THE Irish Donkey Society (IDS) will stage a spectacular display of donkeys and donkey farming equipment and carriages at work and at play in Ring 1 of the RDS showgrounds Sunday, July 24th, from 3.40pm to 4.10pm.

Members of the Irish Donkey Society (IDS) and the Donkey Breed Society of Northern Ireland and staff from The Donkey Sanctuary from Liscarroll, Mallow, Co Cork will have 17 donkeys and mules on display.

The animals will be presented on a lead rein, ridden and with various farming equipment and donkey-drawn carriages to show the many ways in which how this most versatile animal has been used by people down through the years.

In the 1880s there were 250,000 working donkeys on Irish farms but by the end of World War II in 1945, there were 128,000 and today there are less than 7,000 donkeys and mules on the island of Ireland and fewer than 5,000 breeding females. It is feared that the donkey in Ireland is in danger of extinction in the next 50 years.

Five donkey-drawn carriages will parade in front of the President of Ireland and his special guests at 2.20pm in the Main Arena, just before the €160,000 Longines International Grand Prix of Ireland.

The Reverend Alastair Graham, chairman of the Irish Donkey Society (IDS) and a Council Member of the RDS, along with James Wyse, PRO of the IDS and commentator of this exhibition, and Amanda Wallace, chief steward of the display, will ensure another top class demonstration of donkey ability and charm at the RDS.