FETHARD Horse Country Experience, officially opened in Tipperary last Tuesday by Minister of State Paul Kehoe TD and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, has every potential to become either the first or final destination on Ireland’s equine tourism map.

The elaborate six-year project takes in 2,000 years of the rich and colourful local history, illustrating how Fethard and the horse have become entwined through the centuries.

Fittingly, the museum is strategically placed near Coolmore Stud and Kiltinan Castle Stud as well as within easy reach of the M8, not far from Shannon Airport and on the road to the flagship, Irish National Stud.

The new €1.6m interactive museum is housed within an entirely renovated 400-year-old building which previously was an almshouse, a courthouse and town hall, a fire station and dance hall.

Visitors can see a wide variety of exhibitions, including the story of the Irish Draught Horse, and the Cromwellian occupation in which the walled town was spared. The main centrepiece is the skeleton of the famed Sadler’s Wells, the stallion who was and still is at the heart of Coolmore Stud.

The project is the result of major investment from the Magnier family, Lord Lloyd Webber and his wife Madeleine Gurdon. Public funding came from Tipperary County Council, Failte Ireland and Ireland’s Ancient East and the Leader Partnership, with support from Coolmore Stud.

“The museum is the culmination of a number of years of hard work from both the local community and our supporters and funders, for which we are extremely grateful,” said Jimmy O’Sullivan, chairman of Fethard Business and Tourism Group.

“Fethard is the most important medieval small walled town in Ireland and this state-of-the-art visitor attraction enhances Fethard’s wonderful tapestry, making it an unmissable stop on Ireland’s Ancient East.”

HERO’S WELCOME

Andrew Lloyd Webber received a hero’s welcome. The people of Fethard have taken the renowned composer as their own, and he, in turn, returned the compliment, saying he was “blown away” by the town when he first arrived 25 years ago.

“I want to say thank you Fethard for always welcoming me and I hope this is an incredible success for you – you deserve it.

“The town hall has been lovingly restored and it is the perfect canvas to showcase Fethard’s rich history.

“Through Kiltinan Castle Stud, my wife and I feel a close affinity to the horse culture which is an intrinsic part of this area and we hope that the museum will play a key role in attracting more people to this beautiful and historically rich part of Ireland.”

Fethard Horse Country Experience is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, telephone 052-613 0439 or email enquiries@fhcexperience.ie.

The wheelchair accessible museum is online at www.fhcexperience.ie.