‘The Spirit of Ballinrobe’ Officially Launched

Ballinrobe Tidy Towns Committee officially launched the race horse sculpture, ‘The Spirit of Ballinrobe’ on Friday the 20^th of September. The launch marked the culmination of a two-year project to bring this idea to life.

The project started in 2022 when Paul Mc Donald (Ballinrobe Tidy Towns) saw a horse sculpture elsewhere and thought that we should have something similar in Ballinrobe to mark the town’s long association with horse racing dating back to at least as 1773. Paul approached local artist, Tommy Kerrigan, and Tommy was quick to come up with a plan. That ambitious plan involved creating a life-sized racehorse from cedar wood, complete with jockey and jump.

Paul brought the plan and costings back to the Tidy Towns Committee and, with the 250^th anniversary of horse racing in the town in mind, the committee agreed to take the project forward. “This was by far the most expensive project we’d ever taken on”, said Peter Heaps, Treasurer. “We knew that a huge fundraising effort would be needed to bring our vision to life.”

And the town didn’t disappoint. All three local Councillors – Michael Burke, Patsy O’Brien and Damien Ryan – contributed funds and the Racecourse Committee were hugely supportive donating money and also the jump. John Flannelly, Racecourse Manager said, “We were delighted to get involved with this project with the Tidy Towns to celebrate the long history of horse racing here in Ballinrobe.” And local businesses got behind the effort too offering donations and raffle prizes, and Biggins’ Bar ran a memorable Drag Night fundraiser.

Tommy completed the horse in June of 2023 and the sculpture went on temporary display at the racecourse while its final location on the Castlebar Rd was being prepared. Thanks to Area Engineer, Kenneth Morley and his team at the Council, the necessary permissions were sought and the footpath re-routed to accommodate the horse. Franke Keane from the Community Development Council (CDC) was also on hand to help move the horse into position, no mean feat for a piece that weighs nearly three tonnes.

“We’re all delighted with the end result”, said James Morley, Chair of Ballinrobe Tidy Towns. “It’s great to be able to do something to honour the heritage of our town in such a beautiful way. Fair play to Tommy, it’s a work of art.”

Jonathan Mullin, Director of Racing, Horse Racing Ireland, was on hand to cut the ribbon to officially launch the horse on Friday the 20^th of September, flanked by members of Ballinrobe Tidy Towns, the Racecourse Committee, Community Development Council, Councillors, and artist Tommy Kerrigan.

Ballinrobe Tidy Towns would like to thank everyone who helped to make this project happen and hope that the already much-admired piece will continue to be a source of joy and admiration for many years to come.