TONY Tarry was an Englishman who came on holiday to Ireland in 1950 and loved it so much he never went home.

He and his bride to be Mary, whom he wed that year, had been invited by Irish relations in Howardstown, Co Limerick to introduce Mary to the family. In 1951 they bought the rectory outside Croom, before purchasing his beloved Islanmore in 1962.

A natural raconteur and huntsman, he was a veterinary surgeon by profession. Although he could regale a dinner party with tales of veterinary heroics, you couldn’t but feel this was only a necessity to fund his real love of hunting. His favourite story was of the local farmer who would occasionally knock on his door late at night to report a sick pig, which would miraculously recover once Tony had driven its inebriated owner home. He was also proud of laying aside his pink coat out hunting to deliver a tricky lamb before re-joining the fray.

He was Master of the Limericks from 1970 to 1975 and told of hunting four to five days a week for the duration of his long career in the saddle. Mary was beside him every step.

In the early 1960s he moved into the thoroughbred world where he found somewhere suited to his talents. His ability to charm and disarm masked a very shrewd judge of horseflesh. He struck up a lifelong friendship with Captain Ken Watt, then chairman of Tattersalls, and maintained that friendship with current chairman Edmond Mahony. Edmond invited him to dinner every year (including this year) in April to the Dunraven Arms where Tony loved the attention. The Murphy family greeted him at the door and escorted himself and Mary to the bar as royalty.

His main clients in the sixties and seventies were the Combs family of Spendthrift fame, and Australian bloodstock agent Dave Dick. He recalled one year timing his draft of foals at the December Sales at one hour and one minute. There was no alphabetical running order in those days.

His other great friend was John Dunlop who, by unhappy coincidence, will be buried 48 hours before him. John introduced him to Cristina Patino and another chapter in the life of Islanmore was born. Since the early eighties that close friendship has endured. Tony was very conscious that those who come into the horse world do so for pleasure and it was his job to ensure that every moment spent at Islanmore was enjoyable.

When Mrs Patino came to inspect her stock, Tony would stand in the yard with his trusty sidekick Frank Malan. Leaning on his shepherd’s crook he would point to an animal that caught the eye. He would utter ‘I don’t care much for that one’ which was a sure sign a dud had been uncovered.

He had great rapport with the lads at Islanmore who all worked with him for years, including the great Seamie Creggan who has been there for more than 50 years. His 40-year working relationship with Frank was like that of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. One did the thinking, the other the work. Two great judges.

Tony’s natural place was at the head of the dinner table. He would tell hunting and shooting stories that would always include a peer or two. The Lords Dunraven, Daresbury, Waterford and Harrington were guaranteed a role, and a lesser Baronet might be included if needed. If the phrase ‘we don’t agree’ was used, it indicated a falling out, but that was as far as it went.

In 2010 Islanmore was sold and Tony never returned. He lived out his years in Adare where he could walk to Mrs Lohan to collect The Irish Field and Racing Post. He was a man whose company was to be enjoyed, but beneath lurked a formidable horseman. He was a lovely fellow.

The funeral service for Tony Tarry will take place on Monday at noon in Adare.

PC