JUDITH Faherty, our flame-haired colleague in Irish Horse World, of course said yes to the proposal of longtime boyfriend Peter O’Toole.

Peter, a quantity surveyor and farmer from Clifden, Connemara whose family breed Connemaras at Castle Connemara Ponies on the Sky Road, owned the junior champion, Castle Marksman, at Clifden Show last month.

With that kind of pedigree he needn’t have worried about the answer from the Connie mad Judith after he got down on one knee at their favourite place – Mannin Beach in Connemara – and produced a stunning solitaire.

Maeve and Henry O’Toole, Marty and Patricia Faherty are the delighted parents and even better are already best friends, so nothing to worry about there.

The couple’s ring was crafted by jeweller Ray O’Connell on Abbeygate Street in Galway, who made all their wishes come true!

Romance is everywhere

AND following in that theme, Romance was in the air at Cork last Sunday. Passion beat Unknown Pleasures in the first race. Later in the card Romantic Proposal was followed in by Lovee Dovee.

Leopardstown competition

DECLAN O’Connell from Newbridge and Marvin Powderly from Navan both win a pair of Champion Bundle tickets for Leopardstown next Saturday. Thanks to Leopardstown Racecourse for the prizes.

THE racing media were well looked after at Joseph O’Brien’s yard in Piltown, Co Kilkenny, on Tuesday morning. Horse Racing Ireland organised the outing which was to promote next Sunday’s Pat Smullen Champions Race for Cancer Trials Ireland at the Curragh. As well as tea and coffee, the press were treated to not one but two trays of delicious pastries. Apparently one tray was supposed to go to HRI’s board meeting but ended up in the wrong car. The buns tasted even better after hearing that!