| The entrance at Tullaghansleek Stud,
Castletown Geoghegan Co. westmeath carries the date 1867. An incredible seven generations
of the Carey family have and continue to live on this equine establishment. It is one of
Ireland's oldest family owned and managed Studs. It is stepped in Ireland's history of
producing quality stock. The Stud is situated in the heart of Ireland which is noted
for its lush green grass with its limestone rich soil which combine with other natural
conditions to produce the depth of bone that is the distinguishing feature of the Irish
bred horses. Tullaghansleek Stud is an institution of equine history that is keenly reflected through its natural built stone walls that surround nearly two hundred and thirty acres and its remarkable 2,500BC cave which lies at the entrance to the Stud. This underground cave with a double ring fort around it and known locally as "Carey's Cave" is the oldest and biggest in Ireland of its type. There is one entrance tot he cave which the adventurist has to crawl through on hand and knees, but once this brief encounter with bodily penance is endured the gamely "cave person" can stand up and tour around the various chambers! The cave has four chambers and two different passages. At the end of one room there is a cavity that is not found in any other cave like this one, it is about two-foot square. Throughout their lifetime the Careys have received mares from all over Ireland. In recent decades mare have been sent across from the U.K. In keeping with modern technology the Careys are bringing equine expertise into the new millennium through their purpose built A.I. Laboratory and Station. In the last couple of years they have been supplying breeders in the U.K. and parts of Europe with semen from their team of successful Stallions. Tullaghansleek Stud caters for all kinds of breeders as reflected in their teams of Stallions that are representative of the Thoroughbred, Irish Draught, Conemara Pony and Sports Horse. The association of the Stud with the T.B. stallion is no less impressive than its success with Irish Draught Stallions. One of its most famous in-mates was Blue Cliff and was a day short of his 29th birthday when he died. He has been described in national publications as one of Ireland's national institutions in the equine world in the half-bred industry. His long and most fruitful career has been extraordinary and his contribution to the horse industry is incalculable. Despite his passing in 1984 he continues to impact in the world of In-Hand Showing and Show Jumping both in Ireland and internationally. Blue Cliff holds the record at the R.D.S. for siring the most Show class winners by any one Stallion. Golden Cliff T.B. son of Blue Cliff by Lionels Years is now the prolific sire of top class International Show Jumpers, the most famous being Diamond Cliff bred in Ireland, owned by Martin Donohue, Croft near Warrington Cheshire in England and being successfully campaigned in the international Show Jumping world by John Whitaker (U.K.). Other leading Golden Cliff stock include Ard Lulu (Sweden's National Team member), Grey Cliff and Bilko Boy.
If you would like to read more about Tullaghansleek Stud please see the article that appeared in the first Joy of Horses.
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