PAT Hanly has taken early retirement from the RDS after 27 years at the helm. The RDS confirmed that its Equestrian Manager, Fiona Sheridan, will take over as Horse Show Director for 2025.

Hanly held the role of financial controller at the RDS as well as Dublin Horse Show Director and was a driving force behind the growth of Ireland’s only five-star horse show.

A keen horseman, Hanly told The Irish Field: “The show had been a huge part of my life before I was ever involved. I’ve worked or been at 50 shows and the balance was going the wrong way in that I had worked more than I was at [as a spectator] so I am looking forward to enjoying it again that way.”

Asked about some of the highlights of his career as Show Director, Hanly said: “There are a couple of things and there is no ‘me’ in this. I was lucky to work with a lot of great people like Noel Cawley, Harold McGahern, Ronnie MacMahon, Dermot Forde, Leonard Cave and John Ledingham; that made things a lot easier.

“Things we got right I think include the Irish-bred restrictions [in the young horse show jumping classes]. At the time there was a lot of criticism and reaction but I think it was well-worded and within EU law. It was beginning to be overrun with foreign horses and it allowed some of the breeders you see now to really get going.

“We introduced a lot of young rider classes and that helped those riders get competitive and get into teams. Other classes like the Connemara Performance Hunter and the Irish Draught Performance Hunter were also important,” Hanly added. “Dublin has so many different strings to its bow and we have to keep striving to do better and keep raising the standards.”

Hanly heaped praise on Fiona Sheridan who will continue to bring the show forwards. “Fiona has been with me nearly all of those years. I am incredibly grateful to her.”

As for what’s next, he said first on the agenda is a summer off to enjoy his own horses and ponies after being time poor for many years. “I’ve always enjoyed the animals but I haven’t had the time for it. I am very interested; I will be that enthusiastic amateur now again.”

The RDS will welcome a new CEO, Paul Kelly, in September. He is joining the organisation from the tourism agency Fáilte Ireland where he has been CEO for the last eight years.