IN a bumper weekend for annual general meetings, the Irish Draught Horse Breeders’ Association (IDHBA) was the second such event held recently.

As with the Traditional Irish Horse Association (TIHA) AGM, held the previous day in Portlaoise, it was another positive event. A smart move was having the IDHBA annual awards at the end of the AGM and, with a slew of youngsters receiving awards, the Shamrock Lodge Hotel gathering was standing room only.

That youthful theme is also reflected in the IDHBA team line-up, and chairman Brian Murphy, in his second year in this role, thanked Sharon Manion (Secretary) and the National Board of Directors for their tireless work, and Linda O’Byrne for preparing the yearbook.

Murphy reiterated that the association’s primary focus remains the well-being of the Irish Draught, Ireland’s native breed, before listing milestone events in 2025.

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Seamus O’Neill, wife Valerie Davis and their daughter Rebecca, Ronan Stynes, PJ and Majella Glynn were amongst the IDHBA award recipients \ Susan Finnerty

The decision to sponsor the Dublin Horse Show broodmare and foal classes on Thursday’s ‘Draught Day’ was aimed at supporting grassroots breeders, while the IDHBA’s own national show in Punchestown last August was another success, despite the adverse weather.

He also thanked the main sponsors, FBD Insurance and Horse Sport Ireland, for their generosity.

Other key events included an informative seminar in Athlone last November, a judge’s seminar in Kildalton College and Joanne Maguire’s brainchild of a Christmas raffle, which proved a bonanza.

Brian also extended the Association’s condolences on the loss of stalwarts: its vice-chairman Matthew O’Meara and president Kitty Cotter, both recognised for their immense dedication and volunteer work for the Irish Draught horse.

“Kitty was the finest example of the word volunteer, working tirelessly behind the scenes at shows and sales throughout the country and across Co Cork, and all for the promotion of the Irish Draught horse.

“Matthew took on the role of vice-chairman with great pride and great enthusiasm. What you saw was what you got, complete with that devilish smile and glint in his eye. He had a word for everyone, young and old. Not only did he become vice-chairman but he became a close, personal friend of mine.

“It gave him immense pride to stand in Ring 1 in the RDS, representing the IDHBA, to present the Irish Draught mare championship cup and sashes.”

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More of the award winners, new judges and attendees at the IDHBA agm at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel \ Susan Finnerty

Notable increase

In her secretary’s report, Sharon Mannion said that 2025 was a busy year for the association and its branches.

The Sligo branch held two seminars: ‘Polishing for Showing’ and ‘Role of the Irish Horse Board’; Westmeath/Offaly, Dublin, Kildare, Galway, Laois and Tipperary each held shows and the local branch also sponsored the Kildare Hunter Performance show.

Wicklow and Kilkenny sponsored classes at shows, the Leitrim branch hosted the Mohill mare and foal championship, Wexford developed the South East ridden Draught final and the Cork/Kerry branch also sponsored classes at Cork Summer Show and held a show and sales day in October.

IDHBA membership stood at 393 members by the end of 2025, “a notable increase” and already has 217 paid-up members to date.

Sharon thanked Linda O’Byrne for producing the 2025 yearbook, Bernie Walshe and Joanne Maguire for coordinating memberships and Jennifer Haverty for securing a HSI €10,000 breeding grant to sponsor 10 classes at the Breed Show.

She also praised the collective team effort and remembered Matthew O’Meara and Kitty Cotter’s contributions.

In his treasurer’s report, Corkman Gerard Murphy outlined that 2025’s financial activity amounted to €109,000, and the association reported a combined surplus of €22,000.

He emphasised that the organisation’s strength lies in its branches and encouraged less active branches to seek support and volunteer involvement. He also noted the adoption of electronic banking.

Brian Murphy (Chairperson), Joanne Maguire (Vice-chairperson), Sharon Mannion (Honourary Secretary), Gerard Murphy (Treasurer) and Anthony Gillespie (Assistant Treasurer) were re-elected for another term, and long-time stalwart Eiline Brennan was appointed as IDHBA honorary president.

Sales slots

Items later discussed increasing a chairperson’s term to five years in succession. It was felt, as confirmed by previous chairpersons Robert Draper and Jennifer Haverty, that a two-year term was too short to implement all of their aims.

It was emphasised that this would involve an annual election at the AGM for a maximum of five consecutive years, not a fixed five-year term. This resolution was carried.

A suggestion to promote carriage driving at shows was made. Gerard Murphy confirmed that carriage driving is covered by their insurance policy. It was pointed out that the previous attempts to include carriage driving classes at shows faced low participation; however, there was agreement on its value.

Another proposal was for a three to five-year strategic plan to outline a vision for the breed, how to achieve it and specific actions. This idea was positively received.

The need for the national society to exert greater control over sales, particularly the Cavan sale, was also made. This was to prevent the misrepresentation of animals that do not meet full Irish Draught requirements, thereby protecting buyers and maintaining breed standards.

One speaker raised significant concerns that animals ineligible for full Class 1 or Class 2 Irish Draught status are being sold at primetime slots at Cavan, e.g., 1 o’clock, but these animals can never be upgraded to higher classes, which could mislead buyers who may not fully understand the grading system.

The chairman agreed to take the feedback on board and to discuss the matter with Cavan Equestrian Centre’s Stuart Clarke.

Brian Mangan, who attended both the TIHA and IDHBA annual general meetings, said he was optimistic about the future for both breeds and summed up a weekend of AGMs by saying: “There seems to be more joy within the communities. They know they have issues to deal with, they’ll get on with that, but let’s keep building that positivity.”

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Strokestown Park Irish Draught championship sponsor Jim Callery, one of the award winners at the IDHBA AGM, with IDHBA chairman Brian Murphy \ Susan Finnerty

Shamrock Lodge snippets

  • Gillian Kinahan was the lucky raffle winner: a yellow wheelbarrow teeming with equine supplements and goodies.
  • Upcoming IDHBA events include a stallion parade at Mullingar EC on Easter Sunday (April 5th), while this year’s National Show has changed to an earlier date and will take place on Saturday, July 11th at Punchestown Racecourse.
  • Six new judges received their IDHBA credentials on the day.
  • Special recognition awards went to back-to-back Dublin winners: Valerie Davis’s broodmare Castleview Lady Georgina (also the mare champion at the IDHBA national show mare and Strokestown) and Pat and Kate Hoare’s dual Dublin supreme champion stallion: Moylough Supremacy.
  • Strokestown Show’s Jim Callery (for his vision, generous sponsorship and unwavering commitment to the Irish Draught mare and the breed’s future), Irish Horse World contributor Susan Finnerty (for extensive reporting and positive features on the equine community, also increasing the profile of the Irish Draught breed), Susan McCarthy (a Cork/Kerry branch founding member, praised for dedication and willingness for various tasks, from selling raffle tickets to raising sponsorship) and Wexford branch member and board director Michael Murphy (who built up a thriving National Show and for his dedication to promoting the Irish Draught) were this year’s Contribution to the Breed award recipients.

    • IDHBA 2025 awards

    Foal of the Year - Linda O’Byrne & Ronan Stynes’ Lilliputs Kildare

    Youngstock - PJ & Majella Glynn’s Crannaghmore Lucky Dip

    Mare - Valerie Davis’s Castleview Lady Georgina

    Ridden Horse - Jill Brown’s A Hero’s Welcome

    Young rider - Roisin Conway

    Young Person show awards - Paul Bohan, Dominic Cassidy, Danielle Conaghan, Toby Corbett, James Creedon, Katie Doyle, Emma Irons, Leah Kee-McElwaney, Heather Kelly, Hazel Walshe and Yasmin Watson

    IDHBA judges - Orla Atkinson, Padraig Bohan, Jennifer Haverty, Simone Hession, PJ Sheerin and Victoria Teuton

    Special Recognition - Valerie Davis (Castleview Lady Georgina) and Pat & Kate Hoare (Moylough Supremacy)

    Contribution to the Breed: Jim Callery, Susan Finnerty, Susan McCarthy and Michael Murphy