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Horses Are Woven Into the Fabric of Ireland

When you think of Ireland, pictures of sheep probably come into your mind, dotting the hillsides like popcorn on a plush, green carpet. However, horses are also very much a part of the history and culture of the Emerald Isle.

Irish Horses : Clara : Ireland

Genetically speaking, if you have some Irish in you, it will be difficult not to see a horse without some trigger of emotion. A love of horses can be knitted into your genes as much as fair skin, freckles, a long, slender nose, and yes, maybe even your temper!

You simply cannot talk about Ireland, or its Celtic history without mentioning Equus. The two are entwined like the never ending circles in knotwork gracing the ancient Book of Kells and stones.

Ireland has a history rich with horses, as rich as the limestone bone-building fields of grass the stud farm horses graze on. From Ireland’s Celtic roots when horses were used for farming, funerals, weddings, reflections of their goddesses (Rhiannon and Epona), trading, and more, to today when horses continue to be a dominant force in the country.

One can see that there is something special in the relationship of the Irish with horses.

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Source The Equinest
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End of a great day spent in WestMeath and Offaly …

The Card Players : Paddy Ryans : Horseleap : Ireland

Horseleap (Irish: Baile Átha an Urchair) is a town situated upon the Offaly, Westmeath county border in Ireland, along the R446, formerly the main Dublin to Galway road. The village itself possesses a church, primary school, a garden centre, a pub, and a petrol station. Horseleap dates back to the 12th century steeped in Ui Neill, Geoghegan history.

The village’s Irish name (Baile Átha an Urchair or Áth an Urchair) was historically anglicised as Ballanurcher, Athnurcher and Ardnurcher.[1] The name probably derives from the legend that Conchobar mac Nessa was killed here.[2]

Horseleap’s present name dates back to 1192. The Norman lord Brian Fitzgerald had been riding through the lands neighbouring his castle in Donore when he came across members of the Mac Geoghegan clan who had long disputed De Lacy’s claim to the lands. Following a dispute, De Lacy was forced to flee on horseback from the Mac Geoghans. On approaching his castle he discovered that the drawbridge was raised forcing De Lacy’s horse to jump the castle’s moat. De Lacey survived the jump and escaped almost certain death at the hands of the Mac Geoghegan clan.[citation needed]

The battle of Ardnocher took place here in 1329 between the forces of Thomas Butler and William Mac Geoghegan. Mac Geoghegan won and Butler and many of his soldiers were killed.

Modern Day

Apart from the story of how it got its name Horseleap also has a new story of modern day interest. The 12 foot high bronze statue of the prancing horse that stands on the village green was actually made in Italy by Ferrari. In the nineties the Ferrari formula one racing team made a present of one of these statues of its famous logo to each of their F1 drivers. This one was shipped to Ireland in 1999 to be given to Eddie Irvine who had finished as runner up in the World championship for Ferrari that year. It was stored in a barn in County Tyrone and was to be a surprise to Irvine. However just before this was to take place Irvine told Ferrari he was leaving them to join the Jaguar team. Ferrari never told Irvine about the statue and it stayed in the barn for a year until a local farmer from Horseleap was up in Tyrone buying cattle and was told about it. A delegation from the village was then dispatched to make the case that they had the ideal home for this statue and that they wished to purchase it. They bought the statue for a fee less than it cost to make and it was erected in 2000.

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Dublin as seen from the Dublin Mountains.

Baile Atha Cliath

Limited Edition Photograph : Lambda Print mounted on Dibond
Edition of 5
Size = 42 x 104 Inch

Dublin as seen from the Dublin Mountains : Baile Atha Cliath

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300 Year Old Tree

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300 Year Old Tree

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Firebrigade to the rescue …

The 300 Year Old Tree

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Camera for Megan

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