NOW that the season of goodwill and general jollyness is well and truly behind us all, national attention turns to the deadly serious business of electing the country’s next government. Outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed the date as Saturday, February 8th – the first Saturday general election in Ireland since 1918.

Using your vote to support worthy candidates who will actively advocate for, and support, Ireland’s vibrant equine industry, which makes a contribution of close to almost €2bn from the combined thoroughbred and sport horse sectors, is of the utmost importance. That’s a sizeable population cohort and translated into national votes at the polls, could have an real influence on just who gets to take up those valuable seats in the next Dail. Take time to find out which candidates standing have a knowledge of and interest in our industry – the sport horse sector alone accounts for some 14,000 full-time jobs nationwide and is worth over €816 million to the national economy in its own right.

In the past, the contribution the Irish equestrian industry makes to every rural parish in Ireland has not been adequately reflected in successive budgets. There have been welcome budget allocations of course but our industry still very much remains the poor relation. That said, we wholeheartedly welcome the outgoing government’s grant of €10 million to the RDS for the new Anglesea Stand. Nevertheless, ours is a sector that generally contributes far more in terms of indigenous jobs and economic spin-offs – to say nothing of national pride – than is currrently reciprocated by the central exchequer.

It’s worth noting that the 1918 election is widely regarded by historians as a real watershed, radically changing and shaping Ireland’s political landscape. Will history repeat itself?

The stakes could not be higher for Ireland’s equine, farming and agri-food sectors. Make your vote count on February 8th.