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The Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Mr. Paul Kehoe, T.D., today welcomed An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, T.D., and Mr. Liam Cosgrave to a ceremony in the Army Equitation School in McKee Barracks to name the horse training arena located there as the ‘W.T. Cosgrave Arena’.

W.T. Cosgrave, who served as the first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 1922 to 1932, was instrumental in the establishment of the Army Equitation School. Since its foundation in 1926, the Army Equitation School has pursued its mission to promote Ireland and The Irish Horse through participation in International competition at the highest level.

Colonel Michael Hogan was the first Director of the School and his brother, Patrick Hogan, served in W.T. Cosgrave’s cabinet as Minister for Agriculture. He was also a great supporter of the Army Equitation School but died tragically young in 1936 while still a serving TD.

Speaking at the event, Minister Kehoe said, “I am delighted to be here today in the presence of Mr. Liam Cosgrave and his family to mark the contribution of the Cosgrave family to the Army Equitation School over more than 90 years. W.T. Cosgrave was instrumental in the founding of the School. There is also no doubt that the support Liam Cosgrave gave to the School when he was Taoiseach has contributed to the strong standing it currently enjoys. It is truly fitting that we are naming this new horse training facility the W T Cosgrave Arena”.