A PACKED church near Drogheda, Co Louth recently said goodbye to one of their native sons when Fintan Branigan (1950-2015) was laid to rest.

This most modest of men had fought long and hard against his illness, supported by his wife Margaret, son Stephen and daughters Susan and Audrey. His 10 grandchildren gave him great pleasure in recent times after his beloved Crosstown herd had been greatly reduced in number and its founder, Crosstown Dancer, died in 2013.

An electrician by trade, Fintan had no background in horses but, encouraged by his great friend Noel Norris, he made his first appearance at Suma Stud in 1984, becoming a frequent visitor. He spotted a yearling by Pride Of Shaunlara and would not rest until he persuaded us to sell her. Named Tara Sky, she was the start of his love affair with horses, Irish Draughts in particular.

Fintan soaked up knowledge and was an instinctively good judge, pinpointing strong and weak features. He was never neutral, he either loved or hated the model.

Tara Sky had a short but sweet showing career, winning at the first Irish Draught national show, and her first two foals were by the thoroughbred Horos, one of whom, Suma’s Sky’s Ablaze, jumped successfully up to 1.40m. Her own-sister, Skies Of Blue, bred some top eventers including Imperial Sky.

But Fintan’s love was jumping and his pride and joy was the result of Tara Sky’s visit to George Nesbitt’s Flagmount Diamond. Crosstown Dancer (George) gave Fintan some wonderful times and gave the tiny townland of Crosstown worldwide recognition.

The liver chesnut was largely broken by Fintan and Stephen before arriving at Suma where he remained for the next 10 years. His first win at the RDS was at foot with Tara Sky and an unprecedented further six successes followed.

At five, Crosstown Dancer won the class to represent Ireland at the World Championships in Lanaken. Watching the jump-off, Fintan was so excited he lit his finger instead of his cigarette!

He was thrilled when his horse and Damian McDermott finished ahead of those partnered by top riders like Francis Connors and Trevor Coyle.

Fintan, meanwhile, had been adding to his stud, expanding the family electrical business with a second shop in Navan while he also took on a couple of building enterprises with his brother-in-law. He reluctantly accepted the use of warmbloods to produce jumpers and a Sea Crest granddaughter of Tara Sky produced the little powerhouse that is Crosstown Skylight to VDL Douglas.

Anyone visiting Crosstown Stud will tell of the fields full of lovely, mostly white horses and the enjoyment Fintan took from wandering through them. He was a hard man to buy from as he wouldn’t put a price on them although he received plenty of mouth-watering offers.

Fintan told me one of his favourite days was when he watched his beloved ‘George’, ridden by Louise Codd, compete and win a small event for Irish Draughts. It was tinged with sadness too as, returning home, he found that his mother had died. Her funeral was held in the same church where we found ourselves bidding farewell to Fintan only a few days ago.

A true friend, an honest and unassuming man he lived for his horses and his family. To use his own words, “Fintan, mind yourself”.

M.P.