NO visit to the world famous Hill of Tara in Co Meath is complete without calling into The Old Book Shop, run by renowned equine commentator, author and journalist Michael Slavin.
Stunning aerial views of Tara Hill and a heart-warming interview with Michael is the subject of a new video interview by Skerries author Noel Mullins, hunting correspondent with The Irish Field, along with photographer/videographer Ken O’Mahony.
A fascinating character and one of life’s true gentlemen, Michael recalls his early days growing up on his family’s 16-acre farm in Bailieboro where his first introduction was to the plough horses. Back in those days, the family used a small triangular field with high hedges to break in the young horses and Michael’s love of all things equine truly began.
Educated on both sides of the Atlantic, with his schooling days in Scoil Mhuire and Joeys in Marino, Michael earned his degrees from the USA where his family lived for years before returning home to Ireland.
“I hired a car at Dublin Airport, drove to Tara and I’ve been here ever since,” Michael recalled.
His first introduction to the country show circuit was showing donkeys nationwide before breaking into equestrian commentary duties.
Blessed with a mellow golden voice, it was not long before Michael recorded his first show jumping piece into a cassette recorder from his car and sent it to RTÉ, starting off decades behind the mic which saw him cover multiple equestrian championships from over 10 countries around the world.
Michael, who has run The Old Book Shop at Tara for many years, is a prolific author of equestrian books and books about Tara. Always a joy to meet, next time you are in Tara, drop in and say hello to Michael.