Éamon O'Donohoe

A lieutenant in the Irish Army, Eamon O’Donohue started pony riding as a child, and this sparked his interest in showjumping. After joining the Army in 1955 he was stationed at the Army Equitation School, Dublin and later the Supply and Transport Corps. He saw service in Burma, Israel and Lebanon.

O’Donohue went to the 1960 Roma (Rome) Olympics and rode Cluain Meala in both the individual and team show jumping event. He also competed in the Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show four times and represented Ireland internationally on more than 30 occasions. O’Donohue left the Army in 1980, and the following year went to went to work in the Dáil Éireann (the Irish Assembly). He served as Superintendent of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Parliament) for over 20 years before retiring in 2002.