I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing three smashing natives of Moyross and Southill recently who love to be in the saddle and are already working in the horse industry. Wesley Joyce is a champion jockey, Terry Casey while new to racing has already notched up one win, and Aoife O’Driscoll while much younger is already doing some paid work in a local equestrian club.
All love horses and have taken the opportunities offered to them through Moyross Youth Academy (MYA). Aoife who is still a teenager is still availing of MYA courses, support and events.
Here are some of the standout quotes from those interviews. The full interviews will appear on Changing Ireland’s website later this year.
• Wesley Joyce said, ” When I was a kid, I saw people going up to RACE from Moyross Youth Academy and that gave me hope and inspired me. You can be a poor kid like me and you can make it. Anything is possible if you’re ready, if you really want it and you work hard for it. Dream, believe, achieve. Believe in yourself.” PHOTO: AM
“If you invest your money into Moyross Youth Academy, you might win it back on a jockey someday.”
– Wesley Joyce, Moyross, 55 national flat wins (and counting)
• Terry Casey on a return visit to Moyross Youth Academy. PHOTO: AM
“For me, when you’re on a horse, the speed, just getting the feel off the horse, there’s no other feeling like that. My dream was to work with horses, but without Moyross Youth Academy I definitely wouldn’t be a jockey today. They’re very supportive.”
– Terry Casey, Southill, jockey, recently recorded his first win.
• Aoife Leonard with her horse Ace in Clonlara. PHOTO: AM
“With the Moyross Youth Academy, you know, they really help young people out. They help people not to get into trouble. As my mam says the Equine Programme was my saving grace. I know I will qualify in the future to be an instructor,”
– Aoife Leonard (14) Moyross, showjumper.
Ace jockey Cathy Gannon has advice for aspiring jockeys from Limerick
