Kill Equestrian Centre

Kill Equestrian Centre
Interactive map of the Kill Equestrian Centre area
General information
LocationKill, County Kildare, Ireland
Coordinates53°14′18″N 6°35′58″W / 53.23833°N 6.59944°W / 53.23833; -6.59944
Opened1923
Closed2017

The Kill Equestrian Centre, also known as the Kill International Equestrian Centre[1] was an equestrian facility in Kill, County Kildare, Ireland.[2] The centre ran pony camps for children[1] and gave horse riding lessons.[3][4] The centre also trained people for horsing careers.[5] It was certified with the British Horse Society.[6] In 2003, it was used as a venue for the 2003 Special Olympics World Games in Ireland.[7]

History

The Kill Equestrian Centre was founded by Harry Kellett in 1923.[7] In October 1992, the final Irish Grand Prix horse show of the season, Champions of the Year was held at Kill Equestrian.[8] In April 1994, Kill Equestrian, in conjunction with the St. Patrick's post primary school in Naas, started running a Business Accommodation and Equine Studies course.[6] In October 1994, Penco Insurance's Summer League was held at Kill Equestrian.[9] In October 1995, the Champions of the Year show was again held at Kill Equestrian.[10] In April 1996, the Irish Dressage Society national winter finals were held at Kill Equestrian.[11] In October 1996, the Champion of the Year show was again held at Kill Equestrian.[12] In November 1998, the Champions of the Year show was again held at Kill Equestrian.[13] On 23 September 2000, the National Irish Draught Performance Championships were held at Kill Equestrian.[14] In 2001, Kill Equestrian was one of the venues for the 2003 Special Olympics World Games in Ireland.[15][7] In 2004, the opening round of the Blessington Show was held at Kill Equestrian.[16] In November 2004, the Leinster Indoor Horse Championships were held at Kill Equestrian.[17] In May 2006, the Rolestown Grand Prix was held at Kill Equestrian.[18] In October 2006, the Leinster Indoor Pony Championships were held at Kill Equestrian.[19] In November 2006, the Cannon Kirk Homes Champions of the Year Show was held at Kill Equestrian.[20] In July 2007, the Blessington Show was again held at Kill Equestrian.[21] In August 2007, the South Dublin Horse Show was held at Kill Equestrian.[22]

In 2011, the building was severely damaged after major floods.[23][24] In 2016, the centre was sold to Goldman Sachs,[24] who sold it to property developers Newstownsland (Kill) Ltd., who applied to demolish the buildings.[23] This application was denied by Kildare County Council.[25]

On 4 November 2022, after concerns from local residents concerning the site turning into accommodations for Ukrainian refugees fleeing the Russo-Ukrainian war, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth announced that they were in talks with Kildare County Council and the owners of Kill Equestrian on what to do with the former Kill Equestrian Site.[26] Two days later, a fire broke out at the centre.[27] This fire caused locals to protest turning the centre into refugee accommodations.[28] In March, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth announced that the first Ukrainian refugees would be arriving by Easter.[29]

References

  1. 1 2 "Activity holidays". Irish Independent. 5 April 1993. p. 18. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Sports Venues". Evening Herald. 23 June 2003. p. 14. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Horse Riding Holidays". Irish Independent. 16 June 1992. p. 18. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "The Adventurous". Irish Independent. 4 December 1992. p. 12. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Exciting Alternatives for College Places in 1997/98". Sunday Independent. 31 August 1997. p. 19. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 "Business Accommodation and Equine Studies course". Sunday Independent. 21 August 1994. p. 21. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 3 "Centres of Activity Kill Equestrian Centre". Irish Independent. 16 June 2003. p. T6. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Kill to host horse event". Irish Independent. 6 October 1992. p. 29. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Quinn, Eric (7 October 1994). "Not such a long way from Stratford to Strasbourg". Wicklow People. p. 25. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Parkes, Louise (13 October 1995). "Minister salutes Euro star". Irish Independent. p. 21. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Upgrade Championships". Irish Independent. 12 January 1995. p. 17. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Parkes, Louise (11 October 1996). "Brigade gets Wauters mark". Irish Independent. p. 18. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Parkes, Louise (11 October 1996). "McMahon grit scoops the pool". Irish Independent. p. 18. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Diary Dates Saturday". Irish Independent. 19 September 2000. p. 39. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Daly, Aoife (14 April 2002). "Irish to open homes for World Games competitors". Sunday World. p. 55. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Parkes, Louise (5 July 2004). "Marshall and Smyth in groove". Irish Independent. p. T75. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Bruce, Helen (4 November 2004). "Showjump fraternity circle wagons as the golden boy takes it all in his stride". Irish Independent. p. 23. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Show Jumping". Sunday Independent. 28 May 2006. p. 2-01. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Allen gallops to victory at Indoor Pony Championships". Gorey Guardian. 25 October 2006. p. 111. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Stephen takes second spot in 'Champions' show". Gorey Guardian. 29 November 2006. p. 83. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ Parkes, Louise (4 July 2007). "McMahon making great strides". Irish Independent. p. T57. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ Parkes, Louise (1 August 2007). "Aga Khan vital for American survival". Irish Independent. p. T79. Retrieved 6 April 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. 1 2 "340 Ukrainian refugees housed at Kill Equestrian". The Irish Field. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  24. 1 2 Ward, Patrick (29 May 2016). "US investment bank take over Kill International Equestrian Centre". KildareNow. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  25. ↑ Ward, Patrick (22 November 2018). "Plans to demolish Kill Equestrian Centre turned down by Kildare County Council". Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  26. ↑ O'Meara, Paul (4 November 2022). "Residents express concern over plan to use equestrian centre as accommodation centre". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  27. ↑ O'Meara, Paul (9 November 2022). "BREAKING: Fire at County Kildare premises which has been put forward as a refugee centre". KildareNow.com. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  28. ↑ Harney, Caoimhe (7 November 2002). "Locals To Protest Against The Housing Of Refugees At Kill Equestrian Centre, Following A Fire At The Site On Sunday". Kfm. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  29. ↑ Harney, Caoimhe (16 March 2023). "Department Confirms Ukrainian Refugees Will Be Housed At Kill Equestrian Centre From April". Kfm. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
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