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Mondello Park, still Ireland's only proper race track, will get a TV documentary marking its 50th birthday next month. Golden Mondello - From Grass to Glory was commissioned by the late, great Martin Birrane just before he sadly passed away last year. Birrane, owner of both Lola Cars and Mondello itself, was the driving force behind the expansion of and improvements to the track over the last two decades.
Mondello originally began to emerge from a 115-acre grass site, just near the village of Caragh, Co. Kildare, in 1968. Originally it was just 0.8 of a mile long, and really nothing much more than a rough track marked out in the grass, with a tiny handful of competitors for those first few events.
Mondello had its troubles in the early years when a lack of investment hampered progress. It had to be financially rescued more than once. And, it was not until it was bought by Ballina-born, UK based, property owner and successful amateur racing driver, Martin Birrane, that it developed into a racing facility with the best of pits and paddocks, alongside a remarkable museum.
Nowadays, Mondello Park has a racing school, corporate suites, support from the motor industry and a busy competition schedule. Birrane's purpose in buying into it, and spending many millions of his own money during development, was to encourage local talent, to provide safe yet challenging facilities in addition to local employment and even local tourism. Birrane also wanted to develop the international aspect.
Mondello Park has been graced by many international stars down the years, like world champions Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, James Hunt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Joey Dunlop, Mike Hailwood and many more. Senna was even sensationally challenged by a local driver when he raced there in 1982.
But the real success of the facility has been the development of local Irish talent. The list is impressive starting with John Watson, Derek Daly, Kenny Acheson, David Kennedy, Eddie Jordan, Tommy Byrne, Michael Roe and many more. Daly and Kennedy went to Western Australia, where they worked in the murky mines in order to fund their Mondello activities.
That rought, 0.8-mile track has expanded into a tricky, technical, but fast 3.5km 'International Circuit' which has carved out quite the global reputation for itself. "Race well and win at Mondello, and you can race and win anywhere in the world." The words of none other than Jackie Stewart.
The documentary, which will screen on RTE One on Bank Holiday Monday, June 3rd, at 6.30pm, will include a mixture of interviews and archive footage, and will be a fitting celebration of Ireland's only race circuit.
Watch the trailer for the documentary here:
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