Tomorrow we bid farewell to our Chairman, mentor and friend – Dr. Lawrence Smyth. Many of our members who are local to the area first knew Lawrence as a teacher, through his long career teaching in the Tech in Gortahork and for many years in PCC Falcarragh. As it’s only in the past 20 years that horse riding as a sport became more common in the Gaeltacht area, a lot of our members did not commence horse-riding until they were adults and it came as a surprise to many joining members to find that the driving force behind the Donegal Gaeltacht Riding Club was non-other than their retired school teacher and former Donegal Person of the Year (1979), Dr. Lawrence Smyth.
Lawrence, who did not take up riding himself until his 66th year, built one of the first arena’s in the locality around the time he and his wife Rosaleen joined the Donegal Gaeltacht Riding Club in 2004, while the club was still in its infancy years. In typical Lawrence & Rosaleen generosity, they opened up their arena, their yard, their home and most of all their hearts to the club, resulting in Killult becoming the epicentre of the club. In the years since, many a rider jumped their first jump and many a child rode their first pony at Killult, with adults and children alike receiving the same warm welcome from Lawrence. Not only was he generous with his facilities, but he was also generous with his praise, his humour, his enthusiasm, his time, and with the assistance and support he gave to the many equestrian friends he made.
Lawrence’s own riding progressed at amazing speed, particularly given his late entrance to the sport, and before long he and his trusted steed, Jenny’s Jigsaw, became known and respected the length and breadth of the country. Meanwhile, the club flourished under his, Rosaleen, and Trish’s direction. Lawrence filled the Chairman role exceedingly well, so much so that he was re-elected year after year.
His enthusiasm and dedication to the sport led to his being awarded the AIRC Lancelot Awards Person of the Year in 2008 and Club Member of the Year in 2014, along with his election onto the National Committee in 2015 and then onto the AIRC Board in 2016, where he worked tirelessly to promote the Western area. No journey was too far for Lawrence when it came to fulfilling his committee duties, participating in competitions and for supporting his fellow club members. Under his chairmanship, the club was voted 2016 Club of the Year, had many members placed at national shows, had several teams compete in the RDS Team Show-Jumping and even had a team competing internationally in France. In addition to this, he was an advocate for the Donegal Gaeltacht region, and his warm hospitality drew other riders from throughout the country up to the hills of Donegal to compete in the annual beach show, long before the Wild Atlantic Way was heard tell of!
Even with all this going on, Lawrence’s energy knew no bounds as he continued to work in academia – writing 2 books in Engineering for Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate Examinations, yet still finding time to compete himself and do the club proud with his many achievements listed below, which, considering his age and late start to the sport, are truly remarkable and inspirational!
Lawrence was one of a kind, and will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by so many people in the equestrian community. We wish to express our sincere condolences to his wife Rosaleen, his sons Greg & Cristopher, daughter-in-law Pauline, grandchildren Anthony, Lucia and Connor, and to Trish – the person who first introduced Lawrence to the sport and whom he proudly referred to as “the daughter he never had”. You are all in our thoughts and our prayers at this sad time.
National Results: Lawrence Smyth & Jenny’s Jigsaw:
- Riding Clubs Festival 2019 1st – Advanced Primary Pairs Accumulator Show Jumping 6th – Advanced Primary Team Show Jumping
- Riding Clubs Festival 2018 6th – Advanced Primary Pairs Accumulator Show Jumping
- Riding Clubs Festival 2017 2nd – Advanced Primary Team Show Jumping
- National Hunter Trials Championships 2016 3rd – Advanced Primary Pairs
- National Hunter Trials Championships 2016 4th – Advanced Primary Championship Riding Clubs Festival 2016 4th – Advanced Primary Show Jumping
- National Show Jumping Championships 2014 1st – Advanced Primary Championship 2nd – Advanced Primary Accumulator
- Riding Clubs Festival 2014 2nd – Advanced Primary Team Show Jumping
- National Show Jumping Championships 2013 3rd – Advanced Primary Championship 1st – Advanced Primary Accumulator
- National Show Jumping Championships 2012 1st – Advanced Primary Accumulator Riding Clubs Festival 2012 7th – Advanced Primary Show Jumping 3rd – Advanced Primary Team Show Jumping
- National Show Jumping Championships 2011 1st – Advanced Primary Mini Derby
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