School's out in Kilskyre as a Grand National winner calls

There was huge excitement at Kilskyre on Monday when Irish Grand National-winning horse, Lion na Bearnaí, paid a visit to the local national school. Pupils from the school were joined by children from Pixies Playschool and there was great excitement when Lion na Bearnaí emerged from his horsebox to the delight of the children. Lion na Bearnai is owned by a syndicate that includes five Kilskyre residents as well as two Dubliners. The horse's trainer, Tom Gibney, is also from Kilskyre and his two daughters, Rosie and Katie, are pupils of Kilskyre NS. There was a massive cheer when the horse was led out of his horsebox and the children read out poems they had written about the champion. Pictures they had drawn of him were on display in the school and the children got a chance to ask questions of Tom Gibney and have pictures taken with the Grand National winner. The owners, who are known as the Lough Syndicate, as it was formed in the Gormonlough Inn, bought the horse five years ago at Tattersalls. Five of the syndicate are from Kilskyre and they all went to school together - Tom Gilsenan, brothers Pat, Peter and Michael Farrelly and Louis Leavy, while there are two members from Dublin, Declan Carolan and Russell Gleeson.