THE relationship between Harold McGahern and fellow Co Longford native Commandant Gerry Flynn would be best known on the wider stage through the mare Rincoola Abu who represented Ireland and the Army Equitation School with great success. However, the pair first met when Flynn was a teenage member of the local Pony Club.

“I was 15 or 16 when I first met Harold McGahern. He was an instructor in the Midland and Western Pony Club of which I was a member. When I was elevated to the senior ‘Red Ride’, Harold became my instructor.