THE Connemara Pony world was saddened last week following the passing of Jarlath Grogan from Bekan, Claremorris, Co Mayo. Grogan, a regular at the pony shows across the country, was laid to rest at Ballyhaunis Cemetery on Sunday, February 14th after passing away peacefully at home.

Grogan’s life with ponies featured in The Irish Field in April 2017, written by the late Ruth Rogers, and told of how he got his first pony in 1993, a black mare named Carravilla Pride (Island Hurricane - Primrose) on the advice of Patrick McNamara.

The following year, at Clifden Show, he bought a filly by Village Boy who would go on to become his foundation mare which startered his Hillside prefix. That was Mountain Lady and she went on to win the progeny class at Clifden in 2005 and 2012. He was later well-known for his stallion Mountain Cascade, who was often seen in front of a trap.

Jarlath was accompanied at almost every show by his daughter Joanne and in recent years, his granddaughter Darcy. He was induced into the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society’s Hall of Fame at Clifden Show in 2019, a huge honour for both him and his family.

He will be lovingly missed by his wife Margaret, son Stephen, daughters Linda, Anna and Joanne, all his grandchildren, family, relatives, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbours.