.28 21 August 1936 [65]
  • H=Hurdles

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Belfast Celtic". Groundtastic. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d Genders, Roy (1975). The Greyhound and Racing Greyhound, page 98-100. Page Brothers (Norwich). ISBN 0-85020-0474.
  3. ^ a b c Genders, Roy (1981). The Encyclopedia of Greyhound Racing, page 279-282. Pelham Books Ltd. ISBN 07207-1106-1.
  4. ^ a b "Belfast's New Sport". Northern Whig. 19 April 1927. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Belfast Celtic Park Greyhound Stadium". Greyhound Derby. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  6. ^ Comyn, John. 50 Years of Greyhound Racing in Ireland. Aherlow Publishers Ltd. p. 26.
  7. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  8. ^ "All Those Aprils". Vol. 16, no. 4. Greyhound Star. 4 April 1998.
  9. ^ Barnes/Sellers, Julia/John (1992). Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-22-8.
  10. ^ "Track Records at Celtic Park". Belfast News-Letter. 18 May 1929. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Track Record equalled in Sprint Event". Belfast News-Letter. 29 April 1930. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ "Celtic Park results". Belfast News-Letter. 2 August 1930. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "Celtic Park Card". Belfast Telegraph. 7 September 1931. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ "You Have Me Ties With Record". Belfast News-Letter. 7 September 1931. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ "You Have Me Wins Trophy and Sets Up Record". Belfast News-Letter. 1 September 1934. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter. 24 September 1935. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^ "Lone Keel Wins Final and Sets up Track record". Belfast News-Letter. 19 September 1936. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. ^ "Celtic Park results". Belfast News-Letter. 25 October 1941. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ^ "Dog-Racing". Larne Times. 24 September 1942. Retrieved 14 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. ^ "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter. 10 July 1956. Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. ^ "Rito Breaks Celtic Track Record". Belfast News-Letter. 27 October 1962. Retrieved 14 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^ a b c d "Record Holders". Ireland's Saturday Night. 8 December 1962. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ^ "New Celtic Park record". Belfast News-Letter. 26 October 1965. Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ^ "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter. 11 September 1971. Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. ^ a b "the Stewards Cup final". Northern Whig. 8 August 1930. Retrieved 30 November 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. ^ "Scottish Champion breaks Celtic Park record". Northern Whig. 11 August 1931. Retrieved 30 November 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  27. ^ "Celtic Park record broken by Queen of the Rock". Belfast Telegraph. 7 May 1932. Retrieved 30 November 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  28. ^ "Three-year-old record Broken". Belfast News-Letter. 18 May 1935. Retrieved 30 November 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  29. ^ "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter. 30 May 1936. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  30. ^ "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter. 8 October 1936. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  31. ^ "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter. 22 June 1939. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  32. ^ "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter. 16 September 1939. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  33. ^ "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter. 19 October 1940. Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  34. ^ "Cormorant's Record Equalled at Celtic Park record". Belfast News-Letter. 15 September 1928. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  35. ^ "Record Broken at Celtic". Belfast Telegraph. 24 May 1947. Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  36. ^ "The Trigo Cup". Belfast News-Letter. 28 June 1947. Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  37. ^ "New Celtic Park Track Record". Northern Whig. 5 June 1954. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  38. ^ "New Celtic Record". Northern Whig. 5 May 1956. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  39. ^ "Race of the Century is definitely on". Ireland's Saturday Night. 15 September 1956. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  40. ^ "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter. 31 May 1958. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  41. ^ "Dillie's Pigalle storms home". Belfast News-Letter. 14 May 1966. Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  42. ^ "Monthly Greyhound Star (Remember When 1970) May edition". Greyhound Star.
  43. ^ "Jemmy John sets new record". Belfast Telegraph. 27 June 1970. Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  44. ^ "Track Record Broken in Trigo Cup Heat". Belfast News-Letter. 25 May 1935. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  45. ^ "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter. 1 June 1935. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  46. ^ "Trigo Cup Final at Celtic Park". Belfast Telegraph. 8 June 1935. Retrieved 26 November 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  47. ^ "New Record in Trigo Cup by Strong Mutton". Belfast News-Letter. 12 June 1937. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  48. ^ "Mazurka Breaks Celtic Record". Northern Whig. 1 May 1948. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  49. ^ "Amazing Success". Ireland's Saturday Night. 1 August 1959. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  50. ^ "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter. 23 May 1964. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  51. ^ "Thrilling Race at Celtic". Belfast News-Letter. 30 July 1964. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  52. ^ "Tom's Dog breaks record". Belfast News-Letter. 14 August 1965. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  53. ^ "Record at Celtic". Belfast News-Letter. 8 August 1967. Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  54. ^ "Rustic Martin Fancied". Northern Whig. 16 June 1933. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  55. ^ "Aughamore Lass wins in record time". Belfast News-Letter. 9 April 1938. Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  56. ^ "Sullivan's Mild breaks track record at Celtic". Northern Whig. 1 May 1945. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  57. ^ "Multiforbo makes 13th a record". Belfast Telegraph. 5 October 1957. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  58. ^ "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter. 12 July 1958. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  59. ^ "Record Holders". Belfast Telegraph. 8 December 1962. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  60. ^ "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter. 1 October 1966. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  61. ^ "Celtic results". Belfast News-Letter. 10 June 1967. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  62. ^ "Fiery Sahara sets up new track record". Belfast News-Letter. 22 August 1967. Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  63. ^ "Itsamint sets new record". Belfast News-Letter. 21 October 1969. Retrieved 18 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  64. ^ "Dragon's Flight's Performance". Northern Whig. 10 September 1929. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  65. ^ a b c d e "Drumskea Champion takes the Trigo Cup". Ireland's Saturday Night. 21 June 1958. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  66. ^ "Clovis establishes a Record for 860 yards distance". Belfast News-Letter. 12 October 1929. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  67. ^ "Celtic Park Programme". Belfast News-Letter. 16 October 1931. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  68. ^ "Celtic Park Results". Belfast News-Letter. 16 March 1935. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  69. ^ "Flail's Record". Northern Whig. 13 September 1930. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  70. ^ "A New Track Record". Belfast News-Letter. 29 June 1935. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  71. ^ "Magheragh Major Breaks Track Record". Belfast News-Letter. 23 May 1936. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  72. ^ "Track Records at Celtic Park". Belfast News-Letter. 18 May 1929. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  73. ^ "Greyhound Racing". Northern Whig. 11 July 1930. Retrieved 17 December 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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54°35′21″N 5°57′45″W / 54.589099°N 5.962551°W / 54.589099; -5.962551

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