Presentation to long-serving secretary of South East

Members of the South East region of the Association of Irish Riding Clubs said a fond and tearful farewell to outgoing secretary Helen O' Byrne at the regions Annual General Meeting recently. Helen has been a member since the year dot and while no one can pin point a particular year, she's been secretary of the South East region since the late 1980s.

In those days meetings were held in a pub or guest house at the top of New Ross on the Waterford side of the river. They were most convivial meetings, with a lot of chat and probably a sneaky beverage, or two... and legend has it that Helen was handed a pen and pad and said "You're a teacher, you take notes" and that is how she ended up as secretary.

As well as being secretary of the region, she is also secretary of Waterford Riding Club and has achieved the following awards during her loyal and faithful service to the organsiation: