THE Grallagh Harriers are now in their 18th season and their recent meet at Kilnadeema near the south shores of Loughrea Lake brought back memories of my growing up in a town that has contributed so much to equestrianism in Ireland and further afield.

Looking down from the meet over the lake to the west you see Corry Park, a 15-acre park on the lake shore in memory of Colonel Dan Corry, who grew up 100 yards from the lake and who hunted and rode in point-to-points before spending his career in the Irish Army Equitation School. He was on a winning Aga Khan team on seven occasions, including the famous four in-a-row 1935-38, a feat that has never been repeated since by an Irish team.