BLUE SKIES and the cream of Connemara ponies attracted one of the largest crowds in recent years yesterday to the Connemara Pony Breeders Show in Clifden.
Even the Australian branch of the Connemara Pony Society was represented: Karen Holloway flew in from Tasmania on one of her twice-yearly pilgrimages to the heartland of the breed.
Australia is one of 17 countries with such branches, reflecting how the Connemara pony has crossed the world since the society was founded almost 90 years ago.
Only the best of the breed were fetching big prices in Clifden yesterday, the 88th annual show, and a number of performance events are due to take place today.
Standardisation of the rules and inspections governing the Connemara pony were the main items for discussion when the 17 branches met in Clifden this week. Pony society sources say that breeding, blood-typing and general conformation to standards is satisfactory in most countries.
Fine Gael presidential candidate Gay Mitchell was introduced to the crowd yesterday by Minister of State for Tourism Michael Ring, just after his party colleague, Avril Doyle, officially opened the show.
Changing times were reflected on the showground gallery, with mainly Fine Gaelers among politicians present and one lone lady in red quietly canvassing support for Labour Party candidate Michael D Higgins.
A lady in a different colour secured the prize for the best-dressed at the show. Clad in emerald and wearing a cream headpiece, Connemara native Coleen Lynott, back on holiday from London, won the competition judged by Nuala Carey from RTÉ.
Next year will mark a special anniversary, according to the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society president, Andrew O’Donoghue. It was in 1912 that Michael O’Malley from Ros Muc in Connemara took two ponies all the way to a show in London, displaying the qualities of Connemara ponies and horses to the larger equine world.