ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Captain Con Power, Derrypatrick House, Summerhill, County Meath. Peacefully, on Sunday 3rd November 2024, at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown after a long illness, surrounded by his family. Loving husband of Margaret, dear father of Robert and Elizabeth and doting grandfather of Emma. Lovingly remembered by his family, daughter-in-law Hannah, sisters and brothers; Ann, Pat, Ted, Mandy, Vonnie, Vivienne, Pierce and Helen, extended family, Defence Forces comrades, friends and neighbours.
May he Rest In Peace
Con Power enlisted in the Defence Forces on 6th April 1972 as a member of 47 Cadet Class and was commissioned into the Supply and Transport Corps on 2nd April 1973. He was one of four officers sent to the Equitation School on a six-week trial. Con was one of those picked to stay. With horses passed down by Ned Campion and Larry Kiely, Con soon proved his abilities as a rider. At the 1974 show in Kill he beat Eddie Macken, a lifelong friend, who had just returned from the World Championship in Hickstead where he had been runner up.
Con’s first Aga Khan call up was in 1976 where he rode Mullacrew. Other horses, Coolronan, Castle Park and Rockbarton were now made available to him. He was, in fact, the only rider who rode a different horse on each of the famous three-in-a-row Aga Khan wins in 1977, 1978, and 1979. From 1976 to 1979 Con was one of the most successful riders in the history of Irish Show Jumping. He was leading rider at Dublin in 1976 and 1979 and took the same award at Washington, New York and Toronto in 1978. He won five classes at Achen in 1979, as well as being leading rider and a member of the Irish team that won the Aachen Nations Cup along with Captain John Roche (50 Cadet Class), Eddie Macken and Paul Darragh.
In 1979 Con retired from the Defence Forces to set up his own training yard and to continue taking part in competitions. He was Irish Show Jumper of the Year from 1983 to 1986 and, at the same time, ran a busy yard of racehorses, hunters and show jumpers with his wife Margaret. Despite sustaining serious injuries from the stirrup of a loose horse in 1988, Con and Margaret continued in the horse business and rejoiced in the success of many of their students, including their children Robbie and Elizabeth.
The Irish Team that won the Aga Khan trophy three years in a row. (L-R) Paul Darragh, Captain Con Power, James Kiernan and Eddie Macken.
Reposing at his home Derrypatrick House (A83 TW66) on Tuesday from 3pm to 7pm. Funeral Mass at 1pm on Wednesday in the Church of the Nativity Moynalvey, Summerhill A83 AW62 (https://mcn.live/Camera/summerhill-parish) followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. House private on Wednesday please and family flowers only. Donations if desired to the Respiratory Unit, Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown.
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Con’s death notice on rip.ie – https://rip.ie/death-notice/capt-con-power-meath-summerhill-573630
