BORN in the north Tipperary village of Toomevara, Matthew O’Meara’s interests spanned Irish country life: hunting, farming Irish Draughts, horse racing, carriage driving, and his annual pilgrimage to Dublin Horse Show.

His father, Jim, was the local stallion master and, while walking to school, Matthew often saw the family’s famous Irish Draught stallion Milestone and his Royal Gem dam Dooree Maid passing by on their way to work in the fields. The pair were bought by Jim from Milestone’s breeder, James Greene.