Tough times but not all doom and gloom at Punchestown Conor O'Neill, CEO talks all things about the home of National Hunt Conor O'Neill, CEO Punchestown Reporter: '); '); Imagine having just been appointed to the prestigious position of CEO of Punchestown Racecourse succeeding a man (Dick O'Sullivan) who had literally pulled the place out of the gutter financially-wise, returning it to its past glories, only to find that in his first season in charge of the biggest festival of the year in Irish racing it is cancelled in its entirety due to Covid-19. Fast forward 12 months and while the festival gets the go-ahead it does so but only in front of empty stands, empty hospitality areas, in fact empty everything but for those involved in the actual running of racing.