Spring 2014: The Criminal Assets Bureau puts Jessbrook EC - the property of convicted drug dealer John Gilligan and his family - up for sale on the open market via joint property agents Lowe and REA McDonald.
May 2014: Newbridge native James Buckley announces he has bought the property (for approximately €500,000) and renames it Emerald International EC. He describes CAB as “brilliant to deal with’’ and announces it is “all systems go’’ for Emerald International.
Summer 2014: Hundreds of thousands of euro of work is undertaken at Emerald International on the arenas, buildings and environs.
September 2014: Emerald International formally announces details of its first show - the Emerald Masters.
October 2014: Emerald International officially launched. Plans for several FEI international shows for 2015 n the pipeline.
November 2014: Emerald’s first show - the Emerald Masters Show - held. The top class surface attracts much praise.
December 2014: Facebook announcement made that Irish Masters Champion Edward Butler will now be based full-time at Emerald with his horses.
December 2014: Facebook Christmas message: “Thank you all for your support and kind wishes during 2014, may 2015 be bigger and brighter. Looking forward to seeing you all then for the next chapter in Emerald International’s future. Emerald is now closed for business until the 5th of January 2015.”
December 2014: Emerald representatives meet with both Horse Sport Ireland and Show Jumping Ireland officials over show plans for 2015. The meeting is described as “productive” and “very cordial.”
January 2015: HSI and SJI notified in writing of the sudden cancellation of all 2015 shows and the intended sale of Emerald International EC.