BAR 1 BETTING IRISH GREYHOUND LAURELS SET FOR EXCITING RETURN TO CURRAHEEN PARK

GRI

The countdown is on to one of Irish greyhound racing's most prestigious competitions following the official launch of the BAR 1 Betting Irish Greyhound Laurels at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium on Monday, 14th September.

A cornerstone of the Irish racing calendar, the Laurels has long been regarded as one of the sport's premier events, attracting many of the country's leading greyhounds and racing enthusiasts to Cork each year. The 2026 renewal promises another thrilling series when the competition gets underway on Saturday, 27th September, culminating in the final on Saturday 17th October, that will once again be broadcast live on Virgin Media Television, with coverage hosted by Ivan Yates and Ian Fortune.

The image shows 3 men standing on the sand track at Curraheen Park, the man in the middle is holding a commerative crystal trophy and the man on the right is holding a circular disc with the logo for the 2026 Bar 1 Betting Irish Laurels in Curraheen Park

The continued sponsorship of the competition by BAR 1 Betting follows the success of the recent BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk Stadium. The sponsorship was secured through the efforts of the Friends of Curraheen Park, who partnered with BAR 1 Betting two years ago to support and grow one of Cork's most cherished sporting events.

Speaking ahead of the opening round, BAR 1 Betting CEO Barney O'Hare said, "We're delighted to once again support the Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park. Last year's competition really captured the imagination, not only of the sporting public in Cork, who are such fantastic supporters of the event every year, but of the wider public too, with David and Paudie Clifford's Solo And Go reaching the final”, he continued, "To have Virgin Media once again committing to broadcast the final is fantastic news, and we're proud to play our part in continuing to support Irish greyhound racing, particularly off the back of another thrilling BAR 1 Betting Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk Stadium. Between the Sprint Cup, Irish Derby and the Laurels, this is such an exciting period in the calendar for lovers of the sport, and we can't wait for the competition to get underway."

Welcoming the launch of the competition, Greyhound Racing Ireland CEO Tim Lucey thanked Barney O’Hare, BAR 1 Betting and the Friends of Curraheen Park for their support. "The Irish Laurels is one of the great sporting events in Cork and a competition with a proud tradition within Irish greyhound racing. We are extremely grateful to BAR 1 Betting for their continued commitment to the event and to greyhound racing generally”, he continued, "I would also like to acknowledge the invaluable role played by the Friends of Curraheen Park, whose efforts and partnership with BAR 1 Betting have helped ensure the continued success of this iconic competition over the past two years.

Image shows a group of people standing on the sand track at Curraheen Park launching the 2026 BAR 1 Betting Irish Laurels

With substantial prize money, national television coverage and a rich history stretching back decades, the BAR 1 Betting Irish Greyhound Laurels continues to hold a special place in Irish greyhound racing. Racing enthusiasts can look forward to several weeks of high-quality action as the journey begins towards what promises to be a memorable final night at Curraheen Park.

The trap draw for the 2026 BAR 1 Betting Irish Greyhound Laurels takes place on Monday 21st September at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium with the opening round on Saturday 27th September and the final on Saturday 17th October.