KILLARNEY’S three-day May meeting kicks off tomorrow (Sunday) and there are exciting plans to enhance facilities at the racecourse and foster stronger bonds with the local business community.

These are the priorities for Gerard Coughlan, the new chairman of Killarney Race Company. The former senior manager with Kerry Group has taken over at the helm from auctioneer John Buckley.

A new, state-of-the-art 54-unit stable yard will be officially unveiled by the Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed prior to the first race on Sunday. Built at a cost of €350,000, the American barn style development is in addition to the recently upgraded existing stables.

Coughlan said his main aim as chairman will be to work more closely with the local business community and to develop stronger ties between the town and the racecourse.

“The races have a great deal to contribute to Killarney with the three annual festivals bringing 80 races over a total of 11 days,” he said. “The conservative estimate is that the races are worth in the region of €6.2 million to Killarney, with an additional €1.42 million in prize money.”

Coughlan continued: “My aim is to secure extra racing for the town, whether it’s by adding on days to the three festivals we have already or opting for a new stand-alone festival. There might be some merit, for example, in adding a fifth day to the four-day July festival or maybe introducing a new meeting in October.”

He believes Killarney can be developed along the lines of the hugely successful Galway Festival as the infrastructure is already in place.

“The track is great and the on-course facilities are excellent with a lot of effort gone into the course management over the past 15 years. The standard is right up there and the potential is massive,” he said.

Coughlan is acutely aware that the facilities offer great scope for attracting non-racing events to the town and the Ross Road landmark already plays host to major conferences, nightly entertainment shows, an active racegoers’ club and private functions as well as a nine-hole golf course, within easy walking distance of town.

John Buckley stepped down as chairman of Killarney Race Company after a successful 13-year term and Coughlan is joined by two new joint vice-chairpersons, former Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce president, Kate O’Leary, and Dublin-based Billy O’Sullivan, a son of the Phyllis and the late Dr William O’Sullivan from Killarney.

Long-serving director and Turf Club member Con O’Mahony is the newly appointed company secretary.