NEWS reached the farming, hunting and racing community last week in North County Dublin of the sad passing of Amelia McGuinness who died peacefully in the gentle care of Rush Nursing Home. She was the widow of the well-known horseman Larry ‘Gusty’ McGuinness who was a former point-to-point rider and joint-master of the Fingal Harriers who farmed at Carnhill in Loughshinny, and Walshestown in Lusk.

Amelia was a very popular person, and a pleasure to visit. She was the homemaker, full of vitality, informed, humorous, exceptionally strong willed, a no-nonsense person, quick to size people up, determined always to be independent and driving her own car, sometimes ‘very fast’, up to recently at 91 years of age. She had a tremendous appetite for life and people, possessing a quick sharp wit, and great company. She managed the backroom activities that kept the wheels turning on a very busy farm, and horse livery, bloodstock breeding and schooling yard.