Leopardstown’s Next Chapter
Thu Jan 29 2026
Let us know what’s on your mind
A rare thing in a capital city: a marquee sporting venue that grows with the community rather than giving way to it. We sit down at Leopardstown Racecourse with Paul Dermody, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland’s racecourses division, to unpack how Dublin’s only racecourse secured its future while unlocking land for 850–1,000 social and affordable homes. The story begins with a proactive masterplan, gathers momentum through the Housing for All strategy, and lands on a precise 17-acre parcel beside the Luas and M50—meeting housing goals without sacrificing a world-class track.
We explore the legal and planning foundations that made it possible, from Schedule II protections to Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown’s development plans that call out Leopardstown’s role in community, tourism, and enterprise. Then we move into what the campus can become: safer horse-walk routes, expanded capacity beyond the current 18,500 cap, upgraded owners’ and trainers’ facilities, and a more open, permeable site. Think greenways and cycleways that link Sandyford and local schools, seven-day social spaces that invite people beyond race days, and long-discussed infrastructure finally activated—an existing but unopened Luas platform, plus a proposed M50 bridge to ease access.
We also talk timelines and market appetite. Short-term improvements will be visible within 18–24 months. Pre-market consultations will test operators’ interest in hotels, arenas, and conference venues, feeding a sustainable financial model for the campus. Planning for major builds is targeted from 2027, while the LDA aims to break ground around 2030, reflecting the real-world pace of utilities and permissions. Through it all, the vision stays clear: protect the green heart, keep elite racing in the capital, and create a vibrant hub where Dubliners can work, play, and gather.
If you care about the future of sport, city growth, and smart public land use, this conversation is a must. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves racing or urban planning, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find us.
Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com
We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects.
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport.
Our upcoming live events, including our League of Ireland Breakfast at Grant Thornton on February 4th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.
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Let us know what’s on your mind A rare thing in a capital city: a marquee sporting venue that grows with the community rather than giving way to it. We sit down at Leopardstown Racecourse with Paul Dermody, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland’s racecourses division, to unpack how Dublin’s only racecourse secured its future while unlocking land for 850–1,000 social and affordable homes. The story begins with a proactive masterplan, gathers momentum through the Housing for All strategy, and lands on a precise 17-acre parcel beside the Luas and M50—meeting housing goals without sacrificing a world-class track. We explore the legal and planning foundations that made it possible, from Schedule II protections to Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown’s development plans that call out Leopardstown’s role in community, tourism, and enterprise. Then we move into what the campus can become: safer horse-walk routes, expanded capacity beyond the current 18,500 cap, upgraded owners’ and trainers’ facilities, and a more open, permeable site. Think greenways and cycleways that link Sandyford and local schools, seven-day social spaces that invite people beyond race days, and long-discussed infrastructure finally activated—an existing but unopened Luas platform, plus a proposed M50 bridge to ease access. We also talk timelines and market appetite. Short-term improvements will be visible within 18–24 months. Pre-market consultations will test operators’ interest in hotels, arenas, and conference venues, feeding a sustainable financial model for the campus. Planning for major builds is targeted from 2027, while the LDA aims to break ground around 2030, reflecting the real-world pace of utilities and permissions. Through it all, the vision stays clear: protect the green heart, keep elite racing in the capital, and create a vibrant hub where Dubliners can work, play, and gather. If you care about the future of sport, city growth, and smart public land use, this conversation is a must. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves racing or urban planning, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find us. Find out more about what we do day in day out at Sportforbusiness.com We publish a daily news bulletin and host regular live events on a wide range of sporting subjects. Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts from, and look forward to more upcoming chats on leadership and the business of sport. Our upcoming live events, including our League of Ireland Breakfast at Grant Thornton on February 4th, as well as plenty more, are live on the Sport for Business website, and we'd love to have you join us.