After six years at the helm of Killarney Racecourse and Ross Golf Course, Gerard Coughlan has stepped down as Chairman of Killarney Race Company.

PRESENTATION: Killarney Racecourse Board of Directors management and staff presented outgoing Chairman Gerard Coughlan (3rd right) and outgoing Secretary Con O'Mahony (1st right) with gifts for their long service of dedication to Killarney Race Company. From left: Terrence Mulcahy Padraig Bruton Pam Treacy Tadgh Kelly Niall Brosnan Philip O'Brien Áine O'Donoghue and Jennifer Pyne. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

He will however remain an active Director on the Board of Management. Leading property consultant, Billy O’Sullivan who has served as Vice Chairman for the duration of Coughlan’s term will take over the role of Chairman.

Gerard has embraced a great deal of change and unprecedented uncertainty. During this period his commitment has been unwavering as he guided Killarney Race Company through testing times and the business has not only survived but thrived as a result.

Incoming Chairman, Billy O’Sullivan has served on the board at Killarney Race Company for 15 years. A keen golfer and horse racing enthusiast, he is eager to hit the ground running in his new role.

“I am very much looking forward to working with the team and my fellow board members to build on the achievements of recent years," he said.

"I would like to thank our outgoing Chairman Gerard Coughlan and former company secretary Con O’Mahony in particular for their sterling work and dedication. In recent years we have expended in excess of €10m on capital development projects to enhance our offering at Killarney Racecourse. In 2022, we hosted 13 quality race days with €1.68m in prize money which encompassed 1,200 runners, over 91 races. We, as a team, are ambitious to build on the quality of our racing, increase prize money and the overall racegoer experience at Killarney.”

Killarney Race Company is a flourishing commercial enterprise. The most recent capital project has been the opening of the impressive new aesthetic entrance to Killarney Racecourse and Ross Golf Course.

“I am delighted to hand the reins over to Billy, it has been a tough few years without crowds at our track for almost two years but we have pulled through the pandemic well and maintained a healthy balance sheet," Gerard said.

"Billy’s family have been steeped in the history of the town, in fact his grandfather Dr Bill O’Sullivan Snr. was one of our founders. Billy and wife Hilary and their grown-up family live in Dublin but spend a great deal of time in Killarney, have a home here which they regularly frequent and they are very much part of the fabric of the local and sporting community here. Billy will be a wonderful asset to Killarney Race Company as Chairman and I look forward to continuing to work with him at board level.”