Des Scahill and Joe Collins with the Laytown Races history.

Book to mark 150 years of Laytown Races

Laytown Strand’s 2018 race meeting on Thursday 6th September marks 150 years of racing on the County Meath beach. 

To mark this special anniversary, Laytown’s race committee is launching a commemorative book ‘Laytown Strand Races, celebrating 150 years’ in the Glenside Hotel in Julianstown, on Tuesday, 14th August  at 7.30pm.  RTÉ racing pundit and racehorse trainer Ted Walsh and legendary racing commentator Des Scahill have been confirmed as guests and will share their Laytown races memories and stories with the audience. The launch event is free to attend.

Written by racing enthusiast John Kirwan and edited by Fiona Ahern, the book is packed with interviews, anecdotes, recollections, reminiscences and historical facts about Laytown Races. 

John, who was born on the fringes of Bellewstown Racecourse, is in charge of keeping the Bellewstown track in order throughout the year.  He also knows Laytown well as he assists in the laying out of the racetrack there each September.  He spent last winter researching and compiling statistics and interviewing jockeys, trainers and owners who had participated in the Laytown Races over the years.  The result is a beautiful book with stunning photography, which also includes a round-up of all the racing held at Laytown since 1945 and an invaluable statistics section from 1919 onwards. John also wrote ‘300 Years of Racing at Bellewstown’ in 2013.

Joe Collins, Chairman of Laytown Races said: “John and Fiona have put tremendous work into ‘Laytown Strand, celebrating 150 years’. The book is a brilliant read and a great memento to celebrate our milestone anniversary. We are honoured to have Ted Walsh and Des Scahill attend our launch and hear their racing stories. Everyone is welcome and we are looking forward to a great night in the Glenside Hotel on August 14.”

‘Laytown Strand Races, celebrating 150 years’ retails at €20. It will be available to buy at the launch in the Glenside Hotel, at Laytown’s race meeting on September 6 and is available from Laytown Race Committee c/o Kevin Coleman, Bellewstown Racecourse Office, Bellewstown, Drogheda, County Meath.