BORD NA GCON, the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB), has accepted a bid from the Department of Education for Harold’s Cross Stadium.
The Department hopes to use the site for educational purposes – requiring a change in zoning – but neither side has disclosed a sum being paid for the land.
Earlier this year it was announced that the iconic venue, which first opened in 1928, was to be sold as part of the IGB’s strategy to reduce its multi-million euro debt.
The Department said in a statement that the area of Dublin will need “significant increases at both primary and post-primary levels”, based on a demographic review.
The exact configuration of schools to be provided on the Harold’s Cross site will be informed by the outcome of this demographic review.
Phil Meaney, Chairman of the IGB said of the deal:
This decision brings to an end to a long and sometimes difficult process to sell one of our Dublin stadiums, which makes commercial and operational sense for the IGB. The board is well aware of the place that Harold’s Cross had amongst the greyhound community, particularly in Dublin. However I believe the sale will be of huge benefit to the industry as a whole.
The IGB, as a semi-state commercial body, will now be seeking the approval for the sale from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say