Galway breeders take top honours at Connemara show
Eamonn Burke, Castlegar, bred and owned the supreme champion, Currachmore Cashel, by Rosenaharley out of Tolka Bridge. The reserve supreme champion was April Rose, by Streamstown Larry out of Errisbeg Dolly, owned by Gearóid Curran, Moycullen, and bred by Michael Conneely, Roundstone.
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Eamon Ó Cuiv, who opened the show, said the preservation of rare and native farm animal breeds is vital.
“These breeds have, after all, become adapted to our climate and our farming systems over many hundreds of years,” he said.
“I would like to acknowledge the work of breed societies throughout the country who maintain studbooks, herd books and flock books for our rare and native breeds and who do tremendous work, often with limited resources.”
He congratulated the Irish pony showjumping team, which included two Connemara ponies, that won the team silver at the European Pony Championships in Belgium recently.
Ballyowen Maybell Molly, owned by Anthony McCormack, Mullingar, and ridden by 16-year-old Kellie Allen from Kells, Co Meath, took gold in the individual show jumping.
This pair and another Connemara pony, Sillogue Darkie, owned by Eamonn Briscoe, Monasterboice, Co Louth, and ridden by 14-year-old Michael Duffy Turloughmore, Co Galway, also helped Ireland to the silver medal in the team event.
Supreme Champion — Eamonn Burke, Carrowbrowne, Castlegar, Co Galway (Eamonn Burke).
Reserve Champion — Gearóid Curran, Moycullen, Co. Galway (Michael Conneely, Roundstone)
Champion Ridden Pony — Patrick Geoghegan, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow (Conor O’Brien, Miltown-Malbay, Co Clare)
Reserve — Carmel Joyce, Lower Ardfert, Co Kerry (Sean Faherty, Inverin, Co Galway)
Junior Champion — Cáillín Conneely, Roundstone (Cáillín Conneely)
Reserve — John McLoughlin, Letterfrack, Co Galway (John McLoughlin).
