DESPITE challenging weather conditions, the Galway Branch Show, held at Ballinasloe Showgrounds on Saturday, May 30th, proved a resounding success, with competitors and spectators alike enjoying a fantastic day of equestrian competition and entertainment.

The event attracted an impressive turnout, with Irish Draught enthusiasts travelling from all corners of the country to take part, including exhibitors from Donegal, Waterford, Meath, Dublin, Kildare and many more areas, highlighting the popularity and strong nationwide support for the Irish Draught breed.

Ring One

Tom McNamara's Shanbally Pippaloo Pat was the Supreme ridden champion of the show under Maria McNamara at the Galway Branch IDHBA show at Ballinasloe \ Alan Leonard

Ring 1 got underway under the watchful eyes of judges Ms Jane Darragh (Co Kilkenny) and Ger O’Sullivan (Co Cork). The first class of the day saw a Galway one-two, with Marcus Donnellan’s Miss Suileen Bouncer (Moylough Bouncer x Coolcronan Wood), shown by his daughter Emma, taking top honours. Pat Finn’s Hollybrookfarm Sweetdreamer (Harkaway Lionhawk x Carrabawn View), expertly presented by John Burke, secured the runner-up position.

Pat Finn continued his success by winning the Kilcolgan Tyres-sponsored Irish Draught Mare (4–9 years) with Foal at Foot class with Kentucky Dancer (Scrapman x Bridgeford Stockbroker). In the Easyfix Irish Draught Mare (10 years and over) class, Tuam exhibitor Denis McGrath claimed victory with Clogher Cleopatra (Castlegar Finn Grove x Finn’s Clover Inn), a mare bred by his father Pat McGrath. Runner-up was Dominic Furnell of Ballycahane, Co Limerick, with Ballycahane Silver Vixen (Gurraun Zidane x Crosstown Dancer).

Furnell also won the Filly Foal class with Ballycahane Silver Vixen’s foal by Young Carrabawn, who stands locally in Craughwell with Tommy McMahon. Tommy also generously sponsored a nomination to his Class 1 stallion Ludden Skywalker for the Champion Mare. The Loobrhu Farm-sponsored Colt Foal class went to Tipperary exhibitor Katelyn O’Meara with Golden Millstone (Killea Hill View x Mackey Clover), while Denis McGrath took second place with his colt foal by Dunsandle Diamond.

Champion Mare of the Show was awarded to Marcus Donnellan’s Miss Suileen Bouncer, while Reserve Champion Mare went to Patrick Finn’s Kentucky Dancer. Champion Foal of the Show was awarded to Dominic Furnell, with Denis McGrath taking the Reserve Champion Foal title. Denis also secured victory in the Department of Agriculture-funded Mare and Foal Championship.

Majella and PJ Glynn's Crannaghmore Lucky Dip won the youngstock championship at the Galway Branch IDHBA show at Ballinasloe \ Alan Leonard

Ring two

In Ring 2, Galway native Ms Maeve Carty and Mr Kevin McGuinness from Co Dublin presided over proceedings. The first class in the ring was for Irish Draught In-Hand Geldings, where another local one-two result saw Maria McNamara take the red rosette with Balmoral Performance winner Shanbally Pippalo Pat (Cappa Aristocrat x All the Diamonds), owned by her father Tom. Grace Maxwell Murphy’s Gleann Rua Bridgerton (Castlegar Finn Grove x All the Diamonds) took the runner-up position, shown by her husband William McMahon.

The Irish Draught Youngstock classes followed, with Mike Keane of Loughrea winning the Yearling Filly class with Cheerynook I Love Lucy (Moylough Supremacy x Gortfree Hero). The Yearling Colt class went to Young Lothario (Young Carrabawn x Fast Silver), shown by Lily Stapleton from Limerick. It was another successful show for Athlone exhibitors PJ and Majella Glynn, who won the TwoYear-Old Filly class with Crannaghmore Lucky Dip (Moylough Legacy x Carrickrock Close Shave), who was also the winner of the Yearling Filly class in 2025 and later crowned Youngstock Champion of the Show. The championship was kindly sponsored by McNamara Boarding Kennels.

The Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding class was won by Adrian Conlon’s Crehelp White Pearl (Longwood White Pearl x The Bard) on his showing debut. The Rathmorrissey Lodge-sponsored Three-Year-Old Filly class saw the home-bred Lady Meabh, by Gortfree Lakeside Lad, take top honours for owners Declan and Sheila Condell. Oughterard exhibitor Colie Delapp won the Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding class with Cloonacauneen Paddy (Zeus of the Blues x Touch of the Blues).

The final class of the day in Ring 2 was the Young Handlers class, where Katie Doyle and My Highfield Hurricane (Highfield Tornado x Fintan Himself) claimed victory. Aaron Keane, showing his grandfather’s Hollybrookfarm Sweetdreamer, secured the runner-up position. Supreme In-Hand Champion of the show went to Marcus and Emma Donnellan’s Miss Suileen Bouncer.

Ring three

The ridden Irish Draught classes got Ring 3 underway. Foxford Nina (Cappa Aristocrat x Innisfree The Holy Grail) was the choice of judges Richard Iggulden and Ruth Cousins in the Ridden Mare class, owned by Kathleen Gaiety Cunny and ridden by Liam Lynskey. In the Department of Agriculture-funded Four and Five-Year-Old Ridden Irish Draught class, Maria McNamara and Shanbally Pippalo Pat again proved unbeatable. Another local exhibitor, Renée O’Shaughnessy of Athenry, won the Six-Year-Old and Over Ridden class with her own Prospect Earl (Gortfree Hero x Agherlow).

The Irish Draught Ridden Championship mirrored the earlier In-Hand Gelding results, with Maria McNamara and Shanbally Pippalo Pat taking the championship honours and Grace Maxwell Murphy’s Glenn Rua Bridgerton securing the reserve title. Grace Maxwell Murphy and William McMahon later won the Part-Bred Ridden class with Glenn Rua Legacy (Moylough Legacy x Beowulf).

Performance classes

Attention then turned to the performance classes. Meabh Hennessy’s mare Oakland Little T (Grandpa’s Diamond x Bunkering Grey Mist) won the Novice Working Hunter class, while Tom and Maria McNamara enjoyed further success with Shanbally Nightcap (Cappa Aristocrat x Collie More Hill), winner of the Flexineb by Nortev-sponsored Four and Five-Year-Old Working Hunter class.

The Jim Derwin-sponsored Open Working Hunter class went to Duncan McFadyen riding Bawnbally Diamond (Carrabawn Cross x Drumri) for owner Sean Barker. Maria McNamara rounded off an exceptional day by claiming the Irish Draught Performance Championship with Shanbally Pippalo Pat, and stood Supreme Ridden Champion of the Show, while Meabh Hennessy’s Oacklonad Little T stood reserve. While the Part-Bred Performance class went to Sophie Mullane and her own Diamond Dreamer (Prescott’s Diamond x Wizard King).

As the day concluded, competitors departed Ballinasloe with ribbons, prizes and fond memories, looking forward to the season ahead. The Galway Branch Committee thanked all exhibitors who travelled to support the show, Alan Leonard for his photography throughout the day, all volunteers and helpers, and Ballinasloe Showgrounds for the use of their excellent facilities.