Joe Malone, Ronan McNally, Peter Finnerty, John Finnerty, James Finnerty, Mike Finnerty and Cian McNally.
Chloe Sheehan, Pat O Neill and Ella Sheehan.
Daniel Scold, Nate Mitchell, Charlie O Sullivan. Sally O’Sullivan and Tom Gow O’Sullivan.
Monica Osthein and Hand Osthein from Germany.
Alan O’Sullivan and Teddy McCarthy at the Cahersiveen Races. All photos by Christy Riordan.
If one were in any doubt about the future of Cahersiveen Races, the large crowd at Carhan on Sunday told you all you needed to know about its enduring popularity.
One of the oldest horse-and-pony meetings in Ireland owing to its historic link with ‘The Liberator’, Daniel O’Connell, racing at Carhan has been part of community life for well over 200 years when O’Connell first donated the plot of land on which the races take place in the 1840s.
This tradition was bright and clear for all to see last Sunday as race organisers reported one of the best attended meetings in decades.
The nine race card had many high-points, least of all the Cahersiveen Derby worth €2,000. This was won by Dingle Derby winner Here We Go Again under a strong ride from Nina Doherty.
The Daniel O’Connell 250 Memorial Plate was run in celebration of the anniversary of O’Connell’s birth. The cup was presented after the race by descendants of Daniel O’Connell, who also unveiled a plaque at the site in honour of their relative.
The race action featured some of the finest up-and-coming jockeys in Ireland with a productive day in the saddle for Nina Doherty, Billy Roberts, Cian ‘Tubbs’ McNally, and Paddy Finnegan – the latter was crowned champion jockey of the meeting.
The fourth race on the card was run in memory of the late Jerome Power from Dungarvan in County Waterford. Jerome sadly passed away in May at the age of 24.
A graduate of the horse-and-pony racing scene, Jerome rode at Cahersiveen as a boy and later went on to ride in a handful of point-to-points.
There was lots of entertainment away from the track with a dog show on Friday, and music on Sunday.
The weekend is a sterling example of the work put in by the community – a workload that is deservedly reciprocated by patrons.
“We’re absolutely delighted with the weekend. It’s one of the highlights of the summer for us in Cahersiveen and when it’s received so well by the public, it makes it worth it,” said Liam Musgrave, Secretary of Cahersiveen Races.
“On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support. This is hugely important to Cahersiveen Races. The people who come and support it are just as important. A big thanks goes to the jockeys and owners who come from all over Ireland,” Liam said.