Dedicated, knowledgeable and selfless volunteers are not born every day. When such a person dies it leaves a difficult gap to fill in the cohort of people who annually organise and officiate at shows and events around the country.

Mary Quinn of Ennis was such a person. News of her passing last week was a double cause of regret; not only for what she so willingly did for the sport but also for the gentle manner in which she did it.

Mary came from a family steeped in the traditions of Irish show jumping. Her father Jimmo Quinn MFH jumped at seminal events during the 1920s and 1930s. He was at the first meeting of a show jumping association in 1939. Her uncle Tom was a pre-war army team member and her brother Jimmy continued that tradition in the 1960s. Her mother Kathleen famously rode side saddle in point-to-points and show jumping.

Show Grounds

Mary also rode and that same spirit of equestrian endeavour has also imbued all of her siblings – Eileen, Jimmy, Pat and Frank. Their home base has always been the County Clare Agricultural Show Grounds whose development Mary diligently watched from her bungalow on Show Grounds Road. On its traditional date of 15 August, Ennis Show has been an important National fixture. It received many visits from both Presidents Eamon de Valera and Patrick Hillery when Mary played the attentive host.

One of Mary’s proudest moments was when she played a central role in welcoming the Junior European Show Jumping Championships to Ennis in 1986. She organised social evenings in Knappogue Castle, where, being an aficionado of traditional Irish music, she had Chieftains flautist Matt Molloy play at one of the functions. The front room of her bungalow on Show Grounds Road was replete with all of the mementoes and trophies that were generously bestowed on members of the 12 teams taking part.

But beyond the demands of her home show, Mary was also a regular volunteer at events all around the country and as far afield as the RDS. In the judges’ box she was a strong, knowledgeable presence. A teacher by profession, she would give a word of gentle advice and encouragement to young riders.

It is people like Mary who make our national show jumping circuit a nursery for young horses and young riders alike.

Our condolences go to all of her equestrian family.