Photo credit: Joan C.Griffith
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The Irish Draught Horse: A History ISBN: 190517229X (pbk.) €20.00 ISBN13: 978-1905172290 |
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Book jacket, front and back covers
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from Amazon.com 5 star reviews...
A vanishing Irish icon explored, April 12, 2006
Reviewer |
D. Donovan, Editor/Sr. Reviewer "California Bookwatch" (California, USA) - |
 Review
of The Irish Draught Horse: A History (McGrath and Griffith) ,
November 17, 2005
|
from Amazon.de 5 star review...
A Must Have, 2. Mai 2006 (Germany)
|
and
Noteworthy
The Irish Draught Horse: A History
was "officially launched" at the
Royal Dublin Society Horse Show
3rd August 2005
(L to R) Supt. Aidan Reid, ex Garda Mounted Unit, Mary McGrath, joint author, Michael Osborne,
Chairman Irish Horse Board who launched the book, Joan C. Griffith, joint author, and Garda Brendan Duffy, Garda Mounted Unit.
Approximately 100 invited guests gathered round the Merrion Room of the Royal Dublin Society for the book launch hosted by Collins Press. Welcome and introduction was made by Con Collins, The Collins Press, and launch remarks made by Michael Osborne, Chairman of the Irish Horse Board. A heart-felt thanks was offered by Mary McGrath and Joan C. Griffith to all those who contributed to the writing and making of the book as well as those assembled for the festivities. On hand were a number of the contributing authors including: Marily Power, Fergus Kelly, Stuart Lane, Marjorie Quarton, Dáithí Ó hÓgáin, and Norman Storey. A number of local press were also present. The authors autographed stacks of books which sold briskly at the launch. Books also sold well at the Irish Draught Horse Society stand in the exhibitors area. The book is also available in local bookshops all over Dublin and throughout Ireland.
Noteworthy
The Irish Draught Horse : A History has been included in a scholarly article in the journal, The Economic History Review, publication section "Transport and Communications".
Volume 59 Issue 4 Page 788 - November 2006
Title: List of publications on the economic and social history of Great Britain and Ireland published in 2005 Author(s): Hale M (Hale, Matthew), Hawkins R (Hawkins, Richard), Wright C (Wright, Catherine) Source: ECONOMIC HISTORY REVIEW 59 (4): 788-838 NOV 2006 Document Type: Bibliography Language: English Publisher: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, 9600 GARSINGTON RD, OXFORD OX4 2DQ, OXON, ENGLAND Subject Category: Economics; History; History Of Social Sciences
ISSN: 0013-0117
Source: Blackwell Synergy
Noteworthy
The book is highlighted in the Heritage Outlook, Spring 05/Winter 06 issue, from page 34.
Download the PDF from their website.
Noteworthy
Ireland of the Welcomes Vo. 54 No. 6 November/December 2005 features information about the book in an article
by Judy Enright titled, "Sure-footed Survivors", which highlights the Kerry Bog Pony, the Irish Donkey and the Irish Draught Horse. The article includes a number of photographs that are in the book since they (Failte Ireland) provided us the images in the first place.
Noteworthy
The book was featured on The Saturday Supplement with Frank Lewis on Radio Kerry
9:00 am to 11:00 am Saturday, 13 August 2005 from Tralee, Co Kerry, Ireland
and were also live via the Internet from their website, RadioKerry
Talking live on the show were, Mary McGrath, Billy Cotter (founding member and Life President, Irish Draught Horse Society), Bill Kennedy (Kerry based Irish Draught breeder), Joan Griffith from Germany, Stuart Lane, Marjorie Quarton, Donnie O'Sullivan (local riding stables), Dáithí Ó hÓgáin, Garda Sgt., with a host of interesting comments from callers, several readings from the book.
One listener who called in suggested there should be a Monument to the Irish Draught in Ireland, perhaps this can be follow up on with some sort of art competition.
Noteworthy
The book was featured in the
Irish Independent, Saturday Supplement
27 August 2005
"Our Horse Powered Past"
by
John Daly
"The Irish love of horses is well known, but until well into the last centruy
they were the country's engine - the main form of transport and power,
and an integral part of daily life. A new book on the
Irish Draught Horse celebrates this forgotten relationship"
Noteworthy
The book was featured in Ireland's Equestrian
October 2005 page 66-67 and also on their website,
click the link above to read the story.
Noteworthy
The book was featured in the Meath Chronicle, 7/1/2006 "History and evolution of the druaht horse in ancient Ireland."
Noteworthy
From Kenny's Irish Bookshop, Galway, Ireland in Des Kenny Selects JULY 2005
 |
|
| Full Title | The
Irish Draught Horse : (click here to buy the book from Kenny's) A History Mary McGrath and Joan Griffith. |
| Place of Publication | Cork :Collins, |
| Year of Publication | 2005. |
| General Notes | Compiled by Mary McGrath and Joan C. Griffith, this is a difficult book to classify and it covers several disciplines. Profusely illustrated with photographs and paintings, it has the following contributions: 1. Archaeology: The Horse in Early Ireland - Finbar McCormick. 2. Manuscripts: The Horse in Early Irish Society - Fergus Kelly. 3. The Horse in Irish Myths and Folklore - Dáithí Ó hÓgáin 4. Images of the Horse in Irish Art - Mary McGrath. 5. Horses: Working on the Land - John Feehan. 6. For Everything there is a Season - Mary Mc Grath. 7. Economic Role of the Workhouse in Nineteenth-century Ireland - Stuart N. Lane. 8. Horse Fairs: A Personal Recollection - Marjorie Quarton. 9. Recognition and Development of the Irish Draught Horse - John Flynn. 11. Present-day Competition Horse - Norman Storey and 12. The Irish Draught Horse in the Twenty-first Century - Joan C. Griffith and Mary McGrath. Addended to this is a section entitled Resources which includes an essay by Joan C. Griffith called "The Irish Draught Horse in Publications". |
| Subject | Irish draft horse History. Ireland. Ireland Social life and customs. |
| Material Type | New Book |
| Exhibition | Desi's Selection 2005 July |
Noteworthy
Borrow the Book at your Local Library
Libraries around the world are adding the book to their collections!
State, National, Museum, and Society libraries:
State Library of New South Wales, Australia
Library of Congress, (2 copies hbk) USA
Royal Dublin Society (RDS) Library, Ireland
Royal Agriculture Society of England (RASE), Library
British Library, London, England (hbk & pbk)
National Library of Ireland
National Agricultural Library, USA
Museum of English Rural Life, The Library, Reading, UK
State Library of Victoria, Australia
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Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland
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Public libraries:
New York Public Library, NYC, USA
Fingal County Libraries (5 copies), Ireland
Limerick County Library (2 copies), Ireland
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County- (3 copies), Ireland
Waterford City Library, Ireland
Dublin Public Libraries (5 copies), Ireland
Cork City Library (2 copies), Ireland
Cork County Library (2 copies), Ireland
Clare County Library (2 copies), Ireland
Carlow Central Library, Ireland
Kilkenny Library, Ireland
Tipperary County Library, Ireland
Kerry County Library (4 copies), Ireland
Galway City Library, Ireland
Galway County Libraries (2 copies), Ireland
Roscommon County Library, Ireland
Leitrim County Library, Ireland
Offaly County Library (2 copies), Ireland
Wicklow County Library, (2 copies), Ireland
South Dublin Libraries (4 copies), Ireland
Irish & Local Studies Library - Armagh - Northern Ireland
Lisburn City Library, Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Sligo County Libraries, Ireland
Kildare County Library, Ireland
Louth County Libraries, Ireland
Meath County Library, Ireland
Waterford County Libraries, Ireland
'IRISH DRAUGHT – Review'
by
Guy Williams
One legacy of formative years spent in the wine trade is an ability to discern quality wines from their quaffing cousins. The Irish Draught Horse – A History is instantly identifiable with Grand Cru. It has ‘legs’ as they say in that time-honoured trade.
Mary McGrath and Joan Griffith have killed two birds with one stone in this delightful book. On the one hand they have produced a well-deserved tribute to our recent, but unrecoverable past. Equally important is their wake-up call to Irish horse lovers of every hue. The Irish Draught is in grave danger of becoming an endangered species in the cradle of its birth, as Michael Osborne made clear when launching The Irish Draught Horse – A History at the recent Dublin Horse Show. The timing and the venue assumed an additional significance in the context of Ireland’s battle to retain its accustomed place in the upper echelon of international showjumping.
The consequences of allowing the mainstay of our sport horse production to disappear scarcely bear thinking about. The Irish Draught Horse – A History must set alarm bells jangling throughout the horse-breeding fraternity in Ireland. Significantly, this gorgeous book is dedicated to Mary McGrath’s late father, Joseph McGrath, a man who did more than most to expand the appeal of the Irish Draught through his enthusiastic participation in carriage and driving classes. In so doing Joe McGrath perpetuated his family’s tradition of supporting indigenous products, synonymous with Ireland.
In compiling The Irish Draught Horse – A History, Mary and Joan cleverly enlisted contributions from a distinguished array of experts in their particular field. Among these willing volunteers are Finbar McCormick, Fergus Kelly, John Feehan and Marjorie Quarton, to mention but a few. Not only has this approach brought expertise to the table, it has also ensured a variety of styles to titillate the reader.
As for the illustrations – whoever is responsible should retire from the fray forthwith, for he or she has set the bar impossibly high. These photographs, gleaned from many quite unsuspected sources, have been reproduced to a standard that is remarkable for their era. Moreover, they have been chosen with a discernment guaranteed to put the reader through a wringer of emotional responses. Some invoke awe, others curiosity and others still that induce waves of nostalgia that induce palpable aches for lost childhood, staring from the page.
In summary, The Irish Draught Horse – A History is a must for anyone with horses in the heart and soul. And that means most who would call themselves Irish. Buy it, savour it, and buy a spare copy, lest you be tempted to lend your own. ‘A book lent is a book lost.’ Never has that dictum been more likely to prove true.
from The Irish Examiner
Book Review
"Powerful book worthy of the Irish Draught"
by
Michael Slavin
"Anyone without this brilliant book is missing out on one of the best publications on the Irish horse ever written. Brought together by breeder and enthusiast Mary McGrath of the famous McGrath family and librarian Joan C. Griffith, this is more than a labour of love - it is a powerful evocation of what this superb Irish horse is all about.
Replete with wonderful black and white photos from times past and present, this is a book to sit and savour over and over again, it will for ever be a collectors item, that is, of course, if it ever goes out of print.
Although both of the editors have contributed mightily to the text in their own special chapters, they have had the very good academic sense to seek out experts from various field to contribute sections in specific fields.
They have the likes of Fergus Kelly of the Dublin Institue for Advanced Studies, archaeologist Finbar McCormick of Queens University and folklore writer Dáithí Ó hÓgáin covering the early history, archaeology and mythology of the Irish horse.
John Feehan of UCD and well known equestrian writer Stuart Lane bring us into the world of the Irish Draught as it worked the farms of Ireland. Horse Fairs are the speciality of Marjorie Quarton, who not only knows and writes about horses but has bred some international jumpers as well. Colin Lewis, whose books on the Irish horse are classics contribures a chapter on 'Recognition and Development of the Irish Draught Horse'.
Modern developments in the breeding of Irish Draughts are deftly covered by Norman Storey of Kildalton College and DNA and genetics expert John Flynn.
Mary, whose father Joe McGrath bred, showed and drove Irish Draught Horses during his whole life, gives us an excellent chapter on the horse in Irish art and then she joins with Joan Griffith in giving a picture of the Irish Draught in the 21st century. Joan Griffith's section on references, glossary and publications is almost a book in itself.
But above all else this publication could be bought just for the pictures as it shows the Irish Draught evolving down the centuries. I just love it. You will too."
from The Irish Horse,
a weekly supplement to the Irish Farmers' Journal
Saturday, 9 July 2005
Book review
"New literature for Irish Draughts"
by
Nicholas O'Hare
"The literature on the Irish Draught grows apace, possibly out of all proportion to the numbers and value of the breed. There have been six previous books written about the Irish Draught in the past few years, but now comes the most luxuriously produced publication of them all. The Irish Draught Horse, A History - is edited by Mary McGrath and Joan C. Griffith and is published in hardback by the Collins Press, Cork .
This is a romantic, even idealistic book, written largely by academics who have delved into their resources to provide admittedly fascinating insights into the origins of the Irish horse. The editors admit that they are breed enthusiasts. Why otherwise would they have embarked on what has obviously been a labour intensive task.
The learned contributions open with a treatise on the horse in early Ireland by Finbar McCormick, a lecturer at Queens ' University. He delves into the earliest origins of the prehistoric horse in Ireland . Fergus Kelly is a professor of Celtic Studies and devotes his article to the manuscript references of the horse in early Irish society. He has an interesting section on horses and the ancient law. Myths and folklore are the subject of Dáithí Ó hÓgáin's article. He is the author of more than 30 books on cultural issues and recites tales of great horsemen and horse whisperers.
Mary McGrath, an art historian and breeder, reflects on the images of the horse in Irish art. She identifies paintings which reflect the history of great horses and happenings, the arrival of the Byerly Turk, the races on The Curragh, the Kilkenny Horse Fair, with references to the work of Le Broquy, Munnings and Yeats.
John Feehan, a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Agriculture at UCD, deals with the horse on the land, while Stuart Lane writes about the role of the horse in 19 th century Ireland .
Marjorie Quarton gives her personal recollections of the horse fairs which now have largely died out.
Also contributing to the book is Professor Colin A. Lewis and John Flynn, who heads Weatherbys bloodtyping laboratory in Ireland . Mary McGrath and Joan Griffith together present a review of the Irish Draught in the early days of the present century and Norman Story of Kildalton College writes about the present day competition horse.
This is a comprehensive and detailed book which provides the reader with a tremendous amount of information. It deliberately does not deal with current issues and popular pedigrees and enthusiasts will have to turn to other sources for this information. It is a richly endowed account of the Irish Draught, which will enhance every horseman's bookshelf."
from The Irish Field
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Book review
"Power Horse: The Days of the Irish Draught"
by
Con Power
The Irish Draught Horse: A History by Mary McGrath and Joan Griffith
Collins Press, 25.00 Euros.
Someone once defined the horse as "a neighing quadraped dangerous at both ends". And it can indeed sometimes be difficult nowadays to see horses as anything other than the plaything of the idle rich (or the just plain idle). It was not always so.
The Irish draught horse has been an icon of the Irish landscape for generations. Once the powerhouse of the Irish farm, its tasks were manifold - tilling the land, pulling a sidecar to Mass or market, hunting and breeding.
For better and for worse, the working horse is no longer a staple of the Irish landscape. Upwards of 300,000 horses are reckoned to have toiled in our countryside at the close of the 19 th century. Yet today there are just approximately 2,000 registered Irish draught breeding mares and 100 fully registered stallions at stud.
Despite these changes, the Irish draught horse has evolved into a modern day competition and riding horse and a source of leisure and social activities.
In the 19 th century, the horse and plough replaced man and spade. A century later, the tractor superseded the horse. The rest is history.
The Irish draught has perennially been our unsung hero - now its place in our folklore is at last finally acknowledged in this commendable and sumptuous new publication, illustrated with evocative images which will bring back memories for many older readers.
Compiled by Mary McGrath and Joan Griffith, this fascinating series of essays is at once a nostalgic trot into an all too rapidly retreating past and a veritable mine of information on equine lore - swimming horseraces at Lough Owel, orgiastic ancient rituals and more besides.
There is some inevitable repetition as is ever the case in compilations like this, but it scarcely detracts from an excellent and diverting piece of work.
When electricity was introduced in 1928, images of horses were used to inspire hope and faith in the new scheme and to signify the force of this new energy. Yet the changeover to modernisation culled the breed dramatically - 24,095 horses were exported for slaughter in 1950.
How times change - though the Irish draught has happily reappeared on the streets of Dublin as a new mounted garda unit patrols in the city.
Saturday, 30 July 2005
Con Power , is a journalist who has written extensively on the Irish bloodstock industry
Book review
"Horse of the People" book pays tribute to an internationally significant breed"
by
Kim Mullahey
The Irish Draught Horse is unique in the world and was once so much a part of the Irish landscape.
The foundation breed for the world-famous Irish hunter, it has never been the subject of a comprehensive book until Wednesday evening, 3 rd August when 'The Irish Draught Horse: A History' was launched by Dr. Michael Osborne, MRCVS, in the Merrion Room of the Royal Dublin Society in Ballsbridge.
Written by Mary McGrath, an art consultant who set up the Irish Horse Museum in Kildare and Joan C. Griffith, a librarian and breeder of Irish Draught horses who maintains the Irish Draught Horse Society website, the new book is the story of the evolution of the breed as a working horse through to its almost overnight disappearance with the arrival of the 1960s mechanisation.
The story of the 'horse of the people', it is told before facts and details surrounding the breed vanish forever, and is the first complete account of its cultural and historical significance.
"It's a wonderful tribute to the Irish love of horses", said Dr Michael Osborne in his remarks at the launch.
The Kildare man is the Chairman of the Irish Horse Board and Chairman of the World Racing Championships, and knows the quality of the breed. Growing up on a farm in the 1940s and 1950s, the Irish Draught horse was a part of his childhood landscape, a basic part of his own philosophy and that o f the Irish Horse Board.
"The philosophy of the Horse Board and my own personal philosophy is that we have got to get back to the basics, and the basics is the Irish Draught."
Included in the new book is a nostalgic record of the breed preserved in photographs, particularly the Irish Draught horse, Kildare.
The book has been thoroughly researched, and has gone beyond traditional avenues such as those found in libraries since so much of the history of the Irish Draught is retained in general and popular information from horse magazines, local farers, auction catalogues, show programmes, horse dealers, traditional fairs and photographic collections; without access to private records, much of the book would not have been possible to complete.
"People are here because of their love of horses," said Mary McGrath, one of the authors of the book when she spoke at the launch.
"We have been blessed with superb contributors, outstanding people who threw themselves heart and soul into the book." The book places in context the Irish Draught horse in relation to the present day Irish Sport Horse by considering the wide variation of purposes and terms such as Working horse, Creamery cob, Tram Horse, Farm horse and Cart horse.
It investigates through historical reference and photographic collections the Trooper's Horse, the Non-thoroughbred horse, Half-bred horse and the Pure-bred Irish Draught.
Various types of hunting horses are covered within its pages, and publications including Horse and House magazine, books from the JA Allen Breed Series and by Dr. Charlotte Moore, and newspaper correspondence including material from Grania Willis, former editor of The Irish Field were used in the completion of the book.
For further information about 'The Irish Draught Horse: A History' including purchasing a copy, log onto irishdraughthorsebook.com
from the Liffey Champion
Saturday 20 August 2005
Book review
"The Irish Draught Horse - A History"
by
John Jude Doyle
The Irish Draught Horse book which was launched during the recent Dublin Horse Show, and is co-authored by Mary McGrath and Joan C. Griffith, is a complete insight into the Irish Draught Horse from its beginning to the present day.
The Draught, as it is commonly known, is on e of our native breeds along with the Connemara Pony and the Kerry Bog Pony. The book traces the many uses that this breed has been put to over the years and complements this with some wonderful photographs, some of them seen for the first time.
Both Mary and Joan put many years of research into the production of this worthy publication. They also brought on board a number of very distinguished equine specialists, i.e. John Flynn (Wetherbys Equine Centre), John Feehan (Faculty of Agriculture, UCD), Stuart Lane (NUI Maynooth), Colin A. Lewis (author of many quine books), Finbar McCormich (Queens University, Belfast), Dáithí Ó hÓgáin (Prof. Folklore UCD), Marjorie Quarton (writer and publisher) and Norman Storey (Kildalton College).
Reading this book what struck me most was how the Irish Draught Horse moved with the times and fitted into the Irish countryside and rural way of life. The publication has captured a history in a manner that will be quoted in years to come and has also brought to the attention of the general public the valuable nature of this native breed.
Launching the book in a packed Merrion Room at the R.D.S., Michael Osborne spoke in glowing terms of the two authors. Referring to the Irish Draught he declared: "As Chairman of the Irish Horse Board we have always maintained the Draught breed to be the basic bloodline in breeding the Irish Sport Horse. The R.D.S. has always catered for them with their various classes and we will work together to further the breeding and maintenance of this great breed."
Mary McGrath in her address thanked all who helped to make the publication possible; also the T.V., Radio and Press representatives who attended the launch. Joan Griffith extended a big thank you to all those who contributed to the book, and especially Con Collins of the Collins Press who came on board and produced such an excellent publication.
As a special treat, the authors have made available a copy of the book as a prize for a lucky ' Ireland 's Horse Review" reader! Just answer a simple question - Name One of the Joint Authors of The Irish Draught Horse ? Answers on a postcard only to:
John Jude Doyle, the Cloch Ban, Clonroche, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
All correct entries will be entered into a draw.
from Ireland 's Horse Review
September 2005
Book review
HORSES
The Irish Draught Horse : a history. ed. Mary McGrath and Joan C. Griffith.
Collins. 270 pp Euro 25 hb 24 cm square 1-903464-82-X.
The working horse in early and late Irish history, in early myth and records, in art, in literature, on the farm, in breeding, fairs, the economy, present-day competitions, and in the future. Chapters on each of these subjects and others are contributed by different experts and very well illustrated throughout. The 'in publications' chapter is a detailed descriptive bibliography, very well done, and there's a massive index. On art (glossy) paper, this is not a lightweight book in any sense, but the shine is worth it for the quality of the pictures, and the sqare format is well used, with the text in Bembo type (designed for letterpress on matt book paper) in double columns. Exhaustive and professional, this is nevertheless quite accessible to the amateur and casual browser. It's the first Irish book we've seen to have been printed in Malta.
from BOOKS IRELAND
September 2005, p 204
... Christmas bookshelf ... 2005 ... Christmas bookshelf ...
Appeared in Ireland's Own
