Examiner believes Horse Sport Ireland is salvageable, High Court hears
Horse Sport Ireland, the national governing body for the equestrian sector, was placed under the protection of the High Court in an interim examinership on 24 August 2026 after barrister Arthur Cunningham told Judge Liam Kennedy the company was unable to pay its debts. Chartered accountant Joseph Walsh was appointed as interim examiner, and on 14 September 2026 he told Judge Micheal O'Connell that the company was salvageable, agreeing with independent expert Cormac Mohan's view that a scheme of arrangement with additional capital or departmental support would offer a reasonable prospect of survival. The court adjourned the proceedings until early October 2026. HSI receives more than €6 million in State funding annually and employs 47 full-time staff, while the sport horse industry is worth in excess of €1 billion to the Irish economy.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court24 Aug
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Horse Sport Ireland, the national governing body for the equestrian sector, was placed under the protection of the High Court in an interim examinership.
- Where
- The proceedings took place in the High Court in Dublin; the company is headquartered in Naas.
- When
- Interim examiner Joseph Walsh was appointed on 24 August 2026 and the court adjourned the proceedings to early October 2026 on 14 September.
- Cause
- Barrister Arthur Cunningham told the court the company was unable to pay its debts, with €1,581,995 in software development costs as of the end of June 2026.
- Investigation
- Independent expert Cormac Mohan of AAB Ireland stated there was a reasonable prospect of survival with additional capital or government support.
- In court
- Judge Liam Kennedy appointed chartered accountant Joseph Walsh as interim examiner on 24 August 2026, and Judge Micheal O'Connell heard the examiner's report on 14 September 2026.
- Other details
- HSI receives more than €6 million in State funding each year, mostly from the Department of Agriculture, and employs 47 full-time staff.
- The sport horse industry is worth in excess of €1 billion annually to the Irish economy and supports upwards of 20,000 jobs.
- The Irish Horse Board Co-Operative Society is owed €122,600 by the company.
- Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon received notification of the examinership application.
- The company was established in 2006 as the centralised national body for the sport horse industry.
19 statements extracted from the articles
- courtHorse Sport Ireland was given the protection of the High Court with an interim examiner appointed. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBarrister Arthur Cunningham told Judge Liam Kennedy the company was unable to pay its debts. (irishtimes.com)
- courtChartered accountant Joseph Walsh was appointed as interim examiner by the judge. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge appointed Walsh as examiner and adjourned the proceedings until early October (irishtimes.com)
- otherHSI receives more than €6 million in State funding each year, mostly from the Department of Agriculture. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHSI held an emergency town hall meeting for staff at its headquarters in Naas. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHSI employs 47 full-time staff who were told there would possibly be redundancies. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe company had incurred costs of €1,581,995 in software development as of the end of June. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe company was established in 2006 as the centralised national body for the sport horse industry. (irishtimes.com)
- otherIndependent expert Cormac Mohan of AAB Ireland stated there was a reasonable prospect of survival with additional capital or government support. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMinister for Agriculture Martin Heydon received notification of the examinership application. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe sport horse industry is worth in excess of €1 billion annually to the Irish economy (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe industry supports upwards of 20,000 jobs (irishtimes.com)
- otherHorse breeding in Ireland is a significant export business with the majority of breeders selling horses outside the country (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Irish Horse Board Co-Operative Society is owed €122,600 by the company (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe company employs 47 full-time workers (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Department of Agriculture and Sport Ireland funded the company to the tune of €2.1 million for 2026 (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe company had incurred costs of €1,581,995 in relation to the development of software programmes as at the end of June 2026 (irishtimes.com)
- otherIndependent expert Cormac Mohan of AAB Ireland stated a scheme of arrangement with additional capital or departmental support would offer a reasonable prospect of survival (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Sep2026Examiner believes Horse Sport Ireland is salvageable, High Court hears
Reports on the High Court examinership proceedings for Horse Sport Ireland, where the appointed examiner stated the company was salvageable and the court adjourned until early October.
- 24 Aug2026Staff at Horse Sport Ireland briefed on potential job cuts as interim examiner is appointed
Reports the initial appointment of interim examiner Joseph Walsh by Judge Liam Kennedy on 24 August 2026, the company's financial position including €1.58m in software development costs, the emergency staff meeting in Naas, the role of independent expert Cormac Mohan, and the Minister for Agriculture's response.