Who We Are

The Irish Horse Board was founded in 1993 with responsibility for the sport horse sector. It was established in order to give the breeders a say in the running of their own industry. The Board is a co-operative society with over 17,000 shareholders and 12 directors, 10 of whom are elected. 

The current Board Members of the Irish Horse Board are:

• Mr Jim Beecher (Chairman) [Minister's Nominee]
• Mr Paddy Joe Foy (Vice Chairman) [Region 4]
• Mr Joe Walsh [Minister's Nominee]
• Ms Anne Bannon [Region 1]
• Ms Helen Kelly [Region 1]
• Ms Anne Marie O'Gorman-Owens [Region 2]
• Mr John Jude Doyle [Region 2]
• Mr Pat McCarthy [Region 3]
• Mr Kieran O'Gorman [Region 3]
• Mr Paul Duffy [Region 4]
• Mr Paddy Joe Foy [Region 4]
• Mr Neil Henry [Region 5]
• Mr Sean Kavanagh [Region 5]

Region 1 - Wicklow, Louth, Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Meath, Westmeath, Dublin
Region 2 - Tipperary, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny
Region 3 - Waterford, Kerry, Limerick, Cork
Region 4 - Mayo, Galway, Clare
Region 5 - Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Longford, Roscommon