Isabel Hurley
FINAL preparations are underway in Clifden on the eve of the world famous Connemara Pony Festival which kicks off tomorrow.
Held from Sunday, August 16th to Sunday, August 23rd, the event attracts thousands of people from all around the world, culminating with next weekend’s two-day Connemara Pony sale.
For the first time this year, the festival will feature an art trail with a number of paintings of Connemara ponies on display in local shops.
The opening event of the festival, the Connemara Pony Show Queen competition, will take place in the Station House Theatre tomorrow evening. In addition, the bus tour of Connemara studs will run over two days this year due to its increasingly popularity with overseas visitors.
On Monday the tour will travel from Clifden towards Letterfrack and Renvyle and on Tuesday, it will travel from Cashel to Ballyconneely.
Tuesday is international day with the annual general meeting of the ICCPS scheduled in the morning, followed by a memorial service for deceased friends.
A linear profiling workshop will follow while on Tuesday evening, the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel will host the international reception.
Here the Danish and Swedish societies will be presented with perpetual trophies for their national shows to celebrate their jubilee anniversaries.
President of the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society, Tom MacLochlainn, said: “We take the opportunity this year of celebrating the golden jubilees of both societies. The Jubilee Cups being presented to them are but small tokens of gratitude for over 50 years of trade, tourism and enduring friendships.
“SIt is amazing how cultural, social, religious and linguistic barriers never even appeared as ‘An Capaillín’ and gave us common ground. It is an incredible story and, in welcoming our visitors from all over the globe, we extend a very special ‘céad mile fáilte’ to our Scandinavian friends.”
CONNEMARA PONY SHOW
The highlight of the festival, the Connemara Pony Show, will be held over three days, starting on Wednesday morning. The first class of the day is the four-year-old performance mare championship featuring an attractive €5,000 prize fund, sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland.
On Wednesday afternoon, Emma Massingale, who recently spent a month on an island off Connemara with her Connemara ponies, will give a demonstration.
The Green Hunter and three-year-old loose jumping finals will also take place on Wednesday.
Thursday features in-hand classes, ridden classes, dog show, Irish dancing, Séan Nós dancing, domestic arts and best dressed lady competition.
The winner of the best dressed lady competition will receive a €500 voucher to spend in Millars Connemara or the Design Platform while the runner-up will receive a Newbridge Rose Gold watch from the Celtic Shop.
Dubarry are sponsoring the most appropriately dressed lady who will win a pair of Dubarry Galway boots.
Hehirs of Clifden will present the most stylish gentleman with a Jack Murphy jacket valued at €250.
Working hunter classes start on Friday morning with the high performance final and puissance competition taking place in the afternoon.
The show will culminate with a parade of champions in the Station House Courtyard.
The main sponsors of the show include Sweeney Oil, Galway Irish Crystal and Horse Sport Ireland. A sale of Connemara ponies will take place in Clifden Mart next Saturday and Sunday at 11am each day. For more details and to download a brochure, please visit www.cpbs.ie