History Dundalk is derived originally from the Great Fortress, now called the Moat of Castletown, which was the residence of Cuchullin, the legendary hero and chief of the Red Branch Knights in the first century. This 'Dun-deal-gan' was the fortress of Delga, a Firbolg chief who had originally built it. The racecourse, founded in the early part of this century is in a lovely setting at the foot of the Cooley Mountains and beside Carlingford Lough.
In 1999, Dundalk Race Company PLC and Dundealgan Greyhound Racing Company Limited merged to form Dundalk Racing (1999) Ltd. Dundalk Racing (1999) Ltd is the company responsible for the management and operation of Dundalk Stadium Racecourse.
Dundalk Racecourse covers approximately 159 acres, extending from the Dundalk inner relief road to the west, and the tidal estuary of the Black Water and Dundalk Bay to the east. Dundalk Stadium is strategically located just off the main M1/N1, 45 minutes from Dublin and 60 minutes from Belfast. The Dundalk Inner Relief road has considerably raised the profile of the racecourse, making it clearly visible from the main Dublin-Belfast road. However, more important is the opening of the motorway bypassing Drogheda and Swords, thus allowing patrons from as far as southwest Dublin to travel to Dundalk entirely on motorways.
There has been a tradition of racing at Dundalk for over 100 years - horse racing since 1889 and greyhound racing since 1930. However, by the late 1990's the facilities at Dundalk racecourse were in need of major redevelopment and substantial investment in order to sustain and develop racing at Dundalk.
The greyhound track officially opened in February 2004 costing €11m. The all-weather horse track officially opened on 26th August 2007 costing a further €24m. The newly refurbished €35m Dundalk Stadium is the most modern entertainment venue in the North East.
