Clifden 1945 1st place Stallion Class, shown by W. Bolger
Clifden 1947 2nd place Stallion Class, shown by J. DeCournley
Clifden 1957 3rd place Stallion Class, shown by M. Conroy
DUN LORENZO No. 55 (E1) The Currans of Ardmore, Carna owned more than one good mare in the early days. I was sorry to miss meeting John Curran Stephen and his mare Draighneann Donn 280. She was foaled in 1930, was brown and was 13 hands 2 inches. She was the dam not only of Dun Lorenzo but also of Rebel Kate 736 whom you will meet as one of my selected mares. Rebel Kate was born in 1940 and Dun Lorenzo in 1941. Another son, Clough Droigheann 67 followed in 1944 and there were surely others I have missed or who were not registered It is the few good mares such as Draighneann Donn who survived the rule of the C.D.B. and all else to whom the breed owes so much. Dun Lorenzo was second only to Innishgoill Laddie in the number of years he spent on the Society stallion list, 1943 to 1959. As a yearling he won the colt class at Carna Show and was bought the following year by the Society for œ28.00. He stood at six different centres during his long stint, the last four with the Conroys. Josie gave me a colourful picture of this pony for whom he had a great admiration. He described him as "butty" with endless stamina and courage. His Saturday stallion route of fifty-eight miles beside a bicycle is shown on a map kindly drawn for me by Maeve Redmond. Josie assures me he .was as fresh on the fiftieth mile as on the first. He was the toughest of all the ponies he had in his care and, said Josie, never bred a bad one. They might not all be beautiful but they all served a useful purpose. One Saturday morning when on his stallion rounds, Josie was following a rich gypsy from Limerick-- Sherdore was his name and he was driving a mare described as "the third best in her class from the twenty-six counties”. He could not make one yard on Josie and Dun Lorenzo. After some miles they both drew a halt for a chat. When Sherdore learned Dun Lorenzo was eighteen years of age, he remarked "He is a sweet cob and surely the best of his age to hit the road in Ireland." Josie has never forgotten such praise given to his favorite pony. Dun Lorenzo won the stallion class in 1945 and his last year on the list was 1959. In 1960 he was sold to Mrs. Westaway of Ballina, Co. Mayo. He had a happy short retirement there before being put down when his digestion failed We saw the haggard in which he had his freedom at night and the horse-walker (adapted from an old threshing machine by Mr. Westaway) used for his daily exercise.
During 1946 to 1960, Dun Lorenzo almost took over the stud book -- so many of his progeny (approximately 140) were registered. From his many daughters Lorelie 1263, Windy Dun 1803, Wise Sparrow 2270, Barna Rose 1948, Aughris Bright 2131, and Dark Winter 2020 will probably be remembered best. It is his son Mac Dara 91 who maintained this line in the family tradition.