The Winter Show
The first RDS Winter Show was held in 1856. It was the replacement for the RDS Farm Produce Show that ran from 1845-1855, which in turn, replaced the RDS Autumn Show. These earlier Shows were more focused on agricultural produce and equipment rather than livestock.
Classes for the Winter Show included long and shorthorn cattle, bulls and heifers, pigs, poultry and sheep. It also had classes for farm and dairy produce and agricultural equipment.
Like all the RDS Shows held at Leinster House, during this period, the Winter Show was staged in the RDS Agricultural Hall. This beautiful building based on the classical Roman basilica, was completed in 1858 by Dublin-born architect Frederick Villiers Clarendon. It was taken down from Leinster Lawn and reconstructed at Ballsbridge when the Shows moved there in the 1880s. It still stands there today and is now known as the RDS Industries Hall.
The last RDS Winter Show was held at Ballsbridge in 1914. Its replacement, the RDS Bull Show started in the February of the same year and ended in 1980.
Please click here for the RDS Winter Show catalogue of 1899 and here for the RDS Winter Show catalogue of 1900 to find out more about the owners and pedigrees of these animals.
RDS Winter Show prize-winners for the years 1899 and 1900
Rex
Curraghmore No Finished
Class 10 Winter Show
Bridal Vanity
Lucan Dairy
Lucan Prince II
Lucan Tom Tit
Talana Hill
Class 33 Winter Show
Franklin
Stamp of Riches
Royal Duke
Lucan Rose, Ayrshire Cow, white and brown, claved May 25, 1894. Bred by Vere Ward Brown, Balnagowan, Co. Dublin.
Winner of first prize in Class 34, Ayrshire cow, entry 607.
Owner and exhibitor R. G. Nash, Finnstown House, Lucan.
Jet, black, calved January, 1897.
Winner of first prize in Class 15, Heifer of the Kerry breed or type, under 4 years, entry 138.
Owner The Right Hon. Lord Crofton, Mote Park, Roscommon.
Prince Ito, Aberdeen Angus and Shorthorn Cross, blue grey, calved March 20, 1899.
Winner of first prize in Class 9, In-fed, natural polled ox, entry 76.
Bred by owner and exhibitor The Right Hon. Viscount De Vesci, Abbeyleix, Queen's Co.
Calved, July 1896. Crossbred shorthorn, red and white.
Winner of first prize in Class 33, Heifer, Horned or Artificially Polled, not exceeding
4 years, entry 428.
Owner John Francis Ternan, Green Hills, Drogheda.