THERE was a large turnout for the funeral of Billy Barry, a breeder from Lislevane in Co Cork, who died on the evening of October 5th, after feeding his mare and foal.

He was a breeder of half-bred horses and thoroughbreds, and exhibited at shows all over the country. He stood stallions, carriage drove and was involved in everything to do with horses.

Delivering the eulogy, his son Pat said: “Dad simply adored horses and all things associated with them. He attended fairs, horse shows, point-to-points and race meetings the length of the country.

“From Bannow and Rathangan in Co Wexford to Balmoral in Co Antrim, over to Ballinsloe in Co Galway and back down to Bantry in West Cork. Dad had been to them all and all those in between also.

“One of our sitting room walls is covered with rosettes and his most coveted one – a second prize in the RDS - is in his coffin going with him to his heavenly home.

“He had success too, winning 14 first prizes with a colt foal in 1994 and winning the All-Ireland Yearling Championship the following year in Ballinasloe.

“He bred point-to-point and racing winners. He bred Derrinross, winner of Grade 3 and Grade 2 hurdle races in 2018 and sixth in the 2019 Albert Bartlett Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, a meeting he regularly attended. He sold at both Goffs and Tattersalls.

“He helped at Bandon Show, Bandon point-to-point, Clonakilty Show, and was a founding member of Courtmacsherry Strand races. He was on the Cork and Waterford point-to-point executive and also was on the IFA Horse committee.

“He was one of the founding members of the West Cork horse breeders, held the treasurer’s office and was instrumental in his work securing LEADER funding from Europe for grants for mares.”