LEGENDS. They are all legends.” No, he is not talking about the great racehorses who are enjoying an honourable retirement at the Irish National Stud, but rather referring to his classmates.

Con Marnane is a graduate of the Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Management Course of 1981; 40 years ago this summer. When I express surprise that it was that long ago, wisecracking Con says, “sure Leo, I was born young!”

Adding that the greatest memory he has of the six months spent at Tully was ‘the craic’, Con then changes gear and talks earnestly about the course.

While 51 classes have now passed through the portals of the INS, Con believes that the course has never been more relevant. “Irish racing and breeding, and the story is the same around the world, is struggling for staff. People who do well on the course have a world of opportunities ahead of them,” Con believes.

The friendships formed during Con’s time at Tully have never faded, and that esprit de corps, instilled by Michael Osborne back in 1981, continues to be a key ingredient today. Con knows this as he has seen both of his daughters, Amy in 2016 and Olivia last month, complete the course, and he can see history repeating itself.

The entrepreneurial Con, with the key figure of his wife Theresa at his side, is a man who thinks outside the box, though he modestly suggests that such a spirit is inspired by “the need to make a few quid.”

However, he is a man open to new ideas, ventures, and reminds me that he has also run a riding centre, hosted a venue for weddings and he has had a hand in many different aspects of the bloodstock and racing world.

Good grounding

With a racing background, including time spent with Peter McCreery and David O’Brien, he went to the Irish National Stud in January 1981 with no knowledge of the stud world. He admits: “It was a bit of a change, but you got such a good grounding. Michael Osborne was an absolute genius, and also a character.

“He wanted you to learn and if you had a gift of any kind, he encouraged you. He also bred that into his progeny!” Con is referring to Michael’s children, and he feels that Amy and Olivia, under the guidance of Michael’s son John Osborne and Cathal Beale respectively, have has similar experiences and encouragement.

“The thing about the course at the Irish National Stud is that it produces such class horse-people. I have been lucky to employ, at different times, stars such as Matt Hogan (class of 2007), Joe O’Connor (2013), Micheal Conaghan (2016) and Hayley Sullivan (2011) who all did the course. In fact, Hayley’s dad David, Airlie Stud, did the six months with me.”

After he completed the course, Con and his fellow student Niall Brennan headed to Australia for a year, working in racing. It was then on to the USA, and Kentucky in particular, where he worked breaking yearlings before coming back to Ireland and some more time spent with David O’Brien, before he ventured out on his own. He has never looked back since.

Badge of honour

Con wears his Irish National Stud graduation like badge of honour, and he is one of its greatest supporters and advocates.

He ends with a request to mention two women who have and now play a key role in the success of the course, Sally Carroll and Anne Channon.

In conclusion, Con said: “All Irish people should be so proud of the Irish National Stud. It is an amazing place, and everyone should visit it. In racing and bloodstock we are leaders in the world, and the Irish National Stud plays a big part in that success.”

[In future weeks we will revisit the class of 1981 and catch up with some of the other stars of that year]