Ealaíona Maisiúla & Stair

The Kildare Cup Racing Trophy was made by silversmith Robert Calderwood in Dublin in 1757.  It was first presented at the Curragh in 1757 to Sir Ralph Gore, founder of the ‘Honourable Society of Sportsmen’, and his horse Spot of Co. Donegal. In September 1749 on The Curragh, his runner Black and All Black, a horse specially bought in England for 500 guineas, was unexpectedly beaten by the little grey mare called Irish Lass. The winning horse was to become better known as The Padreen Mare (see below). The trophy’s design is that of a ‘posset cup’, a shape traditionally used to serve hot liquors. It is one of the oldest traditional trophies in Ireland and shows a saddled horse led by a jockey engraved in its centre. Posset cup trophies first became popular in Ireland in the 1750s.  

The Padreen Mare Jug Racing Trophy was made in Dublin in 1755. Though there is no maker’s mark, the name of the race, “The Crumlin Plate” along with the date ‘21st August, 1755’ is engraved on the side. It is called the Padreen Jug because it was won by Irish Lass (see above), nicknamed ‘The Padreen Mare’ for the Rosary beads, or padrín in Irish, that she wore, believed to be a statement against the Penal Laws, hence the support from the crowds.  

Like Gaelic sports, horseracing is linked to Ireland’s ancient past. Irish myths include stories of the great warrior Fionn MacCumhaill and the Fianna racing across the Curragh. Ancient manuscripts have shown evidence of chariot-racing at the Curragh as early as the 1st century CE, though the first that specifically references a horse race in Ireland is from Derry in 1603. It was during the reign of King Charles II (1660-85) that horseracing truly took off in Ireland. King Charles II greatly enjoyed sports and introduced the ‘King’s Plate Races’, a series of largescale horse races where the winners would be presented with a trophy and a large cash prize. This was brought to the Curragh in 1670, with a prize of £100 for the winner. The ‘King’s Plate Races’ led to similar races being established by James II and William of Orange.  

As horse racing became an increasingly popular spectator sport, the Penal Laws dictated that Catholics could not own a horse of over £5. As such, many races were advertised as being restricted to horses under the value of £5. Races heavily borrowed from old traditions of the fair in Ireland, with festivities including popular games and activities, theatre shows, musicians, and food and drink. The extent of the spectacle is best demonstrated by German travel writer Johann Georg Kohl who attended the races in Kilkenny in 1844. He described the race field covered in thousands of spectators, a crowded grandstand, two temporary buildings to host spectators erected for the occasion, and the gentry watching their carriages.