A CHANCE encounter between Connemara pony breeder/agent Padraic Heanue and radio/television presenter Ryan Tubridy led to a very special wedding invitation for Canal Lorraine last Sunday, December 7th.

Padraic and Ryan have met several times over the years as Ryan has always been a great supporter of Connemara and the Connemara pony, including opening the annual Clifden Connemara Pony Show on one occasion.

It was therefore very apt that a Connemara Pony dropped by to wish him the best of luck on his wedding day to Dr Clare Kambamettu at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden. And who better than Canal Lorraine (aka ‘Rainy’), a four-time winner in the showring in Clifden.

“It was great to have one of our wonderful native Connemara ponies present for a few photos with Ryan. Rainy enjoyed all the attention from the many guests who popped out to see ‘the horse outside’,” Heanue said.

It’s an exciting year ahead for Canal Lorraine, bred the late Padraig Hynes. Rainy has bred predominantly colt foals which leaves the Heanue family without a filly to carry on this special line.

So, local vet Niamh Walch and Padraic’s daughter Ciara, who is in her second year of veterinary medicine in UCD, hatched a plan to do an embryo transfer which was successful. So Rainy is having not one, but two foals in 2026 thanks to the Heanue’s Lough Fadda Marshmallow who is carrying the second foal.