SEVERAL presentations were made at this year’s Connemara Pony Festival, including one to the family of the late Susan McConnell. Closely involved with both the American Connemara Pony Society and the International Committee of Connemara Pony Societies (ICCPS), of which she had served as president and secretary respectively, Susan had visited Clifden twice a year for the past quarter of a century. “Here in Connemara, we regard her as one of our own. We thought of Susan as coming home every Easter and August and not as an overseas visitor,” said one local. Having built up her own herd of Connemaras at Oakfield Farm in Virginia, Susan was honoured with the Michael O’Malley Award in 2018. “She worked tirelessly to promote the Connemara pony,” said president Jim Mullaney before making a special presentation to her daughters; Stephanie Rineheart Keen and Caroline Rineheart Cardais, who spent a few days celebrating their mother’s life with friends in Clifden. They brought her ‘home to Susan’s Rock’ on the Sky Road, her favourite place in the whole world.
This year’s recipient of the Michael O’Malley Award, presented to an international ambassador of the Connemara pony, was Tuula Pyöriä from Finland. The award is named after the Connemara man who famously travelled to Olympia with his two ponies. “Secretary and chair of the Finnish Connemara Society and a renowned breeder of the Connemara pony in Finland, Tuula ticks all the boxes,” said Mullaney.
Fernville Stud owner Jimmy Canavan, from Moycullen and Bekan’s Jarlath Grogan, are the latest inductees to the CPBS’s Hall of Fame. Jimmy, who has judged around the world, is synonymous with the stallion I Love You Melody, the sire of Charlotte Rees’s recent Dublin dual winner Tooreeny Lad, bred by his son-in-law Dermot Burke. Jarlath’s interest in Connemara ponies began when on Patrick McNamara’s recommendation, he bought his first mare and foal from Liam Walsh in Hollymount, followed up by his prolific mare Mountain Lady, spotted as a foal at Clifden. “Jarlath and his daughter Joanne go to shows every Sunday. We’re honoured to add these gentlemen to the CPBS Hall of Fame for their outstanding contribution to the Connemara pony,” read their citation.
Liam Walsh’s niece and Midlands-North West MEP Maria Walsh officially opened this year’s show. “I’m delighted to see international visitors coming to Clifden, enriching tourism at local level and welcome each and every one of you. Thank you, Uncle Liam for ensuring his niece knew the value of the Connemara pony,” she added.A plaque was unveiled after the opening ceremony to mark the contribution of Connemara stallion custodians, who, in the past, often travelled by bicycle around Connemara with their stallion trotting alongside. The plaque, outside the CPBS office, was unveiled by Róisín Ní Neachain from Ros Muc whose grandfather, Máirtín Walsh, from Sná Bó, was one of the first custodians.
“Magic Molly”, who lived up to her name by producing live twin foals, was on parade last Thursday. John and Anne Gunning’s Currachmore Cashel mare foaled the pair on May 31st and they have thrived since. “We live on the side of a hill so we named them Jack and Jill!” said Anne about the Coral Misty Bobby pair. One familiar face missing from Clifden this year was Robbie Fallon. Robbie and his wife Barbara were in San Francisco awaiting the arrival of their grandchild, the first baby for their youngest son Daniel and his wife Sinead. Baby boy Cian Patrick arrived safely last week and with his grandparents due to arrive home on Thursday, Oughterard Show tomorrow will undoubtedly be one of Robbie’s first ports of call.