IT could have been a very honourable end for the Clarecastle Show after last year’s hugely successful event. Redevelopment plans for its former site, the Clarecastle GAA grounds, had left the show without a venue and may well have signalled another loss to the show calendar.

And what a loss this atmosphere-packed gathering would have been as dur-ing the pandemic, show chairman Michael Slattery went back to the drawing board and basically redesigned the event for 2022.

Noting how numbers continue to drop in young horse classes and how low prize money was little enticement to bring in entries, he came up with a new concept.

No traditional format show classes, instead the €25,000 Brian Boru young horse and Banner broodmare championships, both filled with lucrative prizemoney and bonus extras.

One example was a draw among the Banner broodmare owners for free stallion nominations, all donated by generous owners who willingly got on board with the new concept.

Then there was another Slattery idea: Clarecastle silver medals, now treas-ured in households by the recipients who, to date, include the inimitable Michael pair of Hughes and Slavin, Valerie Thorington and Irish Shows Associaton (ISA) former presidents Davis Sheehan of Rockbarton Stud and Drummindoo Stud’s Paddy Joe Foy.

Practical gestures, imaginative and thoughtful finishing touches, even down to the faithfully recreated replica of Brian Boru’s sword and miniature bottle of Irishman whiskey given to the championship exhibitors.

And it’s not just exhibitors that Clarecastle goes the extra mile for. Last year, admission prices were dropped in favour of an optional donation. It paid off in spectacular fashion with families turning up in droves for an afternoon gathering.

Roisin Dobson’s Newtown Figaro inspects one of the cannons, said to have been used at the Siege of Athlone \ Susan Finnerty

Clarecastle was also the host show for the Irish Shows Association’s All-Ireland colt foal final. It is sponsored by Ennis Municipal Authority, keen to contribute to a vibrant showcase and the Banner County’s reputation as a producer of top horses. A reputation underlined again last weekend with Capels Hollow Drift’s good result at Badminton CCI5*-L. Bred by Jenny Glynn, he is by Shannondale Stud’s Shannondale Sarco.

Horse Sport Ireland was another sponsor to row in behind Clarecastle, stepping up to sponsor the Brian Boru young horse championship last year. The Slattery family, both here and in America, all support the Banner broodmare championship. Amongst the clan is Michael’s sister Eileen, the 1968 Rose of Tralee, who now lives in North Carolina.

So an impressive start for the new show, however, the astroturf surface planned for the local GAA grounds could well have spelt the end of Clarecastle, a show that only emerged on the scene in 2016 but had quickly established itself as one of the top shows in the country.

It’s back.

Beside the castle

The good news is that a 10-acre site, beside a tributary of the River Fergus and near the original castle that gave Clarecastle its name, has been found. As has a new date - Saturday, July 29th - one that GAA fans will have no difficulty in remembering as it’s the eve of the 2023 All-Ireland Hurling Final in Croke Park.

Incidentally, this year will mark the 50th anniversary since a Clareman refereed an All-Ireland Hurling Final: Michael Slattery. Not that he’ll ever tell you this himself, it was only by happenstance I found that out.

Just like any good stallion owner or horseman is content to let their horses do the talking for them, these ‘claims to fame’ have never been mentioned by Slattery, a well-known businessman in the Shannon region but an individual who shuns the limelight.

Instead, he lets his pride in the Banner County, its history and legends, Irish horsemen, characters and literature shine through at the local show.

Another successful Banner businessman is Gerard Halpin, who has undertaken the not inconsiderable task of restoring Clarecastle’s Norman castle, built in 1250, to its former glory.

Meticulously restored cut-stone buildings - Thomond, De Clare and Castle Houses - plus more charming cottages and a coachhouse surround the castle’s courtyard. Repurposed as luxury holiday accommodation, the initiative brings more corporate and tourist revenue to the town.

It was here on Monday that an impromptu gathering took place to announce that Clarecastle is back, on a new date and on a new site, a stone’s throw from this courtyard and River Fergus.

All the favourite championships are back. This year, Slattery, always looking for new ideas, has added one for the native pony to the Clarecastle collection: the Shannon Connemara pony championship.

Five handsomely-sponsored classes for Connemara broodmare, two/three-year-olds and two ridden classes will be held before another trademark Clarecastle overall championship for the inaugural Shannon Connemara champion.

A special four-legged guest was the impeccably-behaved Newtown Figaro, by I Love You Melody, brought along by Darach and Roisin Dobson, from Tuamgraney. The father-and-daughter team have produced this seven-year-old since they bought him as an unbroken youngster four years ago.

Irish Draughts, traditional-breds, sport horse breeding, the All-Ireland colt foal final, IPS and show jumping classes are all catered for too at Clarecastle as show secretary Nichola Shannon puts the finishing touches to the schedule. Watch out for updates on its website and socials as the count-down continues to another Clarecastle show.

Photos over, Figaro loaded up, you glance back and there’s Michael Slattery pacing the grass and carefully rearranging the slightest stray piece of turf in the host’s courtyard.

That precise attention to detail never goes away.