Dan Corry

After serving in the IRA during the Irish War of Independence, Dan Corry joined the Free State Army in 1923. In 1926 he was one of four officers, along with ‘Jed’ O’Dwyer, Cyril Harty, and Dan Finlay, chosen to to establish the Irish Army Equitation School at McKee Barracks in Dublin.

Corry originally rode as a National Hunt and point-to-point jockey before switching to show jumping when, between 1926-39, he enjoyed 40 individual wins as well as 14 Nations Cup successes. He also helped Ireland win the prestigious Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show seven times (1928, 1935–1938, 1946, and 1949) and contributed to 23 Nations Cup-winning teams overall.

Corry competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London where he was 14th in the individual competition, but Ireland was disqualified from the team event after Jack Lewis failed to complete the course.

Corry continued competing until 1953 when he then became chief instructor and chef d’équipe for the Irish equestrian team until his retirement in 1960. He then became a consultant for the Irish Bloodstock Agency.

Rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel, Corry retired from the Army in 1961. He became the first equestrian competitor inducted into the Texaco Hall of Fame in 1973 and was also made an honorary life member of the Royal Dublin Society.