Purebred Connemara Broodmares
Past & Present
Joyful Lass ( M 6851 )
1975 - 1999
Bred by the Reverend B.Hanley, Rooskey. Co.Roscommon.
By Regan S 520, who was a twin, and out of Evangeline M 5239 ( by Joyful Boy S 276 ). She had Ben lettery, Dun Aengus and Clonjoy as her great-grand-sires.
Before setting off to stud, in April 1994.
Ten days off foaling, in July 1995.
When this little old fashioned mare came to us from a friend, Primrose, whose three girls had all learned to ride on her, she had been known as 'Sally', and was 19 years young. She had a white certificate with all her details printed on it, for she was registered before the days of passports. Although we later found out that this 13.2 , hairy-heeled Connemara had passed through several hands, her last registered owner had been Kay Conly, of Armagh. The Conlys, when we contacted them, were delighted to hear that their mare, whom they had called 'Tara', had turned up again after so long ! Their daughter, Kirstin, had ridden her for 4 years, until she was sold on at 8 y-o to people in Aghalee, with the proviso that she be offered back to the Conlys if she was ever for sale again. As so often happens, this condition was forgotten, and 'Tara' disappeared. Jim and Kay would have bought her back again from us, but we had fallen completely in love with her, and the best we could do was to promise them a foal from her. So a few years later, we were happily able to accomodate Jim when he came to buy her 1997 daughter, as a surprise for his wife and family !
As a riding pony, Sally really knew her job - Primrose recounted how she met her 'coming round the corner on two wheels', her youngest daughter on her back, and how if the child began to slide off, Sally would give her a hike up again onto the saddle. Primrose had taken a riding pony foal out of Sally, but with such a treasure handed to us, we went pure. As well as being a dependable mount for our young folk then, Sally became a mum again. She and Bluebell set off together, and Sally spent a few months of that summer of '94 at the Ard Stud, but when a match with Ard Conneelly was going nowhere, she was tried instead with his buckskin son, Ard Zachary S 975. Just around midnight the following July 11th, I heard the foal arriving under the old apple trees outside our window, and the next morning we met the new baby - a tiny bay filly.
At that time, My Friend Flicka had been on television, and the filly was christened 'Flicka' by Eleanor.
A few weeks later, and the bony bits were filling out - Flicka in August '95.
Sally in 1997 with her new baby behind Eleanor.
This filly is by Donegreagh Applejack.
Cahersherkin Pride M-9794.
Born: 1990
Sire: Kilduffahoo S 874 by Sarsfield - Killyreagh Kim - Carna Bobby
Dam: Barna Rover M 7123 by Dangan Glory ( also by Killyreagh Kim ) and out of Sea Bird ( by Rebel Wind S 137 ).
Bred By: Tom Finnan, Snugboro, Galbally. Co.Limerick.
Tom also bred Caherline Nellie, who was with Pauline McLaren in her stud at Augher for a few years, where were thrilled to meet her ! Nellie is also by Kilduffahoo, and was born in 1990. Perhaps Nellie and Pride ran together as foals ?
We had the good fortune to discover Pride at a Connemara jumping competition, followed by a sale at Ecclesville in December 2001, where she was ridden into the ring with a red numnah. For several years she had belonged to Mr.Norman Wright of Holywood, Co.Down, with whom she had been bred and ridden, and been able to spend her summers swimming of the coast of Donegal ! Norman was kind enough to bring her home for us after the sale. An investigation into Pride's past revealed that she was purchased from her breeder and then named and registered by John Burke of Manus More, Ennis, Co.Clare, in honour of his wife, whom he considered to be the 'Pride of Cahersherkin' ! He told us that circumstances forced him to part with her when she was a 2 y-o - the pony, not the wife..... and he was delighted to hear where she was. Four years later we had the pleasure of unexpectedly meeting John just before Pride's win at Balmoral - he had been astonished to see her name in the programme after, by sheer co-incidence - travelling up to the show for the first time ever - and was justifiably proud of her achievement that day. His trek North could not have been better timed !
John with his Pride at the RUAS, 2006.
In 2006 Pride went before the crowds at the RUAS and won the inaugural Connemara Brood Mare Championship, and was presented with The Henderson and Graham Cup. The foal we were waiting for her to produce in late June was stillborn, so the year was not altogether a good one for her.
RUAS Connemara Champion 2006.
As well as the son and daughter bred from Clonkeehan Captain Cook and Kingstown Boy respectively bred and still owned by Norman Wright at the time he sold Pride to us, she has a Murphy Rebel son in England, registered as Landslows Lord Derby, but called 'Murphy' at home. He is 13.2, and a real family pony, who has not let considerable sucess in the showring spoil his down to earth approach to life. We have spoken to his owner, Mrs. Barbara Bagshaw, and she was able to tell us that, comparing photos of the two ponies, Murphy is just like his Mum !
After spending her time riding and jumping with Eleanor for over two years, Pride managed a liason with our stallion very early in the season, and, proving the text books to be rather pessimistic, went in foal. Then in January 2004, having been closely watched all day, a dark bay filly arrived. She is Donegreagh Tilly's Emerald - Tilly.
After having another unsucessful pregnancy - she lost twin colts in '07 - happily in June 2009 Pride produced a second dark bay filly, who, like Tilly, became a dark grey. She is named 'Sky', and is a pet ! The sire of Sky is Longstone Silver Shadow, S1 - 1390, a son of Drimcong Finn, who stands with James & Laura McWeeney at Longstone Stud, Ballinamore, Co.Leitrim. The arrival of this lovely filly meant we were able to fulfill our promise to John Burke, that if Pride produced another filly, he would have first call on her. He collected Sky in January 2010, after the snows had gone, and she is doing very well for him.
Bullaun Lady (M 9513 )
1990 - 2008
Bred By: Mr. James Moore, Mountbellew.Co.Galway.
Sire: Tulira Finn Mac Cool (S 715)
Dam: Dawn Beauty (M 7656) by Sarsfield ( S 579 ) by Killyreagh Kim ( S 308 ).
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Bullaun Lady was 4th at the RUAS in May 2008, and in foal to D. Applejack.
History: Known as Fifi, a name which she aquired when her last owner, Willie, gave her in place of 'P.P.', which the previous folk called her as before that she belonged to Fr.John Naughton, a parish priest in the vicinity of Ballinasloe. Interestingly, a 'bullaun stone' is a large stone with a natural or worn hollow in it, which has been used as a receptacle for Holy Water. Such stones are found in association with early Christian sites in Ireland.
When Fifi left Ireland in 2001 for Scotland, she had a colt at foot by Robe Thunder, and was covered to him again. These two foals pleased Fifi's new owner so well that whenever I told him that Robe Thunder then stood not 10 miles from us, he was so keen that Fifi go to the same stallion again ! We thoroughly concurred, and with a co-incidence like that, after six years so far apart, it had to be a match that was meant to be ! So we were all delighted that, following a scan at 18 days, Fifi proved in foal to Robe Thunder after her visit to the Brookfield Stud in Portadown during May '07. With Thunder having spent the previous year proving his worth and talent in the show ring and at The Native Challenge event, it was hooves crossed that all would go well and their third foal be safely delivered the following spring. Later in the summer though, she came back into season, and as by then Thunder was away competing on the mainland, Fifi was let run with our own stallion. As time proved, this was our last chance to breed a foal from them.
Sadly, we have to report that some hours after foaling, on August 11th 2008, we lost this beautiful mare. She had produced a colt foal early in the morning, and he was feeding sucessfully, and all appeared well. I left her to settle down with her new son, and was not back up the field for a few hours. She was in great distress when I found her, and despite emergency calls to the vet, and trying to administer calcium and magnesium solution ( for we believed her to have tetany ), she rapidly went down and suffered a cardiac arrest. In speaking with different vets since, it seems spossible that she had developed a haemorrhage, which, over the course of time, caused her to bleed out. It has been suggested that an injection of oxytocin straight after delivery might have avoided the dreadful circumstances which led to her death. Remarkably, when Fifi became weaker, the other mares took her colt away with them, as if to spare him the distress of seeing his mother fall. Polly especially seemed to take charge of the little foal, which was touching, for when her own foal was born a few months earlier, Fifi was the friend who had
kept the other mares chased away so Polly could have peace with her new foal. The colt was named Tillyochie Uillín Óir ( because Fifi was still registered to Willie Moore when he was born ), and his name translates as 'the apple of my eye', but literally means 'little golden apple'. It seemed most appropriate. This darlin' mare will be forever missed.
Monaghanstown Peggy M-11323.
Born: 1996
Colour: Grey
Sire: Murphy Rebel ( S 696 )
Dam: Monaghanstown Star ( M 8928 ) by Ballydonagh Cassanova M 370 ( Checkpoint Charlie S 167, who goes back to Carna Dun S 89). The Carna dun line is well known for performance ability, having been founded by the introduction of T.B. blood from the small Thoroughbred stallion, Little Heaven.
History: Foaled in 2009 to Longstone Silver Shadow, a son of Drimcong Finn, who stands in Ballinamore, Co.Leitrim. The filly, born bay, but who quickly became grey, was named Donegreagh Pogín, which means 'a little kiss' ! She now belongs to the McWeeneys, who intend to show her. Peggy foaled again to Longstone Silver Shadow in 2010, producing a grey filly, D Maeve, who developed into a good, strong pony.
History: Peggy's dam, Monaghanstown Star, was out of April Star ( The Admiral X Hillside Sylvia ), who was a wedding gift to Pat and Mary Rabbit, and became their foundation mare. We count it a privilege to have Peggy, who was bred by Mrs.Mary Rabbitt of Castletowngeoghan, Co.Westmeath. Murphy Rebel passed away during 2011. having retired from stud in 2009. He stood for many years with Philip McMahon in Belturbet, Co.Cavan. He was a grand stamp of a pony, of the old type, and it was a true pleasure to meet him in 2007, and see him roll and race about when he went out into his paddock ! Both his sire, Rebel Wind, and his dam, Muffy, were very well thought of, and over the years he has made an outstanding contribution to the breed. Peggy was initially brought north by William Smyth, of Stranocum, and foaled with him to Glencarraig Prince. This first foal was named Knockmore Merrel Prince, and was later purchased by Louise Dunlop, who produced and sold him on to England. In 2008 he won the Large Breeds M&M Section at HOYS. Peggy's second foal was a grey Village Boy filly, named Monaghanstown Dromore Grey. She has a career as a brood mare.
Her third foal, born bay, is by Derrigragh Robin. It was with this filly, Knockmore Bright Ruby, at foot that Peggy moved to Donegreagh.
Knockmore Bright Ruby M2- 14305
Born: 2002
Bred By: William Smyth, Stranocum.
Colour: Grey
Sire: Derrigragh Robin (S 958)
Dam: Monaghanstown Peggy (M 11323) by Murphy Rebel S 696 ( Rebel Wind S 137 X Muffy M 2157 ) ex Monaghanstown Star M 8928 ( Ballydonagh Cassanova S 370 X April Star M 7894 ).
In Foal for 2010 to Donegreagh Cuach Na Scamaill by Silver Cloud ex Donegreagh Flicka.
Knockmore Dianaimh M1-14306
Born: 2001. bred by William Smyth, Stranocum.
Colour: Golden Dun
Sire: Crosskeys Rebel (S 997) by Island Lad ex Blue Jean
Image below copied from Donedeal.ie
Dam: Ocean Rossana (M 11257) by Loobeen Larry x Ocean Angel ( By Rory Ruadh )
Donegreagh Flicka M 12792
Born: 1995
Bay
Height: 13 hh
Sire: Ard Zachary (S 975)
Dam: Joyful Lass (M 6851)
Foaled in 2009 to Ganty Blazer ( Ganty Champ S 722 X Polar Spring ). Ganty is very much a traditional type stallion, of the old school, one might say. He stands with Ernie and Jane Somerville in Belleek, Co.Fermanagh. His sire was exported to New Zealand as a foundation stallion for the breed.
Donegreagh Tilly's Emerald M1- 15201
Born: 2004
Colour: Dark Grey, Born bay
Sire: Donegreagh Applejack S 1054.
Dam: Cahersherkin Pride M 9794 ( Kilduffahoo X Barna Rover ( Dangan Glory)
History: Foaled in 2009 to Longstone Top Notch, a son of Lettermuckoo Lad, standing at the Longstone Stud.
History: Tilly is the much loved result of a mating for which, at the time, I got into a lot of trouble from my daughter ! The prospect of being unable to ride Pride for several months while she was being a mum was very unpopular with Eleanor, until the foal arrived that was ! She was an instant hit, landing rather early in the year - January 19th in fact ! The pleasant weather meant she and her mum were able to be out almost every day, even to have fun in the snow, and she soon was better handled than many of the more seasonal foals. For once, we thought, we would have a big, strong foal to show, and maybe more of a chance to get a few red rosettes ? Guess what. By the time the summer came, she was half grown, and at Clougher Valley, all we got was the comment that ' she is practically a yearling !' Arrrggghhh !! Still, she made up for it as a 2 y-o, having been totally trained by Eleanor, and is shown here after her class at the NPS Spring Show.
Donegreagh Sally's Joy M1-15200
Height: 12.2hh
Born: 2004
Colour: Dark Grey, born Bay.
Sire: Donegreagh Applejack
Dam: Donegreagh Flicka ( Ard Zachary X Joyful Lass M 6851 ( Regan X Evangeline ).
History: Sally is short in stature, but big in personality! She and her mum have never been best friends, as Pride and Tilly are, but can sometimes agree to share a haynet - but only if they have to! In June 2009 she had her first foal, the gorgeous grey-dun filly D.Aoife by Midas Touch ( Coral Prince x Grey Dawn ).
Sally's second covering was to Ganty Blazer, and she, like her mum, produced a bay colt.
Cregduff Match ( Roisin )
Born: 2004
Colour: Grey
Bred by: Joe Feeney, Cregduff, Spiddal. Co.Galway.
Sire: Fredericksminde Hazy Match
Dam: Cregduff Lady ( Boden Park Finnard X Kiltiernan Lady )
History: Roisín was added as her given name for two reasons - she still had a rosy-brown coat when she first came to us, and Róisin is the lovely name of the daughter of Dr.Frank Johnston, from whom I bought her. Her first foal was a dark bay colt, Donegreagh Cuaifeach ( which means 'whirlwind' ) by our own stallion, and in April 2009 she produced the last of his foals, a bay filly named Donegreagh Tara mo Chroi. Tara is a darling, and will not be for sale.
Ivy Harp.
Born: April 2006
Bay filly. Full sister to Harp King Harp, S1 - 1224, and bred by Paddy Folan, Rosmuc, Co.Galway.
Sire: Kingstown Boy (S 1011) ( Village Boy S 927 ex Kingstown Molly M7604
Dam: Turlough Harp M 9756 ( by Abbeyleix Owen (S 496) ex Bay Harp M 7841 ( by Skryne Bright Cloud s 622 ).