MARY Rothwell’s pilgrimages to the Dubarry factory shop in Ballinasloe are renowned amongst her friends so it was no surprise to hear that a retail therapy stop was made last Saturday on the way to Claremorris. She and her father Derry were judging the sport horse section at the Ireland West foal championship where they made another purchase at the auction, bringing home a Carrabawn Cross colt foal to Tinahely.

“We’ll turn him away and more than likely he’ll be aimed under saddle as a four-year-old and probably sold on then. It was lovely to see the showing circle faces again and to see inside Dubarry too. There were serious withdrawal symptoms, even if I was receiving phone calls from the car park to hurry up! Dad was sad to see the empty Fair Green and the Showgrounds gates locked,” said Mary as due to Covid-19, both this year’s Ballinasloe Horse Fair and agricultural show were cancelled.