FOR the first time next week, both sides of the €2.5bn Irish equine industry are joining forces, essentially speaking with one voice and force, to bring home the key message of how important the thoroughbred and sport horse sectors are to Ireland’s overall economy.

That’s the primary purpose of next Thursday’s Equine Summit and in fact, it’s already a success on that front, attracting a top panel of national and international speakers including, most importantly, the Government’s representative, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD.

Together the flagship racing, bloodstock and the sport horse industry contribute a whopping €2.5 billion to Ireland, providing over 30,000 full-time jobs and countless thousands more part-time, bringing employment across every corner of the country.

The €816m Irish sport horse industry, in particular, needs a political champion so every opportunity to bring home the enormous contribution made by our sector is very welcome and will hopefully lead to greater funding of an industry whose value has been both underplayed and overlooked, for far too long.

The timing of the Equine Summit could not be better with the Department of Finance publishing the latest exchequer figures for October on Thursday.

These showed tax receipts ahead of target for the first time this year, putting the Government’s finances firmly back on track with €39 bn in taxes collected for the first 10 months of 2017.

Chairman of Glanbia, Henry Corbally, a keen hunting man, will make the opening address while founder and president of the hugely successful Alltech, Dr Pearse Lyons, will deliver the keynote address, followed by a presentation of industry statistics from Sasha Kerins of Grant Thornton.

This will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by Leo Powell, editor of The Irish Field, and featuring Brian Kavanagh, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, Ronan Murphy, CEO of Horse Sport Ireland, chairman of Teagasc Dr Noel Cawley, and Senior Steward of The Turf Club, Meta Osborne.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD will be the final speaker before dinner, after which there will be a choice of two breakout sessions for the sport horse and thoroughbred sectors.

The panel for the sport horse section will be chaired by RTE journalist Suzanne Campbell and includes Lucinda Creighton of Vulcan Consulting, international Mayo show jumper Cameron Hanley and Johann Knapp, director of the KWPN Dutch Studbook.

TICKETS

THERE is less than 100 tickets left for next Thursday’s Equine Summit in the Keadeen Hotel, Naas, Co Kildare. Tickets cost €55, including dinner, booking fee and VAT. To book, go to www. eventbrite.ie (search for Equine Summit).