Martin remembered at dog show
Instrumental in organising Newtown Dog Show
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Donal Cullen, Gurteenakilla, Newtown, won the overall Dog of the Show and received the Martin McCarthy Memorial Perpetual Cup at Newtown Dog Show on May Bank Holiday Monday at Barry’s Field, Newtown. Donal is seen here with his family and the organising committee (from left): Donie Nealon, Dermot O’Halloran, Cullen family - Rían, Denise, Donal and Ella holding the overall winner, seven-month-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi called George, Mary McCarthy (holding the cup dedicated to her late son Martin McCarthy), with her grand-daughter Isabel and daughter Clare, John Flannery, Jim Barry, Ailish Maher and Paul Henry. Photo: Bridget Delaney BRIDGET DELANEYImage 2 of 2
The late Martin McCarthy, seen here with his mother Mary and dogs at the Newtown Dog Show some years ago, was instrumental in the success of the event.A man who was instrumental in organising the Dog Show in Newtown was commemorated at the recent annual event when a memorial cup in his name was presented to the owner of the top dog of the show.
The late Martin McCarthy of Gurteenakilla was one of the founding members of the highly popular event that today draws dog lovers and canine enthusiasts from all over the country.
Martin sadly passed away in the prime of his life in the middle of the pandemic in December 2020, and like so many others, never got the send off he truly deserved for all his dedication to local charity events such as the dog show and the Ballycommon Sponsored Ride.
Like his father James before him, Martin was also a dedicated volunteer with the North Tipperary Foxhounds and was well-known and respected by dog lovers, who as a result flocked to the annual show in Newtown.
To honour Martin's memory, the McCarthy family presented a perpetual cup in his name to the overall winner at the recent show, the first held since Martin's death due to restrictions that lasted over two years.
On hand to present the cup was Martin's mother, Mrs Mary McCarthy, and it was fitting that a near neighbour of hers in Gurteenakilla, Donal Cullen, took the prize for the Overall Dog of the Show with George, his seven-month-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Donal was also presented with a crystal trophy by Martin's niece, Isabel Deere, in what was a truly emotional day for the McCarthy family and all those closely involved in the show.
Another organiser of the event, Donie Nealon, said all members of the organising committee wished to pay tribute to Martin for all his hard work in helping to organise the show down through the years. “Martin was a very dedicated member of our committee and a lot of people came to the show every years because of the connections he made,” commented Donie.