Ringside Stories: Full steam ahead for Sheehan

I was brought up on a farm outside Bruff in Co Limerick. My father and his two brothers had three farms in close proximity and since 1898 this farm has held the Rockbarton Stud name.

A lot of people believe that the show jumper of the same name, ridden by Gerry Mullins came from here, but I don’t think the great horse has any connections with the area.

I’m of an age where I can recall the old farming systems and era of a good working horse.

My father was big into training horses and he would buy a yearling or two-year-old, train it for various farming tasks, then sell it on to one of his brothers or a local farmer.

Southeast Clare is my local show. Around 1989 I got a phone call after a group of people met in the pub – where a lot of these good ideas sprang up from – in Bridgetown and were planning to set up a show.

Castlefield Eclipse [the Swiss London Olympics team mare, whose retirement was announced last week] was bred nearby by Patrick and Sarah Nihill.

They were always involved with horses and they could see the show grounds from their house. Unfortunately Patrick, another of the show’s founder members, has since passed away.

Then because I was involved in the local show, I started attending the Irish Shows Association (ISA) regional meetings and have been on the ISA board since 1990.

I was a barrister for a number of years and then switched when I thought I’d have my own practice. As a barrister you’d usually see the client for two hours before a case, whereas as a solicitor you can build up a relationship with your clients.

At the helm

I was offered the role as ISA president, or chair as it was back then, in 2000, but I hadn’t retired at that stage.

Now my son, Bryan, who is a solicitor, is taking over the practice and when the opportunity came up again I took it.

This is absolutely the highlight of the 28 years with the ISA. Being at the helm is something very special.

It’s an organisation that’s stood the test of time and there’s a great demand to be involved and be involved with shows that affiliate with the ISA.

The big shows are going from strength to strength, the committees are as enthusiastic as ever, though I suppose the footfall at smaller shows has declined.

This is where the minister came into play and we’re extremely lucky that Michael Ring is at the helm of the Department of Rural and Community Development.

It was great to hear him speak at the launch of the yearbook last Saturday and to see that affinity and empathy he has with rural life, so we’re delighted that’s he’s in that post.

Lifeline for shows

He was aware of the struggle that particularly smaller shows face with difficulties such as the weather or gathering sponsorship so the minister came up with the [€812,000] funding package for this year.

We would expect shows to use it prudently, whether its to buy safety equipment, such as railings, something that will help them in future years.

Health and safety is vital for shows and we adhere to it as far as humanly possible. We have organised two safety seminars in Mitchelstown and Virginia shortly.

It is in the exhibitors own interest if they have insurance, for example farm insurance, that they extend it so that the animal they’re handling is covered.

I get a great buzz out of stewarding. I take that week off work to steward at the Dublin Horse Show where its absolutely rigid that if an animal is acting up in the ring, it is out straight away, no questions asked.

Timing is very disciplined and the classes have to run according to schedule.

Looking ahead to this year, it’s going to be very, very difficult with the weather if it continues like this.

The exhibitors are terrific, they’ll turn out in all weathers, but if the weather isn’t right the spectators will go somewhere else, so that will affect footfall.

Catalogues are important at shows. There is nothing as disconcerting for the spectator at the ringside when they haven’t a clue what the animal is or what the breeding is.

A great ambassador

I think it’s fair to say we are bracing ourselves this year for the retirement of our national secretary Michael Hughes.

People don’t realise what’s involved with that job. He’s the engine that powers the organisation and the cement that holds it together.

Michael has been a great ambassador for the ISA with an extraordinary work ethic and his life is consumed by the job and the amount of time he has spent going to so many shows, events and launches.

David at Limerick Show with the ISA national secretary Michael Hughes, "the engine that powers the organisation and the cement that holds it together". \ Susan Finnerty.

David at Limerick Show with the ISA national secretary Michael Hughes, "the engine that powers the organisation and the cement that holds it together". \ Susan Finnerty.

He’s going to create a void which will be very hard to fill and we’re lucky that we’ll have him for the 2018 show season until he officially retires at our annual general meeting in Armagh in November.

We wish him well and on behalf of the board wish to express our gratitude for the job he has done with a great attitude and such good humour.

We’re very lucky in the ISA that we have the foundation; there must be thousands of people involved with the 130 shows held each summer. To re-energise the interest people have in shows would be one of the main aims for this year.

David Sheehan was in conversation with Susan Finnerty.

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