HIGHLY respected equestrian administrator Ado Kenny of Strokestown, Roscommon, and formerly of Ballyhaunis, Mayo, died peacefully on September 2nd, aged 93.

Predeceased by his beloved wife, Gertie, Ado is the much loved father of Sheena and Francis and will be sadly missed by his daughter and son, son-in-law Eugene, daughter-in-law Breege, grandchildren Orlaith, Sadhbh, Ailbhe, Melissa and Adrianne and great-grandchildren Senan, Barra and Rory.

Kenny’s first interaction with showing was through the Strokestown Show when he moved there to work as a teacher in 1951. Kenny attended his first meeting of the Strokestown Show Society shortly after and a lifelong love affair began.

“I loved the show jumping. It’s such a fine and beautiful sport. By being involved in the show, I began to make connections with other shows and slowly but surely began to attract leading riders from across the country,” he told the Roscommon Herald in 2020.

“My good friend Brian Mullooly (former Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann) was involved with me in the show at the time. We had big ambitions for Strokestown Show. The show had a long history and we wanted to build on that.” And so they did.

Kenny climbed the administrative ladder of both the Irish Showjumping Association (now SJI) as well as the Irish Shows Association.

He served as chairman of the former for three years from 1989 to 1991 and again from 1998 to 2000.

Kenny was a man with many progressive ideas for the promotion of show jumping and met with confrontation from the hierarchy on a number of occasions. Ado once related how in 1972 any bookmaker would have laid 1,000/1 on him ever becoming chairman of the SJI.

At that time, he was Secretary of Strokestown Show and at loggerheads with the Association over a car prize for the rider of the winner of the main competition at the show. Such a prize was contrary to the one third rule. This debate went on for months providing much publicity for Strokestown Show. In fact, it went so far that Ado received a letter from the President of the International Federation, Prince Philip, seeking details of the proposed event. Kenny obliged providing all as requested - in Irish.

Contributions

Some of his contributions to show jumping included formulating a ticketing system for events which stood until 2019, devolving the powers of the association on a more regional basis and the instigation of the ‘Amateur’ category. Kenny was also deeply involved in the starting of a Bursary programme to support young riders to travel and gain training and experience. Kenny also stated, that “being Chairman of the SJAI is neither a permanent or pensionable post and like many other jobs it has its ups and downs but thankfully I had more ups than downs.” Ado had a great rapport with the members, the riders and show organisers and judged at shows all over the country.

“Showjumping Ireland has lost one of its valued members but his huge contribution to the sport and organisation will forever be remembered,” said Ronan Corrigan on behalf of the Board, Standing Committees and Membership of Showjumping Ireland.