in touch with John Finney of Fasig Tipton USA, an American equine auctioneer firm, who agreed to come in. Thereafter there was no great problem in raising the finance but the group of underwriters had certain reservations about the existing management structure in Goffs. As a compromise he agreed to take the job. Thus Irwin replaced Robert Myerscough as managing director of R.J. Goff and Co. Ltd. on 1 January 1975 and oversaw the construction of the world's first purpose built bloodstock sales complex in Kill. The cost of the proposed complex to be built on a 74.6 acre site at Kill - was estimated at £1.8 million as far back as August, 1974. According to Irwin he didn't want merely the most modern and best equipped sales complex, he also wanted a whole new approach to business within the horse industry. He was mortified "that class distinction should still be so rampant. It is difficult for an outsider to learn even how to buy a horse at a sale. Younger people just have to be attracted and to them and to everybody else my door will always be open." Irwin's previous experience influenced the company turnover increase from £3.2 million in 1975 to £44 million by 1989. Many features introduced by Goffs have now become commonplace and his adaption of the Australian 'Million' incentive concept to the Cartier Million is recognised as one of the most successful innovations, introducing a whole new world of owners into horseracing. The Phoenix Park racetrack was rescued from closure in 1981 and in the nine years until it was sold for redevelopment became recognised as the most innovative track in Europe with the second largest betting and attendance figures in Ireland. It was unique in the world that every single one of the 120 races run annually at the track was sponsored. Dublin International Sports Council Irwin was appointed CEO of the Dublin International Sports Council (DISC) in 1993 under the chairmanship of Dr. Tony O'Reilly. The objective of the DISC was to raise Dublin's profile as a host venue for international sport and to lobby the government to provide facilities of international standard. Projects included the 1994 Women's Hockey World Cup, the 1995 Men's EuroHockey Nations Championship, the 1996 Notre Dame vs U.S. Naval Academy football game, and the first three stages of the 1998 Tour de France in Dublin. DISC also