Celtic Park

Celtic Park stood in Belfast as a large stadium that once held up to 50,000 spectators. It served both football and greyhound racing, with the football club Belfast Celtic calling it home until 1949. The stadium earned the nickname ‘Paradise’ from its football fans. After the football team dissolved in 1960, the stadium became firmly established as a greyhound track. Two bookmakers, Joe Shaw and Hugh McAlinden, opened the first greyhound track in Ireland here on Easter Monday 1927. The track quickly became a centre for greyhound racing in Ireland. The first winner was Mutual Friend, owned by Jim Tuite, who claimed victory on opening night. Competitions like the Trigo Cup and McAlevey Gold Cup were introduced, gaining classic status over time. The Irish St Leger, one of Ireland’s premier races, was hosted here in 1932 and 1943. The track also saw historic moments, such as Mick the Miller finishing third in 1928 and Spanish Battleship’s final race in 1955. Visitors to Celtic Park found a lively scene with greyhound races and live entertainment. The 55th Old Boys Silver Band played on opening night, and patrons could buy form guides for races. The track introduced an all-sand surface in 1980 after refurbishment. Racing continued until 1983, when the site was redeveloped into a shopping centre. Today, nothing remains of the stadium, but its history lives on in local memory.