Dermot Weld given civic reception

Dermot Weld is greeted at Kildare County Council HQ by Mayor Jim Reilly and county manager Niall Bradley.

29 April 2003: The extraordinary achievements of Naas-based race horse trainer Dermot Weld were acknowledged on Monday when Kildare County Council hosted a civic reception in his honour at County Hall.

It was one of those wonderfully happy occasions and the decision to host the reception for the local trainer who has found world-wide fame had been a unanimous one among county councillors.

A section of the Kildare Local Authorities Choir which is led by Margaret O'Brien.

Dermot Weld was greeted on the steps of St Mary’s in Naas by county Mayor Jim Reilly and county manager Niall Bradley. He was then treated to a medley of songs by the Kildare Local Authorities Choir which included numbers like ‘What a Wonderful World’ and ‘The Rhythm of Life’.

Director of Services Jimmy Lynch and County Manager Niall Bradley.

His own life has been one success after another. He is perhaps unusual in that he qualified as a veterinarian in University College Dublin before becoming a full-time horse trainer. He maintained his strong links with his alma mater and was awarded its annual Charter Day medal last year in recognition of his services to UCD’s Veterinary College and to the Irish horse racing industry.

Taking a horse to Australia to compete in, and win, the Melbourne Cup not once but twice is a feat unlikely to ever be repeated by an Irish trainer. Dermot did this with Vintage Crop in 1985 and again in 2002 with Media Puzzle (his other entry Vinnie Roe coming fourth in the same race).

Other top wins down the years include the Irish Grand National with Perris Valley; the Triumph Hurdle with Rare Holiday; the Irish 2000 Guineas with Flash of Steel; the English Oaks with Blue Wind; the Irish Derby with Zagreb and the Belmont Stakes in Chicago with Go and Go.

Mr Weld entered County Hall to a round of applause from the audience which included his wife Mary and son Mark and key members of his staff. The Mayor told him that the whole county was proud of his success. He also applauded Dermot’s entire back-up team including David Philips who had taken the horses to Australia.

Special guests included David Phillips, travelling foreman; Tom Gallagher, head lad; Mrs Mary Weld, Martine Dunne and Mark Weld.

“Today’s reception is not just on behalf of Kildare County Council. It’s also on behalf of the people of County Kildare,” the Mayor told his guest. “It’s our pleasure and a major honour for us to have you here this evening. You and your entire team are truly ambassadors for this county.”

He recalled how Dermot had also ‘been a winner’ as an amateur jockey both on the flat and in National Hunt. He praised how the stable had ‘taken a top class horse the other side of the world with all the difficulties that brings with it’ and said: “Then to prove it wasn’t just a fluke first time round, winning it a second time was a phenomenal feat.” He said Dermot has become ‘a classic in his own right and a source of inspiration and encouragement to others ... and we appreciate that’.

He added that the whole of the Thoroughbred County of Kildare owes him a debt of gratitude for his continuing support in promoting and developing the county.

County Kildare Mayor Jim Reilly presents Dermot with a gift of Waterford Glass.

The Mayor said the Weld name ‘is likely to continue for many generations when it comes to horse racing in Co Kildare’. He then presented Dermot with a magnificent Waterford glass rainbow dish and his wife Mary with a bouquet of flowers.

Mary Weld receives a bouquet of flowers from Mayor Jim Reilly.

Councillors individually added their warmest congratulations to the trainer and recounted stories of incidents down the years. First to speak was Deputy Sean Power TD (left) who said Dermot Weld has ‘consistently produced winners right across the world’. He recalled how Vintage Crop had won the Irish St Leger before going to win the Melbourne Cup. He had been in Melbourne for the great win and said it was ‘a very emotional day for all Irish people present’.

Senator John Dardis said it ‘was a privilege and a pleasure to mark the achievement of Dermot Weld’. He said Dermot had taken over from his own father and Dermot’s son Mark will also carry on the family tradition.

Praise also came from Cllrs Rainsford Hendy, John O’Neill, Catherine Murphy, Billy Hillis, Michael Fitzpatrick, Timmy Conway, and Mary Glennon.

County manager Niall Bradley (right) told the gathering ‘it takes leadership and courage to go beyond the horizon into the unknown, as Dermot has done’. After thanking the choir for their performance he told his guest: “It’s our way of saying thanks for all the pleasure, the time and the excitement you have given to people in their lives.”

Dermot then rose to say how much he appreciated the honour and said he was very fortunate with his staff, many of whom have been with him down the years. He stressed his success was a team effort. The stable employs around 80 people between two yards.

He told how plans had started a year in advance of both Melbourne ‘raids’ and he had the audience enthralled with his description of the build-up to what has been described by one famous writer as ‘the greatest extravaganza on earth’. The Melbourne Cup is a national holiday in Australia and over 120,000 people attend this annual 24-horse event which is also watched live throughout Australasia.

“Everyone sings Waltzing Matilda before the start. It’s a wonderful feeling of togetherness and I got very emotional seeing the number of Irish flags flying in the breeze ... between 800-1,000 Irish were there.”

Following his speech, Dermot was given a standing ovation.

The Mayor also thanked all Kildare County Council staff who had been involved with organising the reception.

Story by
Trish Whelan

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