Agri society may bid for Gilligan’s old horse centre

The Munster Agricultural Society yesterday visited the Olympic-sized equestrian centre that belonged to one of Ireland’s most notorious criminals amid speculation it may bid for the property.

Several society directors toured the Jessbrook Equestrian Centre in Co Kildare — formerly owned by convicted drug trafficker John Gilligan — as part of a fact-finding trip.

MAS spokeswoman Trisha Tyson said Jessbrook is one of several such facilities around the country which they have visited in recent months as they prepare plans to develop their own equestrian and events centre at the MAS headquarters in Curraheen, on the western outskirts of Cork City.