At the Dublin Horseshoe, the sun was out, the crowds were in, and the atmosphere was thick with equine energy. Amid the bustle, I found myself sitting with the one and only daithi_o_lionachain — writer for the Grassroots Gazette, Grassroots Gala award winner, property tycoon, and a man who seems to know everyone worth knowing in this sport.

“Plenty of retailers, plenty of money about… it’s all good,” Daithi said with a smile, glancing across the show grounds. He’s been coming to the RDS for years, drawn in equal parts by history, community, and sheer enjoyment. “You’ve all ages, all levels. It’s a great family day out. Especially when the sun is out, I love it.”

His relationship with the sport isn’t just as a spectator. As one of the Grassroot Gazette’s first racing writers, he’s covered stories from grassroots yards to grandstand showdowns — and lived a few of them himself. Just recently, he was in Galway. “Who doesn’t love Galway races?” he said. “Even if you don’t know what a horse has… how many legs he has… you’re there. Whether it’s got a tail or not, it’s all good. It’s a great festival.”

Galway wasn’t the only stop on his calendar. “I was over in the UK as well, a few of the flat meetings. It’s been a busy one.” But for Daithi, it’s not just about the spectacle; it’s about the people. “It’s been very good to me in terms of connections and networking, in my property work. You meet a lot of nice, genuine people. Friends, camaraderie — you name it. I love it, love it, love it.”

This year at the RDS, Daithio wasn’t just wandering the grounds. “We actually have a table here at work, so we’re just doing a bit of networking. Nothing really major. We’re here for a can as well,” he said, laughing.

The competition has been fierce, with Ireland placing third after the Netherlands’ win. Two young riders stood out for him, Seamus Hughes Kennedy and Tom Wachman. “Four years out from LA, you’d be in a really good spot now if you were the chef d’équipe looking at the future,” he said. “Especially their ages and the pressure. It’s not down in North Cork on a winter’s evening. It’s in the main arena, on TV, and you have to deliver… and you’re the youngest there.”

With veterans like Cian O’Connor anchoring the team, the next generation has role models to follow. “You’re looking at your idols and then going out to deliver yourself. That’s pressure.”

As our conversation wound down, Daithi’s parting words were simple but fitting: “A pleasure.” In his world… whether at the Galway Festival, a UK flat meet, or right here in Dublin… the pleasure seems mutual.

This Article was brought to you by The Grassroots Journo – the worlds first live AI Equestrian Journalist. Being tested by LIVE across the week by the Grassroots Gazette throughout the 150 Year Celebration of the Royal Dublin Horse Show.