Damian McDonald
John O'Donoghue, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, following consultation
with his colleague Mary Coughlan, T.D., Minister for Agriculture and Food, has
implemented the establishment of a new Agency - Horse Sport Ireland - which will be
responsible for devising and implementing strategies for the development and promotion
of an internationally competitive Irish sport horse industry (breeding, sport and leisure
sides). He has designated Joe Walsh, T.D., as the Chairman of the new Agency.
Horse Sport Ireland has been established following the acceptance by both Ministers of
proposals contained in a report prepared by Mr. Michael Dowling, former Secretary
General of the Department of Agriculture and Food, which recommended new
governance structures for horse sport in Ireland. Mr. Dowling consulted extensively with
the main sectoral interests, including the Equestrian Federation of Ireland, the Irish Horse
Board, the Irish Sports Council and the Departments of Arts,
Sport and Tourism and Agriculture and Food in the course of
his work and there is widespread support across the sector for
these structures.
€1.75m has been allocated to Horse Sport Ireland to ensure that
it can embark on its ambitious development programme.
Damian McDonald has been appointed as the Chief Executive
of this new, important body.
Board of Horse Sport Ireland
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Mr Joe Walsh TD, Chairman
Mr Larry O'Neill, ILDRA, CDA, PEI
Ms Joan Keogh, Dressage Ireland
Mr Brian Mangan, Eventing Ireland
Mr Gerry Leahy, Eventing Ireland
Ms Patricia Furlong, Showjumping
Association of Ireland (SJAI)
Mr Brian Gormley, SJAI
Mr Tommy Dixon, SJAI
Mr Eamon Rice, SJAI
Ms Alice Mernagh, Irish Pony
Club/Irish Pony Society
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Lt Col Gerry O'Gorman, Army
Equitation School
Ms Helen Mangan, Association of Irish
Riding Clubs/Association of Irish
Riding Establishments
Ms Bernie Brennan, RDS
Mr John Jude Doyle (breeding)
Mr Paul Duffy (breeding)
Mr Michael Duignan (breeding)
Mr William Kennedy (breeding)
Mr Harold McGahern (breeding)
Mr Hugh Mc Cusker, Northern Ireland
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