Grooms Rachel Robins and Steven Cahill with trainer Willie Mullins lead Aintree Grand National Winner I Am Maximus across the bridge in Leighlinbridge Photo: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
By Sarah Slater
A NATIONAL racing museum should be set up by Carlow County Council, it is claimed by Fianna Fáil councillor Arthur McDonald.
Cllr McDonald said the county has “a real gem” in Bagenalstown and Leighlinbridge and “it goes back a long time, and that is Closutton (horse racing training yard). The WP Mullins story.”
The Bagenalstown-based councillor explained that 17 years ago, the town had a horse racing museum and “the top people of Ireland came from all over … up to 800 people visited”.
Cllr McDonald continued: “I can go back as far as 1980, when my father won in the Cheltenham Festival … Danoli and Dawn Run did the same. I think there’s a major opportunity here for a racing museum. We are really in the heart of it.
“The roads up to Closutton need immediate attention as so many people from all over the world go there. Willie Mullins has won 100 races in Cheltenham, which no-one has ever done before, and he’s likely now to win the Irish championship and the British championship.
“If Mr Mullins is asked to go to any event in Bagenalstown and Leighlinbridge, he is the first one to turn up. Any community event that’s on, he is there. This is a golden opportunity for Carlow County Council to push tourism out to the limit. We could bring a lot of money in from all over Ireland, Europe and the world. The opportunity is all ours. I hope Carlow Tourism and the council’s CEO take this on.”
Eileen O’Rourke, CEO of Carlow Tourism responded: “Arthur’s point is very interesting. It was discussed as part of the Tourist Development Strategy and what is on our doorstep.”
