"Gone to the dogs" will shortly apply to a new generation in Dublin. Bord na gCon is about to unveil two large housing developments at its Harold's Cross and Shelbourne Park greyhound stadiums in Dublin. The board has secured planning permission to develop 81 four-bedroom houses on almost three-acres of the grounds at Harold's Cross and the city council is also expected to clear the way shortly for 120 apartments and townhouses at Shelbourne Park. In the coming weeks, the board will select an estate agent to handle the sale of the Harold's Cross site, which is expected to make between £6 and £8 million. The other site at North Lotts Road will probably fetch in excess of £5 million.

Noel Hynes, the managing director of both tracks, says the proceeds of the sales of the sites will be used to complete the modernisation of Shelbourne Park and begin a similar programme of improvements at Harold's Cross.