LISTOWEL Races committee member Pat Healy is “buzzing” following a great Harvest Festival which ends today [Saturday].

The attendance on Kerry National day was reported to be 26,000 and a similar figure was expected yesterday for Ladies Day. Thursday’s attendance was approximately 18,000 and today’s finale should also attract in the region of that number.

It comes less than a year after Listowel suffered huge storm damage. Last November Storm Bert brought floods to much of the Co Kerry town and destroyed some facilities at the track. It required major investment to repair the damage.

Speaking before racing on Friday, Healy said: “This was an important Festival for for us. We are a non-profit organisation and all our profits go back into the facilities. The flood cost us well into six figures to put everything right. The gravel in the stable yard had washed away, the ambulance road on the inside of the track had to be repaired. The walkway from The Square entrance over to the racetrack had to be repaired. It’s all concrete and tarmacadam and it’s costly.

“It kind of depressed us but, look, we’re back on an even keel and that’s why we’re delighted that this week was such a success.”

The economic impact of the Festival is also being felt, he said. “The town has done great. Accommodation has been busy. The surrounding villages and towns are busy. We’re getting compliments from people from up the country and across the water about the atmosphere here. This is Maurice Carroll’s first year as chairman, and it’ll be a Festival to remember for him.”

Healy acknowledged that the admission price for senior citizens was increased by €5 this year (see letter on page 11). Healy explained: “Because of the storm damage we had to make money this year. One of the things we did was to increase the ticket prices for senior citizens from €20 to €25. One pensioner did challenge me on it but even he admitted that a lot of senior citizens have more disposable cash than younger people. I’d also add that there were loads of deals available online in advance.”

Healy paid tribute to the work done by track foreman Dan O’Connell and clerk of the course Paul Moloney. “They’re doing a magnificent job. Everybody was complimentary about the ground, which is awful important, once the horsemen are happy. Three years ago we spent €250,000 on drainage and it is payng off now. We also retain an agronomist who keeps an eye on things every six months.

“For the three weeks leading up to the Festival, we had buckets of rain every day. Seven inches of rain. But we haven’t had a shower of rain since we started racing last Sunday. You couldn’t have wrote away for it.”

Asked if the racegoers this week were racing fans or just holidaymakers, Healy said: “I would say it’s a majority racing crowd because kids are back at school. I’m seeing faces I haven’t seen since Punchestown, so I definitely feel it’s a racing crowd.”