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Registration |
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Mac Dara was a small dun pony who had to follow in the footsteps of |
Pedigree |
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a father, Dun Lorenzo, who was renowned for his stamina, courage and |
Progeny |
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fertility. He did not let his sire down on any of these counts
and proof of |
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this lies in his twenty years service on the stallion list of
the Connemara Pony |
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Breeders' Society. |
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Mac Dara was born at Dolan along the Roundstone coast
where he found shelter |
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from the Atlantic storms behind the sand-dunes. As a yearling
he was purchased by the |
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Society for twenty-five guineas and appeared on their list of
approved sires for the first |
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time as a three year old. He spent much of his life in the
Ballyconneely district but he |
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was a particular favourite of stallion custodian Peter Kyne
who lived at Knockranny, |
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near Moycullen. His two spells spent in this region were his
most productive as a sire. |
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He was often to be seen waiting patiently outside the
"Bar" while Peter quenched his |
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thirst within. Mare owners knew exactly where to find him on
Thursdays in Oughterard |
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and in Spiddal on Fair days. He was born in 1949 and lived to
the ripe old age of |
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twenty-six. |
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A sire is always best judged by his progeny and Mac
Dara's on hundred and ninety- |
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six daughters and thirty-three stallion sons give ample
evidence of his legacy to the |
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Connemara breed. His sons Atlantic Storm and Ormond Oliver
were the ones chosen |
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by the Society to take his place in Connemara. Others played a
significant role over- |
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seas, MacNamara in England, Lambay Rebel in Denmark and Slieve
Dara in Sweden. |
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Many of his daughters provided breeders with excellent brood
mares at home and a- |
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broad. He won the stallion class at the Clifden Show on three
occasions: 1954, 1956 |
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and 1958. This brave little pony made a valuable contribution
to the progress of the |
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breed between 1952 - 1972. |
