The 12m euro Lifford greyhound stadium in Lifford, Eire, was opened on 11 September by TD minister for arts, sport and tourism John O’Donoghue.

The stadium, which is situated in Co.Donegal and has a capacity of 2500, will employ over 100 people and is around five minutes drive from Strabane.

With two restaurants and three bars situated throughout the venue, eight 50" plasma screens and over 140 25" tv screens have been installed at the site, to enable punters to keep an eye on what is happening on the track wherever they are.

Inter-track betting at Lifford will also be available and will transmit greyhound racing from Shelbourne Park and Harold’s Cross. Inter-track betting is a huge growth area for greyhound racing – The Irish Greyhound Board (IGB), which has 17 stadiums nationwide, has announced 70 per cent increase in inter-track betting nationwide for the first six months of 2003 alone.

The IGB has also predicted that attendance figures at greyhound stadiums in Ireland will exceed 1.1 million people by the end of 2003.

Owner of Lifford stadium, Hugh Duffy, said: "We can now offer racegoers the ultimate combined package of sport and entertainment which is unrivalled in the Donegal and Derry area. As well as attracting new people to the sport, we believe the improved venue will appeal to our traditional racing fans as we now offer the most up to date facilities and betting technology to ensure they get the most of their night out." Details: www.igb.ie