Dublin City Councillors are congratulating reps for the SmithField Horse Owners Association. who have agreed to draft bye laws drawn up to regulate the Smithfield Horse Fair. Debate over the future of the horse fair intensified, after violence erupted during a horse fair in March 2011.

Traders have overnight agreed that the market will now be held twice a year and traders will have to submit their PPS numbers. The last remaining hurdle is the January City Council meeting, when councillors will decide whether to approve the measures.

Fee will remain unchanged for 5 years

The draft bye laws propose 2 fairs a year, March and September with traders registering with Dublin City Council giving their PPS number and paying a fee of €10 per horse into the fair. Dublin City Council has committed to give administrative support to the Smithfield Horse Owners group and to set up a marketing group of horse owners, business representatives, residents of Smithfield etc to promote the fair. At last night’s meeting, the horse owners asked that the €10 fee not be increased for 5 years, online registering for the fair be available and that if the opportunity arose, a one off fair be permitted.

Councillor Gerry Breen told 98FM the horse owners who agreed the proposals deserve praise:

You can view a montage of images from the fair below: