August 16 23, Clifden Co Galway

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1 August 16 23, Clifden Co Galway CONNEMARA PONY FESTIVAL 2015

2 Connemara Pony Festival 2015 Welcome to the 2015 Connemara Pony Festival. Now in its 92nd year, these eight days are a celebration of the world-renowned Connemara pony. The festival attracts visitors from all over the world who share a common love for the Connemara pony. Taking place over three days, the Connemara Pony Show has developed over the years into a family-friendly event with something to keep everyone entertained, from domestic arts and the ever-popular dog show, to face painting, Irish dancing and the prestigious Best Dressed Lady and Most Stylish Gentleman competitions. We would ask visitors to the festival to please take a minute to complete our online survey at to provide us with your feedback from the event. A special thanks to all our sponsors, especially our main sponsors: Horse Sport Ireland, Galway Irish Crystal and Sweeney Oil.

3 Sunday August 16 Connemara Pony Show Queen Competition Station House Theatre 8pm 5 Ten contestants will compete to be crowned Connemara Pony Show Queen. A great evening s entertainment for all the family. Monday August 17 Connemara Pony Bus Tour Departs the Showgrounds, Clifden 10am 5 Day one of the Connemara Pony Bus Tour will depart Clifden and head towards Letterfrack and Renvyle, visiting local studs and farms along the way, giving visitors the chance to chat with pony breeders and owners. Trad in the West Station House Theatre 8pm 10 This extremely popular summer show features the very best of traditional Irish music and dance. It provides visitors to Connemara with a great opportunity to experience a professional performance of traditional music, song and dance in a comfortable theatre setting.

4 International Reception Abbeyglen Castle Hotel 8pm Tuesday August 18 ICCPS Conference Station House Hotel 9am Delegates from Connemara Pony Societies around the World meet for their Annual General Meeting and to discuss the breeding and promotion of the Connemara pony worldwide. Connemara Pony Bus Tour Departs the Showgrounds, Clifden 10am 5 Day two of the Connemara Pony Bus Tour will depart Clifden and travel from Cashel to Roundstone. Memorial Service Station House Hotel 2pm A memorial service to remember pony breeders and friends who have passed away. Linear Profiling Workshop Station House Hotel 2.30pm Presentation on Linear Profiling by Michael Kirwan, a qualified HSI Instructor, who will be part of the Training Team for Inspectors commencing in October. After the close of the meeting, those present will be invited to The Showgrounds for an actual live demonstration of Linear Profiling. The Connemara Pony Breeders Society wishes to congratulate the Danish and Swedish Connemara Pony Societies on their Golden Jubilees and thank their breeders for the support they have given the pony and its breeders here in Ireland over the last fifty years. Both the Danish Society (since 1964) and Swedish Society (since 1965) have promoted and championed the Connemara pony in Scandinavia with great success. The CPBS very much appreciates their work. To acknowledge this contribution, the CPBS will make a presentation of a jubilee cup to both Societies. As each Society organises a National show for Connemara ponies, it is hoped that the jubilee cups will become a coveted prize for pony owners. All visitors and locals are invited to attend.

5 Wednesday August 19 Connemara Pony Show The Showgrounds Adults 10, OAPs 5, Children under 12 free Four Year Old Performance Mare Championship 10am A loose jumping competition featuring a 5,000 prize fund sponsored by Horse Sport Ireland for four year old mares. The competition will also focus on the mares temperament and ease of handling. Irish Connemara Green Hunter Final 11.30am Emma Massingale Demonstration 1.30pm Emma Massingale recently spent a month on an island off Connemara with only her ponies for company and we are delighted to welcome her to Clifden, where she will give a demonstration with Connemara ponies. Three Year Old Loose Jumping Final 3.30pm An Capaillín 2015 The 2015 edition of An Capaillín features 192 pages of news, photos and results from around the world a must for every Connemara pony enthusiast! Price: 12 available from the CPBS office or

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7 Thursday August 20 Connemara Pony Show The Showgrounds Adults 10, OAPs 5, Children under 12 free In-hand Classes 8.30am Ridden Classes 1pm Domestic Arts 9.30am am Irish Dancing 1pm Dog Show 2pm Showdown 9pm (Station House Hotel) Friday August 21 Connemara Pony Show The Showgrounds Adults 10, OAPs 5, Children under 12 free Working Hunter Classes 8.30am Clifden High Performance Class 2pm Puissance Competition 4pm Parade of Champions 5pm Performance Day BBQ with music from Slyne Heads 6pm (Station House Courtyard) Best Dressed Competition The Showgrounds 1pm Thursday is Ladies Day. The winner of the Best Dressed Lady competition will receive a 500 voucher to spend in Millars, Connemara or Design Platform. The runner up will receive a Rose Gold Newbridge watch from the Celtic Shop, Clifden. The most appropriately dressed lady will win a Dubarry Galway Boots, sponsored by Dubarry, and the most stylish gentleman will receive a Jack Murphy jacket worth 250 from Hehirs of Clifden.

8 Saturday August 22 & Sunday August 23 Connemara Pony Sale Clifden Mart 11am each day A catalogue sale of 450 registered Connemara ponies Catalogue can be downloaded on Phone for more details Directions to Clifden From Dublin/Galway: From Dublin, follow the M4/M6 to Galway (2 Toll Plazas). On the approach to Galway City, follow all signs for Clifden N59. The journey from Galway to Clifden is 50 miles, takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes by car From Limerick/Shannon: From Limerick/Shannon, follow signs to Galway. On the approach to Galway City, follow all signs for Clifden N59. The journey from Galway to Clifden is 50 miles, and takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes by car From Westport: From Westport, follow the N59 to Clifden. The journey from Westport to Clifden is 40 miles, takes approximately 1 hour by car Public Transport: The train stops in Galway City. There are two bus services to Clifden from Galway Citylink and Bus Eireann. Follow the Connemara Pony Breeders Society on Facebook for regular updates and results from the 2015 show Connemara Pony Breeders Society, The Showgrounds, Clifden, Co. Galway +353 (0) enquiries@cpbs.ie