AN ESTIMATED 80,000 people attended the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show last week and according the chief executive of the RDS Michael Duffy, they did spend their money and trade stand holders reported good business.
“It has been a very good show all round, not only from the equestrian point of view but also on the business side,” Mr Duffy said. “We were blessed with good weather and it has been a very positive show.”
He said there were no visible signs of the credit crisis and above all, people seem to have enjoyed themselves. “We have got very good feedback from both visitors and sponsors.”
Mr Duffy said sponsorship was vital in staging the show which cost €3.7 million to assemble this year. He revealed that 20 per cent of the total cost, about €800,000, came from sponsors. Fáilte Ireland, the main sponsor, reviews its sponsorship on annually and he said he was hopeful this would continue as would the input from the other major sponsors.
The show was the only non-commercial venture staged in the RDS every year and normally broke even. He said the €8 million worth of upgrading of the rings and other facilities at the grounds had been widely welcomed by the international and national competitors and judges, and it was vital in securing the RDS’s place as a top international venue. He said one of the reasons the main arena surface was so good was because of the involvement with the Leinster rugby team which uses the RDS as its home ground.
“This means the turf is constantly being tended and kept in excellent condition and the surface for jumping and for rugby demand the same qualities. You could say showjumping is good for rugby and, of course, the other way round.”
On the society itself, Mr Duffy said this had been a good year financially, but he expected “2010 to be a difficult year with many challenges”. “There is now a greater availability of exhibition space in the market and we will have to meet those challenges when they come.”
ONLINE:Watch the audio slideshow on irishtimes.com/slideshows