IT was always a case of ‘Gay and Annette’ when you referenced the O’Callaghans, and from a very young age they operated in tandem, in company with their four sons, Peter, David, Guy and Robert whom Annette adored. Well wrapped up in warm clothes, I have an image of them all working the foal sales, in search of another pinhooking success. While scouting, they were The A Team.

While Gay and the boys for many might have been viewed as the main players, that would be a disservice to Annette who knew horses well, and was the glue that bound together an incredibly close family unit. Her death, at the age of just 72, came as a shock to many on Wednesday, though she had been unwell for some time. Nowhere will her loss be felt as deeply as it will be in her own home. Annette died peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones

In spite of her illness, Annette displayed immense bravery, and only last Sunday entertained friends as they watched her horse Calmero, who she owned in partnership, complete Burghley and finish in the top 20. Another recent outing she enjoyed was to Ascot where the breeders of winners at the Royal meeting were honoured.

For Annette, family was her first love and priority. She was an active participant when her sons were members of the Kildare Pony Club, igniting and fuelling her own love for eventing. In 1993, Peter was a member of the Kildare team that won the British Championships, a first for Ireland. All of the boys competed on Irish international pony teams.

Lasting influence

In an interview with The Irish Field some years ago, Annette said: “As the boys got older they began to ride breeze-ups for their father, and I began to lose them to the thoroughbred side of things. It was in 2010 when we went to look for a horse for Robert that I first met Joseph [Murphy]. Later he approached me to see if I wanted to invest in a young horse called Electric Cruise.

“Electric Cruise, or Sparky, was the horse of a lifetime. He launched Joseph and us as owners, and brought us to the Olympics, World Championships, five Badmintons, two European Championships and Pau.” Annette enjoyed other notable successes with Cesar V and Calmero. Annette’s passion for the sport horse side of the equine world has passed on to another generation, her grandchildren, and rain, hail or sunshine, she rarely missed a pony club rally with them.

Annette and Gay purchased Yeomanstown Stud from the Levins-Moore family in 1981, and quickly turned it into one of the leading farms in Europe. They excelled with stallions, as breeders and as sales consignors. Today, the farm is run by Gay, David and Robert, along with Morristown Lattin Stud, Guy has Grangemore Stud on the Curragh, while Peter’s Woods Edge Farm is in Kentucky.

Any success for any member of the family was celebrated by Annette, and in spite of her committed role in the family business, her longtime contribution to the Irish European Breeders Fund, a passion for eventing and other pursuits, she always had time for friends and a good party. Sociable, fun, loyal and a lady, Annette’s passing leaves a void in the lives of many.

Annette’s funeral mass takes place today, Saturday 19th, at 11am in the Church of Our Lady and St Joseph, Caragh (W91 F9KW), followed by burial in Caragh Cemetery. She is survived by her husband, sons, daughters-in-law Rolline, Serena, Jenny and Sarah, 10 grandchildren and many, many friends. She was predeceased by her only sibling, her brother James Lombard.