WITH just three weeks to go before the hugely popular Kilmacanogue and District Horse Show on Saturday, July 27th next, the value of the Co Wicklow show to charity over the last five decades cannot be overestimated with €500,000 raised over the last 46 years.

The damp August day in 1972 did nothing to spoil the wonderful atmosphere at the first Kilmacanogue Horse Show. Right from the outset, the ethos of the show was all about volunteering and giving as much as possible to charity.

Enthusiasm for that first Kilmacanogue Horse show flowed from every quarter of North Co Wicklow. Local farmers provided land and ‘know how’ for managing animals, building rings, gateways and walkways. Local businesses, big and small, generously sponsored classes.

Volunteers of all ages organised the competition classes, prizes and stewarding and a wide variety of stalls - including a very popular Wheel of Fortune.

With entries of 100 ponies, 80 horses, 20 donkeys and 130 dogs, the tremendous success of that first show took everyone by surprise. Money raised was given to support Duffcarraig House in Wexford – newly opened a few months previously in February 1972. Duffcarraig is a residential community that supports people living with special needs – it was the first site of the worldwide Camphill Movement to be established in Ireland.

The most phenomenal feature of that first horse show was that it was organised on a whim just a month before! That’s how the Kilmacanogue and District Horse show all began over 46 years ago.

Run by volunteers

Running annually since then, the Kilmacanogue and District Horse Show is unique in Ireland being one of the few shows run entirely by volunteers.

In addition to providing the North Wicklow community with many memorable days, the show has raised over €500,000 for charities that support people with special needs, including those living with cancer, kidney disease and spinal injuries.

The organising Committee is very lucky to have some of the show’s founding members still actively involved - including Harry Williams of Enniskerry who is president of the show. Another long-standing committee member is Peadar Shortt of Kiloughter.

In 1983, as Lord Mayor of Newcastle in Co. Wicklow (a time when many localities had such officers), Peadar was honoured to lead a horse drawn plough on part of its two-day journey from the Mansion House in Dublin to Wicklow town.

This special fundraising event enabled the show to buy a minibus for Duffcarraig House, which given its rural location, helped residents access many activities.

Busy schedule

The 47th Kilmacanogue and District Horse Show has a packed schedule with something for everyone (follow the signs from Enniskerry). Visit www.kilmacanoguehorseshow.com to make your entries for a wide variety of showing, working hunter and children’s pony Classes. Don’t forget the Sheep Show, which is regularly frequented by a famous €3,000 ram.

This year’s show is a family fun-filled event with free pony rides, a ridden fancy dress, art and photography competitions and ‘Guess-the-Weight-of-the-Lamb’ contest.

There is a free dog agility course as well as the friendliest dog show in Ireland where there is a class to suit every kind of dog.