Isabel Hurley and Caitriona Murphy
IRELAND’s newest equestrian centre, Emerald International EC, has cancelled all of its proposed 2015 shows and is up for sale.
The shock news comes just weeks after Emerald International held its inaugural Emerald Masters show and had booked dates for FEI international shows this year.
Both Horse Sport Ireland and Show Jumping Ireland were notified in writing by Emerald International representatives earlier this week that all proposed 2015 show dates have now been cancelled and the centre is going up for sale by tender.
The sale decision came as a surprise to the two organisations as they had only had what was described as a “productive’’ and “very cordial meeting’’ with key Emerald representatives just before Christmas on their ambitious show plans for 2015.
However, a spokesperson for Emerald International EC confirmed to The Irish Field on Thursday that the centre is being sold. No timeline was given for the sale of the equestrian centre, which is located on approximately 50 acres of land close to Enfield.
Ironically the centre is still currently listed on the Lowe property website under the “sold” section since early 2014 when the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) advertised it under its previous name of Jessbrook. CAB had seized the property from convicted drug dealer John Gilligan and his family.
Gilligan bought Jessbrook in 1995 for approximately €455,000 and reportedly spent €1.5 million on creating Ireland’s largest indoor arena with seating for 3,000 people.
Jessbrook was subsequently bought from CAB last May by Newbridge native James Buckley for approximately €500,000. Buckley described his new acquisition as “a bargain’’ at the time and renamed it Emerald International. Heralding a new era for the property, Buckley outlined ambitious plans for the centre including the hosting of FEI international shows, demonstrations and coaching sessions. Throughout last summer, hundreds of thousands of euros was pumped into Emerald to bring the venue up to scratch including extensive indoor and outdoor works before the doors opened for its one and only show, the successful Emerald Masters in November.
FOR SALE
Certain parties are already rumoured to have expressed interest in Emerald International and are apparently keen to purchase it at a high price, rumoured to be as high as several million euro.
However, its future as an equestrian venue appears to hang very much in the balance, with possible future uses said to be non-equestrian in nature, including a warehouses/factory outlet and a possible concert venue.
Showjumping Ireland chairman Tony Hurley said: “We are sorry to lose Emerald as a venue. It was a first-class facility with a super arena and top class surface. They had affiliated to SJI and the news that they have withdrawn all the 2015 calendar dates and were putting the place up for sale came as a surprise. We had only met with them before Christmas and it seemed to be all systems go for 2015.”
CEO of Horse Sport Ireland, Damian McDonald confirmed that “no HSI funding had been given to Emerald” for its November Masters show and said none had been committed either to future shows.
Recently-appointed stable rider at Emerald International, Edward Butler, said: “It did not come as a surprise to me that Emerald was up for sale. I was informed of this decision by James Buckley. I have a 12-month contract there so this will not affect me.”
Correspondence from Emerald International, seen by The Irish Field, stated: “Emerald will soon be placed on the market for sale. This decision has come in light of James Buckley’s health issues. Unfortunately, James is now no longer in a position to fulfil the level of commitments that Emerald requires.”
It is understood that James Buckley – who did not return calls to this newspaper for comment – is suffering from a back problem that may require surgery and a lengthy recuperation.
Meanwhile, an FEI spokesperson said of the booked Emerald International show dates: “The following shows are still in the 2015 calendar and we have not received any notification of cancellation or modification.”
The dates were listed as: Enfield
March 24th-29th, 2015
CSI**, CSI**
Enfield
June 2nd-7th, 2015
CSI***, CSI***
Enfield
November 10th-15th, 2015
CSI**, CSI**
Key dates in the short-lived career of Emerald International Equestrian Centre
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.