Oh dear, it seems nobody can identify the strange beast frolicking among the horses at the launch of the annual Horse Show at the RDS. One or two onlookers think it is an ostrich, and Shane Cleary, chief executive of the RDS, pronounces it a chicken. Now, I don't believe I've seen a blue, black and red man-sized chicken before.
It is, in fact, one of the evil crows from the Macnas parade, fresh from chasing people through the streets of Galway last weekend. Macnas will be entertaining the crowds at the RDS Horse Show, from August 9th to 13th. And Dermot Arrigan, aka the chicken, or evil crow, doesn't appear too upset that his dancing-animal imitations have gone unrecognised: he is just happy to get out of his costume on this warm Tuesday. Six-year-old Christopher Scott from Ballina, Co Mayo, due to be the youngest rider at the Horse Show, is being led around on his horse, Starry Night Watch, by his mother, Deirdre Scott. Capt Gerry Flynn of the Irish international equestrian team and Lieut Shane Carey are also displaying their prowess on the field.
Back at the pavilion, Aidan McCarthy, public relations manager of Kerrygold, sponsors of the Horse Show, is praying for clouds for the week of the event. The Kerrygold man wants "warm but dull" weather. "If it's too sunny, people will head to the beach, and that's not where we want them to be," he remarks. An earnest nod of heads from those in earshot.
Col Billy Ringrose, president of the RDS, Gerry McAuliffe, Kerrygold Horse Show director and Robert McCarthy, chairman of the equestrian committee, and radio commentator Michael Slavin, the voice of showjumping for many years, are all enjoying the sunshine, the preview of Ladies' Day fashion and the mellow sounds from the jazz band on the terrace.