348 A HISTORY OF 



spring shows there was no great change in the number 

 of cattle entered each year, and the shows seem to 

 have reached their full development. So far as pre- 

 mises were concerned, there was no room for further 

 extension. Nevertheless, we find the Council report- 

 ing in 1876, when the removal of the shows to another 

 site was contemplated, that " the success of the annual 

 shows depends greatly upon their being held within 

 the city. Should they be removed to the suburbs, it is 

 apprehended that they would be less numerously at- 

 tended, and the receipts suffer serious diminution." 

 This apprehension was not unfounded ; the earlier spring 

 shows at Ballsbridge were not well attended, but a way 

 of making them more attractive was soon discovered, and 

 the last show held there (1913) was attended by 24,358 

 persons, more than twice the best Kildare street record, 

 which was in 1875, when 12,034 persons attended. 



It is, however, in the entries of breeding stock that 

 the progress of the Ballsbridge shows has been most 

 marked. The best record in Kildare street was 308 

 animals in 1872. Three shows were held at Balls- 

 bridge before this number was exceeded, and then 

 rapid progress was made ; the Kildare street record 

 was more than doubled at the Ballsbridge show of 

 1896, and more than trebled six years later. At the 

 Ballsbridge show of 1908, the entries of breeding 

 stock reached the record number of 1051. 



In 1908, after an interval of seventy years, the 

 auction sales were revived. The number of animals 

 entered for sale was 463, and of these 173 were sold. 

 Five years later, the number entered for sale had in- 

 creased to 654, and the number sold to 549. 



In 1904, to meet the demand for an early market, 

 a show and sale of pure-bred bulls was instituted, 

 and February the loth was fixed upon as the date of 



