KILKENNY breeder Eamonn Murphy was laid to rest in Thomastown on Monday afternoon after sadly passing away at his home last Saturday, March 31st.

Murphy’s best day as a breeder came last September when his home-bred mare Columbcille Gipsy won the six-year-old championship at the World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium.

Murphy owned the gold medal-winning mare in partnership with Ger O’Neill and she went on to sell for €700,000 as the PSI auction in in Germany last December. O’Neill remarked: “Rest in peace Eamonn Murphy – a true horseman who supported the sport with his horses Dondoctro (Ryal K) and Columbcille Gipsy. He was a great friend and will be greatly missed.”

Murphy was awarded with the Lifetime Supporter award at the Leinster Showjumping awards night last December for his contribution to the sport. Speaking to The Irish Field after Columbcille Gipsy’s victory last September, Murphy said he was excited by her now three-year-old full-sister Columbcille Modell, and a four-year-old Columbcille Don by his own stallion Dondoctro Ryal K, who will be produced by O’Neill.

Eamonn will be sadly missed by his daughters Agnes and Cynthia, sons Eamonn and Billy, brothers, sister, grandchildren and extended family and friends.