WHOEVER coined the phrase about faraway hills being greener certainly wasn’t from Killarney. We know that for a fact because while citizens of Kerry are renowned for a healthy dose of false modesty, there are some things they don’t downplay. Included in that list is their age-old superiority in football, recent setbacks notwithstanding, and the incomparable, breathtaking beauty of the landscape.

In the latter regard, Killarney bears comparison with anywhere in the world. If you were a racing fan and appreciated the aesthetics of a backdrop of rolling mountains, lush woodland, lakes and an historic castle, you could not craft a better setting than where Killarney Racecourse has resided for the past 80 years.