Big crowds expected at Dublin Horse Show after suspension of Dublin Bus strike

For a time it looked like some visitors might have to resort to transport of the four-legged variety to get to the Dublin Horse Show, which opens in Ballsbridge today.

However, following the suspension of the strike at Dublin Bus, large crowds are expected at the RDS for the opening day of the 140th staging of an enduring fixture on the Irish social and sporting calendar.

Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Oisín Quinn, is one guest who will rely on horse and coach. He will arrive in the traditional transport mode used by his predecessors to formally open the event.

Fears that the industrial action at Dublin Bus could adversely affect crowds at the RDS had led organisers to put contingency measures in place yesterday.

However, plans to operate special courtesy coaches to and from Heuston Station to Ballsbridge were cancelled last evening after the strike was suspended to facilitate talks.

RDS chief executive Michael Duffy said the organisers were hoping the show will attract 100,000 visitors between today and Sunday.

“Hopefully people won’t have been deterred by the bus strike especially now that it’s been called off as we’ve consistently found that regardless of things like bad weather, people just love coming to the show for the range of entertainment and just to enjoy themselves,” said Mr Duffy.

There are also a range of park and ride facilities at UCD, Belfield, and Muckross College in Donnybrook, with courtesy shuttle services operating to the RDS at 15-minute intervals.

While the weather for the coming days is forecast to be mixed, it should at least be better than the torrential downpours at the opening day last year.

The Dublin Horse Show, which is sponsored by Discover Ireland, has a prize fund of €942,000 and will feature 125 classes, including 14 international competitions — a small reduction in prize fund and competitions compared to 2012.

Five of the top 10 riders in the world, according to official rankings, will compete in Ballsbridge over the five-day show including world No 2 Elizabeth “Beezie” Madden from the US, world No 3 Kevin Staut from France, and world No 5 Marcus Ehning from Germany, as well as current world champion Philippe Le Jeune from Belgium.

The highlight of the show will be the Nations Cup on Friday where eight countries — Ireland, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, Ukraine and the US — will compete for the Aga Khan trophy, which was won in spectacular style by Ireland last year.

The show has also reverted to its traditional start date in early August after it was put back a few weeks last year to avoid a clash with the Olympic Games in London.