STORM TRACKER: Follow 'Storm Amy' as it bears down on Ireland amid brutal forecast
Search
06 Sept 2025
Search
06 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Pictured at the opening of 'The Robe' stablestaff restaurant
Ballinrobe Racecourse proudly opened its state-of-the-art stable staff restaurant, aptly named 'The Robe,' on Tuesday.
The new facility was officially opened by CEO of the Irish Stable staff Association, Bernard Caldwell.
In attendance at the opening were representatives from Ballinrobe Racecourse, Tobin, Sheridan Contractors and Lydon House Catering.
Ballinrobe Racecourse won the prestigious Racecourse Award at the 2024 Irish Thoroughbred Employee Industry Awards, supported by Godolphin. The prize money from this award was directly invested into the construction of 'The Robe' restaurant, further enhancing the support and care for the invaluable stable staff.
John Flannelly, racecourse manager, spoke of the importance of The Robe restaurant, and said stable staff, grooms, trainers and jockeys are’ the backbone of our industry’, and so should bbe taken care off when travelling ‘such distances’.
“'The Robe' restaurant is a testament to our commitment to their comfort and well-being. Seeing this project come to fruition has been incredibly rewarding. We are proud to offer such an exceptional facility and hope that stable staff enjoy it for years to come,” added Mr Flannelly.
In his opening speech, Chief Executive of the Irish Stable Staff Association, Bernard Caldwell, expressed his gratitude for the new facility, and thanked the racecourse manager and directors for providing’ a beautiful restaurant for our grooms’.
He continued: “This is likely the best grooms' restaurant in the country, and a lot of thought went into its creation. A special thanks to racecourse manager, John Flannelly and chairman Kenneth Murphy. I look forward to many visits to this wonderful restaurant.”
The Robe represents a significant investment in the well-being and comfort of the stable staff who play a crucial role in the success of the racing industry. The facility is designed to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment for those who work tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring that their contributions are recognised and valued.
For more information about Ballinrobe Racecourse and upcoming events, please visit Ballinrobe Racecourse's website.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
