Jerry O’Donoghue Obituary, Death – Our renowned branch president, Jerry O’Donoghue, passed away today, and the news has left all of us with a profound sense of loss. He will be sorely missed by everyone. At each of our many gatherings held in Ballybrack over the years, he never failed to extend an exceptionally warm welcome, making sure that the stove was lit and the kettle was boiling.
He was such a deserving winner that the IDHBA Breeders Award was given to him in 2011. On the recommendation of Billy Cotter, Jerry O’Donoghue purchased “Rochestown Lady,” an Irish Draught filly, as his first horse in the year 1984. The O’Toole family of Louisbourgh, County Mayo, is responsible for the breeding of Rochestown Lady, who was sired by Kingsway Diamond and was produced from a Skippy mare.
Despite the fact that she only had a brief career as a breeder, she was successful enough to produce a colt named “Holy Diamond” by Holycross. This horse has since gone on to gain 112 SJAI jumping points for his owner, Denis Flannelly. Additionally, she gave birth to a filly sired by Ceridigion who finished in second place under saddle at the RDS.
Again relying on Billy Cotter’s guidance, Jerry made his second purchase at the Ballinasloe horse fair in 1986.
This time for a filly named “Rochestown Gold.” The sire of Rochestown Gold was Corrundulla Star, and his dam was May Jane 3rd, who was sired by Atlantic Boy. She was raised in Oranmore, which is located in the county of Galway by John Madden. Not only did Rochestown Gold go on to be an amazing show mare for Gerry and his family, earning numerous titles and awards.
Including triumphs at National Irish Draught Shows and the Aer Rianta sponsored National Irish Draught Mare Championship at Carbery Show, but she also proved to be an extremely productive broodmare. Her filly, Camp Hill Lady, who was sired by Creggan Diamond and born in 1992, went on to become the dam of Pembroke Royal Blue, a RID stallion in the United Kingdom.
A colt named “Alice’s Diamond Slipper” was born to Rochestown Gold in the year 1990. This colt was sired by Creggan Diamond, who is also a very successful RID sire in England. Among Alice’s Diamond Slipper’s progeny are; “Leighland Toledo” who has 340 British Dressage points, “Sidney Ruff Diamond” BSJA Grade A Show jumper, “Jaunty Star” RID stallion and Grade A show jumper in Canada, “Deards Catchphrase” 2007 Breed Show Youngstock Champion, and “Bowland Lucky Slipper” who was crowned the 2011 Supreme Champion at the IDHS GB National Breed Show.
