Patrick Conolly-Carew, the seventh Baron Carew, who died peacefully on December 18th, 2024 aged 86, was one of the greatest ambassadors for equestrianism in Ireland, representing the country both in the saddle and as an official. He also once lined out for Ireland in cricket, taking on the West Indies in 1969.
Patrick was born in London on March 6th, 1938, to William, the sixth Baron Carew – then a title in both the British and Irish peerages – and Lady Sylvia (née Maitland). He and his three siblings – Diana (the Olympic showjumper), Bunny and Sarah – were raised at Castletown House, Celbridge, Co Kildare, where they were taught to ride by April ffrench-Mullen (later Countess Merveldt).
He was educated at Elstree Preparatory School in England and then Harrow and was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards, The Blues, in 1958. He left the British Army in 1965 when he, his wife Celia (née Cubitt) who he had married three years earlier, and their daughter Virginia moved to Co Kildare. With the sale of Castletown House, they settled nearby in Mountarmstrong, Donadea.
As an event rider, Patrick competed as an individual for Ireland at the 1959 European Championships in Harewood on the mare Ballyhoo which had started life as a barge horse on the canal at Robertstown, Co Kildare. At the 1962 European Championships in Burghley, the combination was on the silver medal-winning team with Anthony Cameron, Harry Freeman-Jackson and Virginia Freeman-Jackson, finishing 13th individually.
Patrick competed at the Burghley international horse trials seven times, placing third with Ballyhoo in 1963. Earlier that year, they had filled the same position at Badminton, one of the six times the pair completed the testing challenge, while Patrick competed at the Gloucestershire venue on five other occasions.
As an Olympian, Patrick was first selected for the Mexico Games in 1968 with Ping Pong but sadly didn’t get to compete as his horse succumbed to grass sickness. Four years later, he partnered Tawny Port on the Irish team which finished ninth of the 19 competing nations in Munich.
As the parents of an Olympian, Patrick and Celia travelled to the Games in Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000) where their daughter Virginia (McGrath) competed with The Yellow Earl.
While probably best remembered on the eventing scene, Patrick was also a very accomplished showjumping rider, competing internationally from 1970 to 1978.
On his retirement from competition, Patrick was a chairman of selectors for both the senior showjumping team and the senior event team. He served as president of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (1979-1984) and as president of Eventing Ireland (2001-2015). Internationally, he was president of the FEI (Fédération Équestre Internationale) three-day event committee (1989-1997), was a member of the FEI Bureau (Board) and a longtime honorary bureau member.
He was president of the ground jury at both the Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996) Olympic Games and filled the role of chef d’equipe of the Irish event team at the 1976 Games in Montreal.
Aside from his official duties, Patrick also took time out at major events to effusively thank anyone he met who travelled in support of the Irish teams. He was presented with an FEI gold medal for eventing as was his daughter Virginia.
Patrick served on the council of the Royal Dublin Society and that body acknowledged his outstanding contribution to Irish equestrianism when presenting him with a Dublin Horse Show award in 2010.
Patrick Conolly-Carew is survived by his wife Celia, daughters Virginia, Nicola and Camilla and son William. A memorial service for Patrick will be held on Saturday, May 17th, at 2pm in Christ Church, Celbridge, Co Kildare.
