Fundraising efforts to commemorate 1752 race

A group of trainers from the south have given their enthusiastic support to a project to commemorative the race which took place in 1752, which is widely recognised as marking the start of national hunt racing and point-to-pointing.

The Doneraile Steeplechase committee is working towards erecting a suitable monument to mark the locality's strong connection to the great sporting event when Edmund Blake and Cornelius O'Callaghan raced from the church steeple in Buttevant to the church steeple in Doneraile over a four-and-a-half-mile cross-country course.

The monument will be erected in sight of the church where the race finished.

The committee’s pre-planning application to Cork County Council was met with a very favourable and encouraging response, and they are in discussion with a number of sculptors, with the next step requiring them to make a decision on bronze or limestone.

The overall cost of the project will be upwards of one hundred thousand euro, depending on material used and planning constraints. This will be an expensive project requiring financial help from all racing bodies in the country.

The committee are hoping that the racing fraternity will assist them with the financial support to bring this project to a successful conclusion.

For more information, please contact Mary Cronin, secretary of the Doneraile Steeplechase Committee on 086-1701351.