“I’M the luckiest man in Ireland to have a job with views like that,” said Louisburgh postman Davy O’Toole at his local show. With its Wild Atlantic Way backdrop of Clew Bay, Clare Island and Croagh Patrick, Louisburgh is undoubtedly the most scenic show in Ireland but West Mayo livelihoods often depended on practical means, such as the Irish Draught.

So it was fitting to see Martin Murphy’s Fuerty Princess crowned the overall champion horse on Sunday evening. The Welcome Emperor three-year-old, bred by Michael Bailey, had already added the Irish Draught championship at neighbouring Westport to her All Ireland title at Limerick last August. Also staying on for the Andrew Gardiner and Mary O’Halloran-judged championship was Seamus Sloyan’s aptly-named Clew Bay Countess, with this two-year-old filly from the same family as her Castlerea owner’s line of winners, taking reserve.

Murphy’s landmark day included winning the Knockbrack Plant Hire traditional-bred combination championship, organised by the Connacht branch of the Traditional Irish Horse Association. Philip Copithorne and Harriet Cox selected Castlemeadow Mildred and her High Roller foal as their winners. The Power Blade chesnut was purchased from previous owner Cecilia Delaney at Dublin Horse Show last year.

“I saw her there, thought she was a lovely type and bought her,” explained Murphy, whose wife Mary showed the seven-year-old mare’s foal by the thoroughbred sire High Roller. In reserve was a combination of Hughie Murphy’s Cogan’s Dawn Star with her Near Dock filly foal. Another on a red ribbon run, having won the broodmare championship at Sligo County Show the previous day, the imposing Annaghdown Star mare had also won the Irish Draught mare open class for her Swinford owner. Presenting the O’Reilly family cup to Murphy was Monica O’Reilly, whose late husband P.J. had stood the well-regarded Grosvenor Lad at his nearby Shraugh Stud. Taking third place in the traditional championship was Noel Sheridan’s Castana mare Dawn Beauty and her Elusive Emir filly foal, a full-sister to last year’s All Ireland traditional foal champion at Mountbellew Show.

Mountbellew local Michael Hughes, the Irish Show Association’s national secretary, performed the official opening at the 25th anniversary of this show, which was revived in 2007. Small entries in young horse classes are another main talking point this summer with production and travel costs cited as economic reasons. Numbers were also small at Louisburgh, although Seamus Sloyan’s Clonakilty Warrior stood reserve in the earlier horse championship to the all-conquering Castlemeadow Mildred, bred in Wicklow by Michael Kenny. By Clonakilty Hero, Sloyan’s three-year-old is out of Elm View, who was the overall champion here in 2011 and 2012.

CONNEMARA CHAMPION

Two previous champions returned to reclaim their titles in the pony classes and with Saturday’s heavy rainfall causing the cancellation of Ballyconneely Show, Sean Dunne had some extra Connemara entries to sift through. He found his champion from a strong mare class, won by Michael Philbin’s Beechmount Brona, who was the Connemara champion here in 2010. There were no diesel expenses incurred for her owners who live close to the Carrowmore beach showgrounds and to complete a family double, the Castlestrange Fionn mare’s three-year-old daughter Beechmount Lulu also won her class.

Standing reserve in the Connemara championship was Alaoise Halpin’s Linsfort Barney mare, Roundstone Maeve. Barossa Camilla was a consistent winner for the Grimes family and continued her good Louisburgh form by winning another tricolour here for her new owner Deirdre Coyne.

Sharon Walsh opted for joint reserve champions when she selected two more Irish-breds in Joe Gibbons’s Ahane Minstrel, by Holyoake Czar and Lisa Gilmartin’s Tyrellspass Van Damme, who was also the Welsh champion.