Who set up the Curragh racecourse?

Answer 1

There are stories told that from the very first race that took place on the Curragh around the early 1700s. The word "Curragh" means place of the running horse. It comes from the Irish language word Cuirreach, meaning "racecourse". As early as the third century there was Chariot Racing on the Curragh. This is well documented. In 1865 a commission was set up by the house of parliament to examine the Curragh, and the resultant 1868 Curragh of Kildare act settled the right of common pasture, and preserved the use of the Curragh for the purpose of horse racing and training.