Last Sunday’s annual Croagh Patrick pilgrimage may have been cancelled due to bad weather, but there was no such hurdle the previous Sunday for what is undoubtedly the most scenic show in Ireland at Louisburgh.

“I’m the luckiest man in Ireland to have a job with views like that,” said local postman Davy O’Toole, and the afternoon sunshine plus the attraction of neighbouring Carrowmore beach swelled the show footfall.

ISA national secretary Michael Hughes was in much demand, performing the official openings at both Carnew and this west Mayo fixture that weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT

Martin Murphy didn’t have much time for admiring the Wild Atlantic Way views on a busy day for the Swinford owner. He won the horse championship with Castlemeadow Mildred (Power Blade), bought from previous owner Cecilia Delaney at Dublin last year.

For good measure, she and her High Roller foal won the Knockbrack Plant Hire traditional championship, while Murphy also won the Irish Draught championship and overall title with his 2014 all-Ireland champion, the Dublin hopeful Fuerty Princess (Welcome Emperor).

Seamus Sloyan took two reserve titles, firstly with his Clonakilty Hero three-year-old out of the dual Louisburgh champion, Elm View (bidding for a fourth Dublin championship next week), and then reserve in the Irish Draught championship with his latest Clew Bay Bouncer winning two-year-old filly.

Another winning Murphy from Swinford was Hughie. His Cogan’s Dawn Star won the Irish Draught mare class and O’Reilly family cup, presented by Monica O’Reilly, whose late husband PJ stood Grosvenor Lad at his nearby Shraugh Stud, and then Murphy stood reserve in the traditional championship with the same mare and her Near Dock filly.

Michael Philbin’s Beechmount Brona (Castlestrange Fionn) reclaimed her 2010 Connemara championship with reserve going to Alaoise Halpin’s Roundstone Maeve (Linsfort Barney).

Deirdre Coyne’s Barossa Camilla repeated her Louisburgh champion pony success, with joint-reserve champions in Joe Gibbons’s Ahane Minstrel and Lisa Gilmartin’s Welsh champion, Tyrellspass Van Damme.