Dublin horse show enters super league
It has been promoting the country’s agriculture, horse breeding and equestrian sports for the past 130 years.
But this year’s event (August 6-10) enters a new era as one of only eight international shows to be included in the Samsung Super League, with worldwide television coverage.
The Government, seeing the opportunity to promote a positive national image, has backed an initiative around the show to develop Ireland as a destination for equestrian tourism.
It has become a sponsor for the Samsung Nations Cup through its International Sports Tourism Initiative co-ordinated by Fáilte Ireland.
Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O’Donoghue said securing Samsung Super League status was a wonderful coup for the RDS and Ireland.
“We have long been recognised as one of the world’s leading showjumping nations. The new status for the Samsung Nations Cup further helps Fáilte Ireland to promote our country as an ideal tourism destination for equine activities,” he said.
FEI communications officer, Malina Gueorguiev, said Samsung Electronics is delighted to be associated with one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious show jumping events, the Dublin Horse Show.
Samsung, one of the world’s largest electronics companies based in Korea, has operations in 47 countries, with 64,000 employees in some 89 offices.
France, Germany, Britain, Belgium, Sweden, Italy, Holland and Ireland are the nations competing in this year's Super League. Each country is sending a full team to Dublin.
Show director Gerry McAuliffe, speaking at a reception in the RDS yesterday, said a total of 1,500 horses and ponies, from nearly every county in Ireland, will pass through the Ballsbridge ground during the five day event.
It will have a €500,000 prize fund, a record 94 showing and special category classes, both ridden and led, 35 national jumping competitions for horses and ponies and 270 trade stands, the largest yet.
Other new sponsors supporting the show include ebookers.ie (Puissance) and Appleby Dublin (Ladies Day).
