For well over 100 years until the last meeting in 1972, the village of Baldoyle was dominated by this beautifully situated racecourse. Thousands of racegoers would travel here on race days, and the otherwise quiet coastal village would be alive with the noise and bustle of punters and horses. This stretch of wall is all that remains, the main stand behind it having been demolished in 1985. The ornate red bricked arch was the members entrance. By the late 1960's the racecourse was falling into disrepair. Unable to secure insurance unless the grandstand buildings were replaced, the decision was made to close the course. Meanwhile, the directors of Leopardstown racecourse had decided to build new stands, if they could get more race dates to make it commercially viable, so Baldoyle's race dates were transferred to the south Dublin course.
The racecourse made global headlines an 1973 when the Provisional IRA hatched an audacious plot to 'spring' three prisoners from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin. They hijacked a helicopter, landed it in the exercise yard, an whisked the men away. A few minutes later they landed at Baldoyle and the escapees were spirited away in waiting cars!
The Cache
There are plenty of cars passing, but few pedestrians at most times of the day. Watch out for the traffic. The container has gone missing a couple of times so as on Jan '22 a new hide is in place. Please replace exactly as found and refer to the spoiler if necessary.