World Equestrian Games bid decision understandable, but shortsighted

IT came as no surprise last Friday when Horse Sport Ireland said it would not be bidding for the 2014 World Equestrian Games.

With pensioners fighting in the streets for their medical cards and children being denied a proper education due to overcrowded classes, it would have been difficult to sell the notion of spending taxpayers’ money on a ‘horsey event’.

Even with the promise of €10m from Alltech president Pearse Lyons, it would have been politically impossible for Sports Minister Martin Cullen to give the nod to an event that reputedly would cost €36m.