North Cork’s key role in racing history to be celebrated on TV
THE stunning scenery around Buttevant, Doneraile and many points between the two towns will feature on a fascinating documentary about the history of the Irish Grand National being screened next Monday evening
Aptly entitled ‘Chasing a Dream the programme, produced by Bankos Tales, will capture the very essence of the famous horse race, telling the story of steeplechasing right back to its North Cork origins in the mid 18th century.
The fast-moving feature length documentary packed with archive footage and images, recalls the colourful history of the race, contextualizing it with relevant events in Irish history.
With contributions from some of the most recognisable faces from the world of Irish racing, it also features racehorses that have taken their place in Irish sports folklore including Desert Orchid, Arkle and ‘ The King of Fairyhouse’, Brown Lad.
A section of the programme is dedicated to the origins of the steeplechase, with a recreation of the first ever race in 1752 when Edmund Blake and Corneilius O’Callaghan decided to place a wager of a hogshead of wine on which of them had the fastest horse.
The pair raced over a four-mile course between the steeples of St John’s Church in Buttevant and St Mary’s Church in Doneraile. Racing alongside (and sometimes in) the River Awbeg at breakneck speed, they cleared stone walls, ditches and hedges in a show of strength, stamina and tremendous skill
While history does not record who won the race, it does record the fact that the race introduced two new terms – steeple-chasing and point-to-point.
A re-enactment of that famous race, organised by the Doneraile Point-To-Point race committee, will feature in next Monday’s programme with jockeys John Roche and Pearse Gallagher in period costume taking the same route as that of Blake and O’Callaghan some 265-years-ago.
The chair of the committee, Declan O’Keeffe, was contacted by the production company last October to organise the re-enactment.
“While the documentary will only feature a small segment of the race, we spent a whole day filming at locations between Buttevant and Doneraile. We even built a fence in front of the steeple in Doneraile at the finish point,” said Declan.
He said the event would not have been possible without the support of local groups in Doneraile, landowners, the local golf club and former county councillor Tom Sheahan from Buttevant.
“It was a great show of community co-operation and thankfully the weather was good on the day so viewers will see the area in all its glory,” said Declan.
Irish Grand National – Chasing a Dream’ will premier on RTE One on Easter Monday, April 17 at 6:30pm.