The first Point to Point races organised by the Liscarroll Race Committee  were on Monday the 26^th April 1954. However there are records indicating that race meetings have being held here as far back 1809. Prior to 1954 the races were held under the auspices of the Duhallow Hunt and this relationship was renewed in 1998. Today the races are run under I.N.H.S. Rules and auspices of  Duhallow Hunt Club.

           When the permit became available from Derrygallon Harrier Hunt it was decided to have the annual races again in Liscarroll so on the 22^nd of January 1954 a race committee was formed. Those present on the night are now considered to be the founders of the present race committee.  The committee at the time were:  

 

Chairman:  Jeremiah O’ Shaughnessy                 Vice–Chairman:  Comdt. Paddy O’ Brien

Hon. Sec.:  Tim Crimmins +  Pat Egan                Judges: Thos F. Bourke

Acting Stewards:   William Madden, Jas. Fleming

Clerk of Scales:  Jas Hurley                                  Clerk of Closure: Timothy O’Flynn

Starter: Paul Madden

 

Committee:  Tim Brosnan, J Nunan, Steve Purdon, Mce Fitzgibbon, Larry Coleman, Tom Coleman,

Morgan Madden, Pat Piggott, Dan Collins, Mark Stokes, P O’Brien (Sallypark), N Brislane, P Fitzgerald,

Wm Fitzgerald, Thomas Buckley, Jas O Brien, John Guiney, S Barrett, James Murphy, L Guerin,

K Scannell, Ed Norton, Tom Horgan, M Cagney, R Fitzgerald, Jas O Callaghan, Paddy Scannell,

Tim Fehin, L O Callaghan (Derrygallon) Ed O Brien, John Fitzgibbon, Joe McAulliffe, J Fehin,

Ed Keane, Garda J Casserley, R O Keefe and P O Shaughnessy.

 

           The races are held on the property of Pat O’ Brien, Knockardbane and The Donkey Sanctuary, The Rock. The racecourse itself is approximately 3 miles long, all grass with an unhindered view. Also there are 15 jumps in all. When the races started in 1954 there were five races with 32 horses, today  there are six races. All the races are called after local place names, i.e. The Liscarroll Plate, The Rockspring Plate, The Skimoge Plate, The Knockardbane Plate, The Castle Plate and the Duhallow Hunt Plate. In addition to the local plates each race has a perpetual cup, these are

 

Ben Duggan Cup                                         O’ Keeffe Cup

Committee Cup                                           Dr Tim Broderick

Liscarroll Cup                                              Sheehy Cup 

Duhallow Plate                                            O Brien Cup

 

           Each year there are approx. 4-5000 visitors to Liscarroll for the races and  every time they are treated to wonderful day out for the whole family. For  the avid race goer there between 25—35 bookies ready to take your wager. In 2003 thousands of people from around the country made it a record attendance and they also created a new course record for betting with the bookmakers of over €200,000. At the races in 1995 another record was set, Liscarroll hosted the biggest point-to-point in all of Ireland (180 runners in 11 races).

 

          The local committee officiates over most of the proceedings with a representative of the I.N.H.S. also officiating. The races could not be held without the committee who work tirelessly each year,  the Garda, the Civil Defence, Doctors, Vets, Landowners, Sponsors, and the parish as a whole. The races take approx three months to organise and about 2 weeks to get the course ready for racing.

 

Some famous horses, jockeys and trainers that have raced in Liscarroll include:

 

Horses:

“Another Excuse”                             “Nick Dundee”

“Timbera”    2003 Irish National Winner   

“His Song”  

 

Jockeys:

JJ Gordon, Wm O Sullivan, JT McNamara

Timmy O Callaghan , Timmy Murphy, Ted Walsh

Connie Vaughan

 

Trainers:

Fergie Sutherland, Eugene O Sullivan

Eddie O Grady,  Tom Costelloe

JJ Gordon,