No, not a reference to publicity campaigns of any of those ejected from the X Factor, but those doom and gloom merchants that have come out to criticise the plans for the new €500million casino/golf/horseracing/greyhound track near Thurles, as broken on this blog last week link to my story .
Don't get me wrong, there are many in support. Horse Racing Ireland is fully behind it, Thurles (horse)Racetrack has agreed to close down and support it. Aiden O'Brien and Johnny Murtagh are dead keen. The IGB Chairman and Chief Executive appreciate there is a lot to be done but have not spoken a negative word about it.
But there are the usual neersayers. This must be an Irish thing - if this was ahppening in the UK it would have universal support (with the exception of anti racing and gambling groups). These 'disenfranchised' parties are best ignored. If you talk something down enough it could become a reality. However the constant barracking of the IGB's plans to build a brand new state of the art greyhound track in Limerick have come to nothing, and the new track is beginning to take shape as you can see from the picture below.
The bottom line is the casino legislation is the stumbling block for the development in Thurles.
The Irish correspondent for the Racing Post called the new development a white elephant - and some of the gimps that purport to moderate on GData were equally dismissive, maybe because it is not the brainchild of their hero Paschal Taggart, who wrote "Bearing in mind that i am totally prejudiced against the present board because of their total betrayal of Michael Foley here is my predictions of the future of Irish Greyhound Racing; The Tipperary venture has zero chance of success because the population is just not there.
Radio Station Newstalk was more enthusiastic than most.
Plans for a €460 million cultural, sporting and leisure development proposed for North Tipperary have been unveiled today.
The Tipperary Venue, which is to be located on an 800 acre site close to the Tipperary village of Two-Mile-Borris, is the brainchild of Dublin-based businessman Richard Quirke. He is best known as the creative force behind Dr. Quirkey’s Good Time Emporium.
It is expected that 1,000 people will be employed annually over the three years of construction with a further 2,000 full time jobs on the site to be created thereafter.
The Tipperary Venue aims to become an international meeting place for leaders in the fields of sport, leisure and entertainment.
The Tipperary Venue will comprise of a number of elements including a state-of-the-art racecourse which will include a National Hunt Track, a Sprint Track and an All Weather Flood Lit Track.
This is combined with a Greyhound track featuring a Dual stadium with a comfortable capacity for 7,000 patrons.
These elements have received the support of both Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish Greyhound Board.
The centrepiece of the project will be provided by an academic reconstruction of the White House in Washington as it stood in its original form in 1829. It will be known as ‘The Hoban Memorial’ in homage to Irishman James Hoban who designed the original Pennsylvania Avenue building as a banqueting hall.
The planned replica has received the support of The White House Historical Association in Washington.
A Casino will also be incorporated in a 500-room five-star Hotel.
The casino is said to offer internationally recognised gaming, and also be readily controlled.
In addition, a 15,000-seater underground entertainment venue will feature in the Tipperary Venue development.
“The scale and ambition of this planned complex stands unrivalled anywhere in Europe”, according to a statement from the promoter.
Speaking at the launch of the project, Independent TD for Tipperary North, Michael Lowry said: “This pioneering development is the most ambitious project undertaken in recent times. This is an extraordinary exceptional project.”
He added “It is an exciting unique concept with enormous potential. After a year that has seen the loss of almost 16,000 jobs in the mid-west region alone, this development is a vital lifeline to the economy of North Tipperary”.
Industry leaders have also welcomed the announcement.
Chief Executive of HRI, Brian Kavanagh said: “We have been presented with the plans for the ‘Tipperary Venue’ and are impressed with their ambition. We wish the promoters well, and look forward to working with them on the racing aspects of the development”.
The Promoter and Horse Racing Ireland are very conscious of the history and tradition of racing at Thurles racecourse under the management of the Molony family. Discussions have taken place with the Molony family and an understanding has been reached on a transition process.
Denis Desmond from MCD Productions commented, “I welcome the introduction of a state of the art regional entertainment venue in Ireland. The prospect of having a tremendous entertainment facility accessible to the whole country with such ease is very exciting. I look forward to a return Trip to Tipp.”
The Irish Examiner's Pat Keane was fairly balanced
IRELAND could have a new state-of-the-art racecourse by the spring of 2013.
The course, which will be based on an 800 acre site close to the Tipperary village of Two-Mile-Borris, will include both a National Hunt track and an all-weather flood-lit surface and will form part of a massive €460m investment announced at the Horse and Jockey Hotel near Thurles yesterday.
It is envisaged that it will be a Grade 1 track and also due to be built is a Premier greyhound facility on what will be called The Tipperary Venue.
Both Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish Greyhound Board are understood to support the plans.
There is a great need for a National Hunt course which can race through the winter, and this will be ‘unfloodable’, according to architect, Brian O’Connell. He said the track will be built a metre above the ground and ‘will be better than anything seen before’.
Legendary trainer Aidan O’Brien described the impressive presentation as "amazing, mind-blowing".
He continued: "It’s what the world has been waiting for, we will be able to hold the Breeders’ Cup at this track. Everyone knows how hard it is becoming, with the weather, to race here in the summer and winter.
"This will be an all-weather with grass and the whole project will be good for the economy. It is a phenomenal project and just what the Irish racing industry needs. It will be fantastic to have a world-class facility in Co Tipperary and I eagerly await having many runners there."
Ballydoyle number one jockey, Johnny Murtagh added: "These are fantastic plans. We are supposed to have the best horses, jockeys and trainers in the country and now we are going to have the best racecourse."
Chief Executive of HRI, Brian Kavanagh, said: "We have been presented with the plans for The Tipperary Venue and are impressed with their ambition. We wish the promoters well and look forward to working with them on the racing aspects of the development."
It is estimated the racecourses will cost in the region of €50m and will be broadly based on the Leopardstown model.
As well as the courses and greyhound track there are many other aspects to what promises to be an extraordinary development.
The magnificent site, alongside the M8 motorway, between Dublin and Cork, will also become home to a 500 room five-star hotel and a casino.
The government has initiated a complete policy review and a redrafting of the current legislation on gaming in Ireland. It is hoped this will provide for the licensing of gaming casinos in the country. There are further plans for an 18-hole golf course, driving range, retail outlets, equestrian centre, timber chapel and a heliport.
The Tipperary Venue is the brainchild of Thurles-born Dublin-based businessman, Richard Quirke.
He is best known as the creative force behind Dr Quirkey’s Good Time Emporium and also has a wide variety of successful business ventures.
"It’s an opportunistic time to do this, if you wanted to do it three or four years ago it would probably cost 40% more," said Quirke who has reportedly invested €30m in the project.
Close to another €500m has to be found with independent TD for North Tipperary, Michael Lowry, who has been closely associated with the project from the start revealing that: "they will not be relying on the banking sector for investment."
Should planning permission be granted, and that is due to lodged with North Tipperary Co Council this morning, work will begin on the site in the spring of next year.
It is expected that 1,000 people will be employed annually for the three years of construction and a further 2,000 full-time jobs will be created thereafter.
Fair play to whoever is behind this for giving it a go, a top class facility generating a pile of jobs, what's not to like!
Posted by: Ken | Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 20:25
have the plans here in front of - unbelievable
will scan and post at weeekend
Posted by: Johnny Moyles | Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 21:29