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THE FIRST ‘NEW-LOOK’ regulated Smithfield Horse Fair is due to take place on Sunday.
Dublin City Council is to hold the new-look fair from 9am to 1.30pm on Sunday 3 March, and this is the first horse fair to be held under new byelaws adopted by the council this January.
The fair will now take place twice a year, on the first Sundays in March and September, as was announced back in September 2012.
The changes to the fair came following an incident in March 2011 during which shots were fired at the event, while a teenager was injured with a slash hook.
The following month saw three separate arrests when attendees tried to steal a horse.
Enterprise minister Richard Bruton had made a detailed submission to the Attorney General seeking advice on whether it was legally permissible to shut the fair permanently, but it was reported that this would be an unconstitutional breach of traders’ commercial rights unless an alternative location was first provided.
Regulation
Paul Clegg, Executive Manager with Dublin City Council, said:
This will be the first time that Smithfield Horse Fair is regulated. Dublin City Council believes that the new bye laws will improve the welfare of horses attending the fair and the experience of attending the fair for the public. We have worked with Smithfield horse owners, DSPCA and elected representatives to ensure this and hope to see the fair become part of Dublin’s exciting programme of events.
Under the new byelaws a Casual Trading Licence is required for each horse attending the fair.
In addition to the traditional display of horses, Dublin City Council’s Arts Office and Libraries Service are planning music, an exhibition on the history of Smithfield and a screening of photographs explaining the historical significance of the Smithfield area during the event.
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Only About 50 years overdue.
Various types of ingredients for sale
I only wish they had banned it altogether and the Ballinasloe fair as well. It’s just cruel look where most of them poor horses end up. Starving on land that is not suited or them with people who really not give a s**t about them.
tesco??
Yes and you can get a bite to eat when you are there
I’m sure it would be a lovely day out with the family now!
it surly will boss
That’s it steam roll decades of tradition, it’ll b a joke and the market in any shape will cease to exist in any form within 6 months… The councils intent I’m sure….
Here’s hoping
Maybe what you say is somewhat true Paul, but the council had all the ammunition they needed to extinguish the fair after the two shootings and attack with a slash hook.
*effectively extinguish
Wasn’t only the Council who had the ammunition
The widespread maltreatment of the animals didn’t help the traders’ cause either.
200 years of tradition wiped out by DCC at the stroke of a pen. And all because some yuppies bought fancy apartments in Smithfield and didn’t want to share the square with the market once a month. Shame on the Councillors who voted to effectively end what was a fantastic day out for Irish people and tourists.
Fantastic day out for tourists ?? People attacking each other with slash hooks and shooting each other ??? Hardly normal behavior!!
Hope so
May be so Con. They could have ensured the law was rigorously enforced there first of all, rather than limiting a monthly fair to once every six months
I wonder how ferocious DCC would have been in bringing in these bye-laws if these were council flats in Tallaght or Clondalkin overlooking a square.
Con, this horse fair is a relatively new fad its not been around long enough to be regarded as a tradition. 200 years ago that part of Dublin was rural and what took place was a farmers market with all animals bought and sold. Are any of these people proper farmers, I wont bother with a question mark because I can make a very positive guess.
Dave, you don’t have to be a farmer to own a horse.
Graham, you can’t lose – there will be a book (anyway) written about the loss of a 200 year old tradition … or how Smithfield was modernized, in spite of culchies/farmers/travellers, kids from Finglas
Dario, the pen in the wrong hand is mightier than a kalishhnikov
@Con. You dont have to be a farmer but it helps. Helps the horse get raised in the right conditions. If there is a book about the loss of a ’200 year old tradition’ then that book will be B.S. People come to Dublin to live in a city and Smithfield is now central Dublin, do you not want Ireland to modernize?
Awaytafuk wi dem horses boss
Where’s the beef !
The Cobblestone hopes it’s a great success! For the past few years most pubs in Smithfield/Stoneybatter area would close during Horse Fair Day till about 5pm, hopefully this will mark a new era for all involved but mostly the Horses. Smithfield Horse Fair/DCC have put on a program of events including photography, talks & trad music from 9.30am http://dccartsoffice.newsweaver.ie/flyer/1h9ir8kot0d
Larry good. M a. N No. I TO Tacke. The. Lottttttttt. RAw Hide. Mn. Mn. Mr Bundey
Jack you do work
In the Knackerd
Smell box
In. The BogggggS
Clara
Glad for colm kiernan grand man and always looks after his horses
have your say