Tag Archives: Harold’s Cross

From top: IGB logo; the site of the former greyhound stadium in Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6; a valuation of the site by the Valuation Office and one taken by Savills

This morning.

In The Times Ireland edition.

Seán McCárthaigh reported that the €23 million the Government paid to buy the former greyhound stadium in Harold’s Cross, Dublin was “almost twice the value placed on it by consultants acting for its owners”.

In documents obtained by Mr McCárthaigh, under the Freedom of Information Act, he has found that…

On Monday, March 20, 2017…

Savills carried out a valuation of the site for the Irish Greyhound Board – which owned the site – and valued it at €10million to €12million.

Subsequent to Savills’ valuation, but also in March 2017,  the Irish Greyhound Board’s directors “expressed ‘disappointment’ at Savills’ valuation at a board meeting”.

Then, on Friday, April 10, 2017…

The Valuation Office inspected the site of the former greyhound stadium on Harold’s Cross Road, Dublin 6 – at the request of the Department of Education – and they valued it at €23million.

The sale of the site to the Department of Education for €23million was agreed in May 2017.

Mr McCárthaigh reports:

“The Department of Education bought the land at Harold’s Cross last year from the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB) to build much-needed schools in an area of Dublin with a growing young population.

“The department agreed to pay €23 million, but records obtained by a freedom of information request show that Savills, the estate agents working for the greyhound board, had valued the land at €12 million if it was going to be used for housing and €6 million without any change to its zoning status as land for recreational amenities.

“Land used for schools would generally cost the same or less than land used for housing.

At the time IGB, otherwise known as Bord na gCon, had debts of more than €21 million and the money provided by the department exceeded this amount.”

Good times.

Government ‘paid double for Harold’s Cross race track’ (Seán McCárthaigh, The Times Ireland edition)

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This afternoon.

Supporters, greyhound trainers and greyhounds protesting outside Leinster House against the proposed sale of Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium, Dublin 6w.

According to today’s Racing Post:

The Irish Greyhound Board, under pressure to reduce debt, has been advised via a report from Indecon to do so by selling Harold’s Cross and transfer all Dublin operations to Shelbourne Park. The Cross is said to face closure within two years…

Michael O’Keeffe, chairman of the Dublin Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association, sez:

“Harold’s Cross is a viable and important part of the greyhound industry.It’s been particularly busy there recently, and on Friday nights they’re out the door, the crowds are simply that good.In our view Shelbourne and Harold’s Cross, together, keep the rest of the greyhound business in Ireland going – and it makes no sense to close one part of such a successful facility…”

(Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)

Screen Shot 2015-05-14 at 12.20.32The 45th Mount Argus scout troop HQ (above), Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6 (above) and container (top)

They took all the woggles.

Achille Martone writes:

I’m a scout leader for the 45th Mount Argus in Harold’s Cross. On Thursday April 23, between 11am-1pm, a shipping container packed full of all of our equipment was stolen. The whole container! The estimated worth of equipment is €20,000 to €25,000.

The financial loss is not the important issue is. We’re one of the last youth clubs in the area and have been left highly under-resourced by this heinous theft. This has and will impact the scout group for a number of years.

We have 100+ youths, aged from 6-17, and are one of the longest running groups in the country (est. 1929). If anyone saw a shipping container on the back of a flat bed truck going around Dublin on Thursday, April 23, or that weekend, any help would be much appreciated. There was a large logo on the side with CAI much like the one above. The serial on it is 247880. Thank you.

Anyone?

bombHarolds

Haroldss

 

Pics:  Stephen Doyle, Andrew Nadin and Isobel Butler

UPDATE:

bomb1bomb2Kate Byrne writes:

The suspicious device  seems to have been a bottle with tape on it…