352 A HISTORY OF 



out of the ^793 which had been subscribed. The 

 subscriptions in aid of the second show also amounted 

 to ^793, but the attendance rose to 10,529 persons, 

 and the show closed with a credit balance of £923 ; 

 from this time no further appeal was made to the 

 public for funds. In 1873, the horse show funds 

 were regarded as quite distinct from the other funds 

 of the Society, and were transferred to trustees consist- 

 ing of two members of the committee, with the regis- 

 trar and treasurer. A year later we find the horse 

 show committee in a position to vote ^300 to the 

 general funds of the Society in aid of the purchase of 

 premises. In 1879, the balance of ^1488, standing 

 to the credit of the horse shows, was transferred to 

 the general funds of the Society. 



The entries at the Kildare street shows reached the 

 maximum in 1874, when they numbered 636, and the 

 attendance rose to its highest point in 1875, when 

 21,857 persons passed the turnstiles during the four 

 days of the show. 



There were two breaks in the series of horse 

 shows held by the Society in Kildare street — one in 

 1 87 1 and the other in 1878, when shows of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society were held at Ballsbridge ; on each 

 of these occasions the Society's horse show was not held. 



The entries at the first show held in the Society's 

 new premises at Ballsbridge in 1881 were 589, and 

 there were 15,736 visitors. These numbers had been 

 surpassed many times at Kildare street, and they reflect 

 the opinion, then widely entertained, that the people 

 of Dublin would find Ballsbridge too much out of 

 the way in comparison with the very accessible Kildare 

 street site. By 1884 this feeling had passed away ; the 

 entries then numbered 806, and the attendance reached 

 26,558. The Duke of Edinburgh was present at this 



