The President, Mrs McAleese, will not be visiting the Dublin Horse Show next week to present the Aga Khan trophy for the Nations Cup because she is attending a two-week Irish-language course in Donegal.
A spokeswoman at Aras an Uachtarain denied reports that the President is on holiday and said the language course which she is taking with her husband Martin and three children is fulfilling a long-term commitment to improve her Irish which she had made on taking up office.
Mrs McAleese's spokeswoman confirmed she had agreed in January to attend the show, but said it was an agreement in principle. The letter sent by the Aras said that the President's agreement was "subject to the usual requirements of State or other business that may arise later". However, a letter stating that she would be unable to attend was sent to the RDS only on July 22nd, just two weeks before the start of the Horse Show.
It would have been Mrs McAleese's first time since she took office to present the Nations Cup, a presidential tradition of 60 years' standing.
The Royal Dublin Society, which runs the Horse Show, said it was "very disappointed that the President cannot attend" but would not let it hamper the show which is expected to have up to 100,000 visitors over the five-day event that culminates in the Nations Trophy next Friday.
The Aras spokeswoman said the President's holidays begin in mid-August when the family will be staying in Roscommon. She returns to work on August 28th when she begins a State visit to Australia.
Asked if the President was reconsidering the decision not to attend, the spokeswoman said it would not be possible for her to visit the RDS. "It is unfortunate that she cannot attend what would have been an enjoyable occasion for the family," she added. "Sometimes some things have to give and she has had a phenomenal amount of engagements in the last number of months."
The incumbent president has presented the trophy every year since 1938 when Ireland's first president, Dr Douglas Hyde, attended. With the exception of the war years when there was no international jumping, and in 1958 when the Begum Aga Khan presented the award, the Head of State has performed the honours.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, will now present the Aga Khan Trophy instead of the President. Asked if the RDS had considered asking the Aga Khan, a spokeswoman said it was not the tradition to ask the Aga Khan to present his own trophy.
This is the 125th year of the Horse Show and the 10th year of its association with Kerrygold, which this year has a prize fund of £300,000. The Irish Dairy Board, which promotes Kerrygold and sponsors the Horse Show, said it was a matter between the Royal Dublin Society and the President's office. "We have absolutely no comment to make," a spokeswoman said.
Ireland won the Aga Khan trophy at the Nations Cup last year and seven countries will compete in this year's event. The squad includes Eddie Macken, Peter Charles, Trevor Coyle, and Capt John Ledingham.
