Closure of Thurles Racecourse is a 'blow to backbone of community', TD says

Eva Osborne

TD for Tipperary North, Ryan O’Meara, has said the closure of Thurles Racecourse is a "blow to the backbone of the community" and is "another thread lost in the social fabric of Tipperary".

Thurles Racecourse, Ireland’s only privately-owned racecourse, announced its closure with immediate effect on Friday.

Riona Molony officially announced the Molony family’s decision to retire from racing at the Tipperary track.

Speaking on the closure, Ryan O'Meara said many people in Tipperary and beyond will feel a "real sense of loss" at the "sudden news".

"Thurles Racecourse always felt immovable, a constant presence in local life. It was something you could rely on being there, and now it’s gone. This is a very sad day for the community," he said.

The Molony family, who have run the racecourse for over a century, made the decision to close Thurles Racecourse with immediate effect. As a result, all fixtures scheduled for later in the year will no longer take place.

“For more than 100 years, the Molony family have provided what many in Tipperary and the wider racing community regarded as an institution," O'Meara said.

"It was a place that brought people together. Somewhere for those passionate about horse racing and for locals to meet, connect, and socialise.

“Thurles Racecourse was more than just a venue; it was part of our local identity. It will be sorely missed by horse racing fans and by the wider community who saw it as a gathering place.”

Announcing the racecourse's closure, Riona Molony said: “It has been an honour and a privilege for our family to have run Thurles Racecourse, and I am officially announcing our retirement today.

"We are very proud of the immense contribution our family has made to racing and we are most grateful to our extended racecourse family, our dedicated staff, generous sponsors, loyal patrons and the wider racing community for all your support.

"Horse-racing is part of the fabric of our family, and we have been very fortunate to have made so many great friends within the industry over the years. My family and I look forward to going racing with you again, as spectators.

“Since my beloved husband Pierce passed away in 2015, with the help of our four daughters Patricia, Helen, Ann Marie and Kate and our wonderful staff, we’ve managed to keep the show on the road and I know he would be very proud of us for that.

"The girls all have their own families, careers and lives to live. Ever increasing industry demands and the cost of doing business has also been a major factor."

Although, Thurles Racecourse is fully licenced to race until December 31st and has 11 prominent fixtures in the 2025/26 racing calendar, the Molony Family will not race again.

Riona said: “We’re going to enjoy this time together and relax now the decision is made and the news is out before we consider our options.”