When Rincoola, Co Longford-man Harold McGahern graduated from Gormanstown College in 1972, his classmates nominated him as their spokesperson. His speech led immediately to him being offered three different rural science teaching posts.
When Rincoola, Co Longford-man Harold McGahern graduated from Gormanstown College in 1972, his classmates nominated him as their spokesperson.
His speech led immediately to him being offered three different rural science teaching posts.
“I have not been afraid to voice my opinions ever since,” he notes with a grin.
Thus, over the years he has made his opinions known within the main committees of Irish equestrianism.
Equine interest
Being a grammar school pal of near neighbour Eddie Macken it is no wonder that the horse featured high in his thinking.
This was increased through the influence of his maternal grandfather Jimmy Gavigan on whose gelding, Rinroe, Macken is said to have had his first ride on a horse.
In his early teens came an epiphany moment when great sport horse producer Robin Stevenson asked him to mind a foaling mare.
This in turn led to riding opportunities and also to make many trips along with Stevenson’s mounts by train to the RDS Dublin Horse Show.
“These were classic Irish-breds for sale and we would never bring one home,” stated McGahern.
Foundation mare
To fund a breeding programme of his own, he took himself off to the USA on a J1 work visa in 1971 and saved enough to buy a good broodmare.
By Durantus out of a full sister to Galway Greer’s Dublin champion Never Forget by Blue Cliff she was put to Ideal Water and bred Firkin that McGahern himself evented to win the All-Ireland Championship at Punchestown.
She went on to win Morehill for the Army’s Capt. Gerry Flynn.
Later, McGahern leased a Cruising/Clover Hill mare named Rincoola Abu to McKee Barracks. Capt. Gerry Flynn rode her to a six-year-old podium finish in Lanaken.
Later she won the Tripoli Grand Prix and was on a winning Irish team in Athens.
She bred six foals for McGahern, including Coco Chic that went to Michael Duffy and Rincoola Rua that was successfully ridden by Edward Butler.
Bull or beef
Along the way, Harold was a founder of the Longford Pony Club and worked with Ronnie MacMahon in the creation of the Future Event Horse League (FEHL).
Thus, it is no wonder that he has solid opinions about our current equestrian scene.
Commenting on Horse Sport Ireland, McGahern said: “I give it credit for existing at all and that it has promoted a high performance.”
He is convinced that the Department of Agriculture should take back the Irish Stud Book so that the Irish horse is treated as an agricultural animal and assessed for its Estimated Breeding Index – “Bull or beef just as for cattle”.
He is in favour of well funded national championships for under 21 and under 25 riders on Irish-bred horses.
In our national Grand Prix events at least 40% of the horses are foreign-bred.
Finally he declares: “We should cater to our strengths and for our young eventers there should be some 20 Hunter Trials designated as assessments with full pedigree listed.”
These are just some of the ideas that flow from this well experienced visionary voice from the Midlands.
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