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| Mondello Park |
‘Golden Mondello - From Grass to Glory’ will be broadcast on RTE at 6.30pm on Bank Holiday Monday, 3 June, writes Trish Whelan.
The one hour documentary, commissioned by Mondello’s owner Martin Birrane before he died last year, celebrated 50 years of Irish Motorsport at the famous Irish motor racing track at Mondello Park outside Naas in Co Kildare which is Ireland’s only internationally accepted racing circuit for cars and motor-cycles.
It was started by enterprising enthusiasts who recognised, because of competitor safety, that the days of traditional road racing were near an end. That era started near Athy, Co Kidare in 1903 with the staging of the highly successful and much acclaimed Gordon Bennett International.
As well as being the story of Mondello Park, it is a dedication to the man who invested much money making the circuit stand proudly as an internationally recognised facility for cars, motor cycles, karting, drifting and rallycross.
What started as an 0.8 mile short circuit, with few facilities and a limited number of competitors, progressed over the past 50 years into a properly run facility with an amazing number of home-grown competitors - a fitting place for budding racers.
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 (pictured), that it developed into a racing facility with the best of pits and paddocks, alongside a remarkable museum. His 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. He also wanted to develop the international aspect.
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| Ayrton Senna at Mondello |
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.
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| First race at Mondello Park |
The real success of the facility has been the development of local Irish talent such as John Watson, Derek Daly, Kenny Acheson, David Kennedy, Eddie Jordan, Tommy Byrne, Michael Roe and others.
Nowadays, Mondello Park has a racing school, corporate suites, support from the motor industry and a busy competition schedule.
The documentary visits the internationally renowned Irish race track and reveals the many captivating stories behind it, since the 110 acres of farmland was cut open in 1968 to the present day, 50 eventful years later where the speeds have increased and the sport has evolved technically.
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| Top Irish drivers |
Former Irish F1 driver Derek Daly said: “It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Mondello Park changed my life” while Eddie Jordan said: “What Mondello has delivered for motorsport in Irish history has been simply sensational.”
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| Eddie Jordan |
The documentary celebrating 50 years of Irish Motorsport is produced by Irish production company Ely Productions. The Executive Producer is renowned Irish motorsport journalist and former RTE TV producer Michael O’Carroll, is produced by his daughter Grainne O’Carroll and directed by Stephen Vickers.
The Mondello Park story is told with historic action footage, well placed interviews with relevant personalities with many pertinent and colourful Mondello moments and memories.
Not to be missed.
