EPITOMISING bravery and teaching us all a collective lesson in courage and fortitude, the incredible force that was well-known horsewoman and farmer, Deirdre Bourns, passed away on Monday.

Married to Richard for 43 years, and mother of Andrew and Christopher, an outpouring of heartfelt tributes fittingly marked the passing of a most remarkable woman who touched the lives of countless people and animals in the most positive way imaginable.

An exceptional judge of a horse, Deirdre was known as an incredibly hard worker no matter what the task at hand. “She was first into the yard in the morning and the last to leave at night. To her last days, she was in our arena watching and helping with their training,” wrote her husband Richard in a loving tribute.

Living legacy

Together, the Bourns family built up Lisbeg Farms and Bourns Sport Horses over the years and today, the latter has bases in Ireland, Belgium and the USA.

Born into an Armagh farming family, Deirdre (née Gallery) first met Richard at a horse show in Galway in 1978. “From that day on, we were inseparable,” recalled Richard. The happy couple married in 1979 and created a happy, welcoming home together.

For Deirdre lambing at Lisbeg Farms in Eyrecourt was her great joy each March and she loved teaching countless veterinary students how to lamb over the years. She got her early education in ponies from the Iveagh Pony Club and producing show ponies for WD Irwin in Portadown.

“Thanks to Deirdre, we grew Lisbeg Farms into a major farming operation. She took so much pride in the farm right until her last days,” said Richard in his tribute.

Throughout her life, Deirdre was a consummate horsewoman. Despite suffering a serious freak accident in September 2012 that left her with catastrophic injuries that would have understandably defeated many people, Deirdre fought back bravely, proving an enormous inspiration to everyone she came in contact with.

Always hugely involved with the horses and show jumping, Deirdre remained a tireless worker and was centrally involved with planning out the campaigns of the Bourns Sport Horses team of horses and the development of the family’s three bases.

Today Lisbeg Ireland produces all of their foals and young horses to the age of four before they go onto their Belgium base at Lommel for training and competition experience while their flagship Lisbeg South is based in Wellington, Florida.

Together the Bourns family have built their system into a world-class team that specialises in the production of quality competition horses.

“On Sunday evening, we watched the livestream from Wellington, Florida together. Deirdre was so happy to see our son Andrew win on her own horse Darquito,” said Richard.

Andrew won the $50,000 Griffis Residential Grand Prix CSI2* at the Winter Equestrian Festival with the 10-year-old Hanoverian gelding (by D’Inzeo x Contefino 2), bought by his parents as a seven-year-old.

In her last big interview with The Irish Field in March 2019, Deirdre said: “From my perspective, my heart is in Lisbeg Ireland, where we produce our young horses and set them on the way to being top Grand Prix horses.”

Deirdre passed away peacefully in the excellent care of the staff in Portiuncula Hospital. Predeceased by her brother Denis, she is survived by her loving husband Richard, her two sons Christopher and Andrew, her daughter-in-law Sarah, her much cherished granddaughter Kate, her sisters Bridie and Patsy, and extended family, friends, horses and dogs.

Deirdre Bourns, through her family and life’s work, leaves an extraordinary legacy which lives on.

The Irish Field extends its deepest sympathies to Richard, Andrew and Christopher on their sad loss.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dilís

I.H.