Cathal Beale

Michael "Daffer" Kelly, a longtime stallion man at the Irish National Stud, passed away peacefully on March 5. Kelly was synonymous with many of the Irish National Stud's stallions over the years and was particularly associated with the outstanding sire Invincible Spirit, whom he handled throughout the horse's distinguished stud career. A respected and familiar figure to breeders and visitors alike, Kelly was widely admired for his horsemanship and dedication. Having joined the Irish National Stud in 1988, Kelly devoted his career to the Kildare operation. Said Irish National Stud...

Cathal Beale reflects on a momentous run of sales results for the Irish National Stud as well offering his thoughts on new addition to the stallion roster Arizona Blaze Credit where credit is due, the Irish National Stud knocked it out of the park at this year's breeding stock sales. The stud netted just shy of €2 million at the Goffs November Foal Sale. That haul placed the Irish National Stud second only to the Castlebridge Consignment by €46,500, despite selling 33 fewer foals than that outfit. What was most...

The Goffs November Foal Sale is considered by many to be the jewel in the crown for Goffs - certainly from an Irish perspective - and Tuesday's trade, which followed on from a strong curtain-raiser on Monday, went some way to confirming that opinion.  Despite some of the best foals not being due into the ring until Wednesday, trade at the Kildare venue this week has been robust at every level. It's not exactly a secret at this stage that the foal sales at Goffs are popular among buyers but,...

Horse Country, Ireland's premier immersive equine tourism experience, was launched at the Punchestown Festival on Wednesday. Supported by Fáilte Ireland, Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), Kildare and Tipperary County Councils, Horse Country offers 15 visitor experiences that immerse guests in the world of Thoroughbred horses, including access to the yards and training operations of Aidan O'Brien (Tipperary), Johnny Murtagh (Kildare) and Jessica Harrington (Kildare). These globally-recognised trainers are opening their yards exclusively to Horse Country visitors, offering behind-the-scenes access and opportunities to see the training regimes and facilities for the equine...

The Irish National Stud's Shouldvebeenaring (GB) is the latest young sire that is reported to have his first mares scanned in foal. Among them is Newmarket maiden winner Ultra Violet (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Louisa May (Ire) (National Defense {GB}), a half-sister to stakes winner Dubara (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), from the family of Milan (GB) and Karpino (Ger) (Cape Cross {Ire}). Additionally, Irish Madam (GB) (Equiano {Fr}), a full-sister to Strath Burn (GB), has been confirmed in foal. Cathal Beale, CEO of the Irish National Stud, commented, "Shouldvebeenaring has been...

Conor Hyland is a graduate of the celebrated Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Breeding Course. Since completing the course in 2019, he has been based at the stud, where he holds the role as nominations and sales assistant.  This year represents a big one for the INS with long-time star of the roster Invincible Spirit (Ire) retired from stallion duties. Hyland discusses the new stallions on the roster, including first-season sire Shouldvebeenaring  (GB) and Lucky Vega (Ire), whose first two-year-olds are set to hit the track in Europe this year.  [caption...

Invincible Spirit (Ire), the sire of 22 individual Group 1 winners worldwide, has been retired from covering duties, the Irish National Stud announced on Wednesday. Now 27, Invincible Spirit was a fixture on the Irish National Stud roster of stallions for 22 consecutive seasons, starting in 2003 after his breakthrough Group 1 victory in the Sprint Cup at Haydock the previous autumn. As a racehorse he won seven of his 17 starts for trainer John Dunlop and owner-breeder Prince Faisal, with his other wins including the Duke Of York Stakes...

Cathal Beale, the current CEO of the Irish National Stud (INS), will serve in the role for another three years, the Board of the INS announced on Wednesday. "The Board of the Irish National Stud is pleased to announce that our chief executive, Cathal Beale, has accepted an offer of a contract extension for a further final three-year period, following consultation with the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Marine and the Minister of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform," the INS said in a statement. Beale became the INS CEO...

Irish 2,000 Guineas winner and Group 1-winning two-year-old Mac Swiney (Ire) has relocated from the Irish National Stud to Anngrove Stud for the 2024 season.  Mac Swiney lit up the 2021 season for trainer/breeder Jim Bolger when beating his stable-mate, the 2,000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare (Ire), to land the Irish 2,000 Guineas. A three-time winner as a juvenile, he had ended his debut season with victory in the G1 Vertem Futurity having also landed the G2 Beresford S. Mac Swiney's dam Halle Na Saoire (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is a...

Over 200 people attended a breeding seminar held by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (ITBA) and its junior wing, the ITBA Next Generation, on the eve of the Goffs February Sale on Tuesday, February 6. The event was hosted by Kevin Blake, a well-known racing analyst and broadcaster as well as being a reputable breeder in his own right. He was joined on the panel by former ITBA chairman Dermot Cantillon, the breeder of multiple Group 1 winners at Tinnakill House Stud, plus Irish National Stud CEO Cathal Beale, Helena...

Jim and Jackie Bolger's dual Group 1 winner Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) will stand at the Irish National Stud in 2024 for a fee of €8,000. Mac Swiney played his part in a memorable 2021 season for the trainer/breeder when beating his stable-mate, the 2,000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare (Ire) to land a Classic of his own in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. A three-time winner as a juvenile, he had ended his debut season with victory in the G1 Vertem Futurity having also landed the G2 Beresford S....

It was a day for the young guns at the opening session of the Goffs November Foal Sale on Monday with a colt by Earthlight (Ire) sharing top lot status with a filly by the already proven Mehmas (Ire) at €80,000.  The progeny of the Irish National Stud-based Lucky Vega (Ire) also played a leading role on the day with Yeomanstown Stud's Supremacy (Ire) going down similarly well with buyers.  But the main story of the day was the positive start to the week in terms of trade, highlighted by...