Trots of Dublin Life
The Smithfield Horse Fair in Dublin, Ireland was once a gathering that took place every month. Horse owners and farmers could trade, sell or just participate in the fair in Smithfield Square. After recent Dublin City Council changes, bylaws introduced 13 years ago restrict the holding of the fair to twice a year, on the first Sunday of March and September between 9:30am and 1:30pm. A horse must not be allowed trot, canter or gallop and must be under the control of someone over 16 years of age. The bylaws also require anyone bringing a horse to the fair to have a casual trading licence costing €10.
Over the past few decades of incidents and restrictions, the people of Dublin continue to hold an unofficial gathering on the first Monday of every month. Participants made it clear how much the community and horses mean to them; it is a way of life.
A boy and his horse look at another horse causing commotion the Smithfield Horse Fair in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday, May 10, 2026. The fair takes place on the first Monday of every month, and Dubliners of all ages and backgrounds get together with their horses in Smithfield Square. Due to recent Dublin City Council restrictions about horse riding on city streets, the fair has slowly turned into a protest demonstration.
The Smithfield Horse Fair is pictured from Skyview Tower in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday, May 10, 2026. Police were in attendance due to recent Dublin City Council restrictions, causing the once monthly fair, to now a gathering that can only happen twice a year (first Sundays of March and September), causing participants to hold unofficial gatherings on the first Monday of every month.
A woman rides her one-eyed horse at the at the Smithfield Horse Fair in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday, May 10, 2026. The horse market features a variety of horses in attendance; some have been rehabilitated, some are used for farming purposes and others for tourist businesses.
Philip Kavanagh walks his miniature pony with a family friend's daughter at the Smithfield Horse Fair in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday, May 10, 2026. Participants claim that most of the children in attendance own their own horse or pony, and are typically gifted one at just a few months old.
A horse-drawn carriage turns onto the streets of the city centre in Dublin, Ireland after the Smithfield Horse Fair on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
Mark O'Dwyer reaches for his horse to pose for a portrait in the family Spitalfield stables on Monday, May 18, 2026. The O'Dwyer family has a family horse business, and provide horse-drawn carriage services for funerals, birthdays, tourism and more.
Tommy O'Dwyer sits in his stroller in the family stables in Spitalfields, Dublin, Ireland, while the O'Dwyers clean on Monday, May 18, 2026. The O'Dwyers clean the horse stables every Monday morning.
The O'Dwyer family stables in Spitalfields, Dublin, Ireland is pictured on Monday, May 18. The family typically keeps around 4-6 horses in the stable at a time, and rotate the working horses with the "grass" horses every 6 months. The "grass" horses live on a farm on the outside of Dublin.
Four generations of O'Dwyers discuss the week's events at the family stables in Spitalfields, Dublin, Ireland on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Trevor O'Dwyer, son of Mark O'Dwyer, cleans a horses' stable in Spitalfields, Dublin, Ireland on Monday, May 18, 2026.
A horse presses its eye against the bars of its stable in Spitalfields, Dublin, Ireland, on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Patrick, a horse-drawn carriage business owner, poses for a portrait with his horse in St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland on May 15, 2026. Patrick claims that most of the tourist businesses in Dublin keep their horses in shared stables.
Joe and Martin Joyce pose for a portrait with their stallion in Finglas, Ireland on May 19, 2026. The Joyce brothers train and raise horses to race on the streets of Dublin. They claim that the most money they've ever raised for charity after winning a race is €50,000.
A horse-drawn carriage is left on the side of the street in an alleyway in Dublin, Ireland on May 15, 2026.
A family pets Patrick's horse in St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland on May 15, 2026.