MAEVE Chadwick, born on July 20th 1924, died recently following a lifetime’s involvement with horses.

The following eulogy was delivered at the celebration of her life by Karen McKeown who first got to know Maeve when riding her pony to Maeve’s Toye yard on Saturdays and spending the day there.

Karen was assisted in the eulogy’s compilation by Jean Mitchell, who was accompanied to many international horse trials by Maeve, and Jim McShane. The latter came to know Maeve when mentioning a mutual friend, the late Betty Parker, and he ended up grooming for her at weekends.

Eulogy

THIS is by no means the complete story of Maeve Chadwick, a woman known and loved by us all, but will hopefully raise a smile as you remember her.

Maeve originally lived in Malahide and along with the late Paddy Condron, and some like-minded individuals, started off Cheval Riding Club. She was also involved in one of the very first indoor arenas at the Grand Hotel in Malahide which ran brilliant jumping shows.

Maeve was a great supporter of show jumping in those days, when both Francie Kerins and Brian Henry rode for her, while she then expanded her interests into eventing.

She arrived in Toye in the mid-1980s complete with dogs, horses and John Hand who rode for her at that time. She was looking for a farm near the sea with as many acres as possible. She bought Haye’s farm and immediately decided to sell off the farmhouse and build a bungalow which was an exact replica of her one in Malahide. This included a sunroom where she spent many happy hours.

This house eventually became known as Pooh Corner and at one of her annual trips to Burghley she purchased a lovely sign with Pooh Bear which was erected on the lane.

Maeve was based here for many years and travelled to events all over Ireland and further afield. Her bright yellow and mahogany lorry was a social centre with tea and biscuits (sometimes in date, sometimes not) dispensed to all-comers. She was instrumental in starting event riders, giving them the opportunity to eventually move on with their own career. Some of these include Eric Pele, the late Ian Olding, George Newton, Jill Murphy, Clare Steele and Jonny Hagan.

Out of the blue Maeve then decided that she was going to move lock, stock and barrel to Scotland, to be nearer many more events. Accompanied by her good friend Jean Mitchell, she spent almost a year travelling to look at potential farms before eventually settling on the beautiful Pilmuir Farm at Coldingham which, too, was near the sea with about 100 acres.

Maeve then uprooted and travelled over with at least 26 horses, several dogs, chickens…you get the picture! She completely renovated the farmhouse, and adjoining bothy, constructing a new equestrian yard. During her time in Scotland, her good friend Jim McShane, made twice yearly visits to Maeve which she greatly enjoyed while another regular visitor was a good friend from her early days, Joan Kearns. I visited her twice while she was there and was in awe of all that she achieved. However, I will say it was one of the coldest places I have ever visited!

After six years or so, Maeve was ready to come back to Northern Ireland and was delighted to find a farm and house at Kirkland Road – just up the road from Pooh Corner. Again, she was straight into another major renovation job, of both house and yard, which was ably undertaken by the amazing Colin McDowell and his team of builders.

For almost 20 years, Maeve really enjoyed her annual holiday at Burghley horse trials, travelling with Jean Mitchell. They had the privilege of taking over Liz Inman’s lovely cottage just outside Stamford where Maeve loved looking after the cats and the garden and being able to please herself for breakfast and evening meal with food she purchased daily in the various food stands. She visited every trade stand, talking to most exhibitors, as she did her rounds.

Maeve also appreciated her place in the Directors’ Tent where she enjoyed the daily lunch and was able to chat with the great and the good of the eventing world and, more importantly, was able to park her daily purchases! One of those at Burghley was a beautiful bespoke table, with accompanying chairs, which moved home with her, and she enjoyed being able to fill it with her many friends. Maeve was a great cook and her dinner parties and amazing desserts were legendary.

As we all know, Maeve could be very frugal and found some great things in skips. Being at Burghley made no difference and Jean often had to remind her that, as they had flown over, there was no room for her valuable finds. As always though, Maeve found a way and often an Irish lorry came home with her freebies and extensive shopping. I also remember being told to pop out of the lorry to rescue glass bottles at the side of the road when you got 10p for returning them.

In 1994 she went to the World Equestrian Games (in The Hague) with Jean and Gillian Kyle with Jean driving Maeve’s Saab car. Kitty Keys joined them there but decided to travel by plane. Anyway, the weather was very hot and despite being in a very smart hotel, Maeve couldn’t stick the heat and retired to a passageway in the car park where she slept in a cardboard box!

In recent times Maeve, accompanied by Jim, would make their way every Sunday to Lusk Equestrian Centre to enjoy the craic and the good food served by Jacqui at the White Horse Café. This was a place Maeve could go to relax and enjoy some comfort food and a chat with many friends.

Unfortunately, recent times saw Maeve’s health slowly taking a downturn – she didn’t admit it but she knew. After a spell in hospital, Maeve wanted to return to her lovely home and beloved dogs, Brammie and Chattie. During her last few weeks at home she was nursed and helped by very close friends who will never forget what a great woman she was and what a pleasure to know.

Maeve was a woman of great character who was respected by all who knew her. She called a spade a spade but we can all recount stories of her great kindness. Maeve, you were a much-loved lady and we will miss you. God bless x.

Tributes

One-time neighbours, Pat and Yvonne Monahan

“We lived next door to Maeve for 10 years but had known her a long time prior to that. She was such a generous neighbour and always on hand should we need her.

“She was a longtime member of Cheval Riding Club and Pat remembers the day she was commentating but forgot to turn off the mic as she announced that she was going behind the hedge for a pee.

“Along with members of Cheval, she hosted a party at her house for Yvonne to celebrate her win (on Santex in the CCI3*) at Punchestown.

“Probably one of our outstanding memories of Maeve was when she was given a live turkey for Christmas one year. That turkey never made it to the pot and instead terrorised the neighbourhood for many years after.”

Some of those who rode competitively for Maeve

“The best horse I jumped for Maeve was Killonan,” revealed Francie Kerins. “I was riding for Frank McGarry at the time but was happy to take Killonan up here as well. In 1964, he was champion at Ballymena and Cork.

“I’d often stay with Maeve in Malahide when down that part of the world. She was a great woman and, at that time, in addition to doing the horses, she also ran the canteen at Chadwicks’ depot in Walkinstown.”

Kerins was followed as show jumping rider by Boris Thompson and Brian Henry while among the many good horses in that sphere who passed through Maeve’s hands were Tibohen, Cornelscourt, Glengarriff and Knockaney.

When she moved into the world of eventing her riders here, in addition to those mentioned by Karen McKeown, included Janet Murray (then Mehigan) while, during her time in Scotland, New Zealand international Caroline Powell competed Maeve’s Yashgan gelding Got The Look up to CCI3* level.

Long-time friend and occasional horsebox driver Peter Quirke

“I’ve plenty of stories about Maeve but the best concerns the time a group of us, including John Hand, Margie McLoone, and the late Christine Bastow, went to the European Championships in Luhmühlen.

“We were staying in a nearby hotel and had hired an estate car to take us to and from the event. One evening when we were ready to leave, and had picked up an extra passenger, Maeve was missing, or so we thought. But the eldest member of our party had actually crawled under the retractable parcel-shelf of the car in case we were stopped by the police for having too many people onboard!”