RDS events benefit from ‘recovery in the economy’

Both the number and the quality of events being booked at the RDS premises in Ballsbridge are increasing as the economy improves, its chief executive Michael Duffy said yesterday as the Dublin Horse Show got under way at the venue.

“This year we have definitely seen the recovery in the economy in terms of the number of events that we have, the quality of events and events that are repeating themselves,” he said.

“We were fortunate through the downturn that we had a steady level of business, but this is the first time, really, from a commercial point of view, that we are really seeing the buoyancy in the economy coming through.”

Entries for the horse show’s 125 competitions and classes were up by 5 per cent this year and advance ticket sales were also stronger than last year – “and last year was a very good year,” he said. Demands for corporate hospitality, sponsorship and trade stand activity were all very strong.

New stand

Mr Duffy also said the

Royal Dublin Society

hoped to unveil its new Anglesea stand in time for the 2017 horse show. The competition to redesign the main arena stand will close in December and he said he hoped work would begin on the €20 million project after the 2016 horse show. The new stand will bring capacity from 18,500 to 25,000 which will please Leinster rugby supporters and concert goers.

The Anglesea stand was built in the late 1920s and he said the new stand would have to be in keeping with the distinct architecture of the showgrounds .

Referring to the recent Garth Brooks debacle, Mr Duffy said the RDS was lucky to enjoy a very good relationship with its neighbours. “We do 500-plus events a year – it’s not just the horse show and the rugby – and we really are very conscious of that relationship.”

Educate Together

In a new twist to its activities, next month will see the opening of an Educate Together school in the RDS grounds. Mr Duffy said it was a two-year venture, to give the school time to establish its permanent site.

The horse show got off to a flying start yesterday with blazing sunshine and queues forming at the entrance from early morning.

It is 150 years since the first Dublin Horse Show was held, but it did not go ahead every year due to factors such as world wars, so this is the 141st event.

About 100,000 visitors are expected to attend the show before it ends on Sunday.