Community Council Pony Races in 1979

From PJ Lydon's attic of Kilcullen memories comes this picture published in October 1979 in The Nationalist, showing the organising committee of Kilcullen Community Council's first Pony Races, writes Brian Byrne. They are Vincent Nolan, Tom Carter, Frank Nugent, Mansy Reddy and Timmy Lynch, with young Michael Nolan.

The article accompanying the photo (which coincidentally was written by myself) headlined how 'Torrents could not stop Kilcullen races' in a day of heavy showers and slippery underfoot conditions in Tom Carter's field at Old Kilcullen.

The event was meant to be a 'dry run' for a bigger one to be held the following Spring, and even in the rainy conditions over 60 ponies were in the field along with several hundred spectators.

The bookies were there too, and among them was Pat Quinn, who found a popular way to draw a crowd, by showing the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on a portable TV on the roof of his car.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy