EMBARR
JOINS THE GARDA MOUNTED UNIT
Monday 27th June 2011
On Monday 27th
June at An Garda Síochána’s Mounted Unit
headquarters in the Phoenix Park, Horse Sport Ireland Chairman,
Joe Walsh, officially presented Embarr to the Garda Commissioner,
Martin Callinan. Embarr, a 4 year old Irish Draught gelding,
is the newest recruit to the Garda Mounted Unit and will begin
his career this year.
In
2010, Horse Sport Ireland agreed to sponsor the purchase of
an Irish Draught horse for An Garda Síochána’s
Mounted Unit. A screening day and extensive search was held
last year. Earlier this year a suitable horse was found and
he was required to undergo a six-week trial period at the Garda
Mounted Unit in the Phoenix Park.
The
4 year old Irish Draught gelding that was selected by the Garda
Mounted Unit is by Rockrimmon Silver Diamond (ID C1) out of
Clogheen Cavehill Pride (RID), by Cork Arthur (ID C1). He was
bred by Patrick Egan from Athlone, County Roscommon. As breeder
of the horse, Patrick was invited to attend Monday’s ceremony.
In
early June, Horse Sport Ireland and the Garda Mounted Unit ran
a competition to find a name for the newest recruit. All of
the Garda Mounted Unit horses’ names are derived from Irish
mythological folklore and Horse Sport Ireland received almost
400 suggestions, with the winning name being Embarr as chosen
by Deirdre Orme. Deirdre, from Mullingar, County Westmeath,
is a design student at Athlone Institute of Technology. Together
with her parents, she attended the official hand-over and had
the chance to meet the horse who she named. The stable of each
horse at the Unit bears a plaque with details of the horse.
Embarr’s plaque, which will remain on permanent display
until the horse retires, credits Deirdre for choosing his name.
Embarr
in Irish mythology is Niamh's horse. Niamh is one of the Queens
of Tir na nÓg. He can run across sea and land without
touching the ground or water. This horse cannot be killed by
man or god. Embarr of the Flowing Mane is also the name of Manannán
Mac Lir's horse, the Celtic God fabled to live on the Isle of
Man. (see Editor’s note for further details)
The
Garda Mounted Unit commenced operational duty in May 1998 and,
being a national resource, has provided a regular operational
policing support to Gardai in every county. The most important
characteristic in a police horse is a good temperament. The
Garda Mounted Unit concentrates exclusively on the use of the
Irish Draught horse as it has been its experience that it has
the qualities most desirable in a police horse.
Speaking
at Monday’s ceremony, Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan,
said; “We are gathered here today to thank Horse Sport
Ireland for the generous gift of this horse, Embarr, who is
the newest member of the Garda Mounted Unit.”
“The
name Embarr means ‘imagination’. I have no doubt that
his imagination, not to mention his dedication to the role,
will be welcomed by the other horses in performing their duties
on behalf of An Garda Síochána. Embarr is the
youngest horse to pass assessment for the Garda Mounted Unit.
I wish him ever success in his career as a Garda Mount.”
Horse
Sport Ireland Chairman, Joe Walsh, said; “I am delighted
to be here today to present this horse, Embarr, to the Garda
Mounted Unit. He is a fantastic example of an Irish Draught
Horse and we wish him every success in his future career. The
Garda Mounted Unit plays a very important role within An Garda
Síochána and I feel Embarr will act as a fantastic
ambassador for both the Garda Mounted Unit and the Irish horse.”
Where
does the name come from?
The
name Embarr is an old Celtic word that means Imagination. In
Irish mythology, Niamh is one of the Queens of Tir na nÓg,
("Land of the Young"). It was believed to be a country
where there is no sickness, old age, or death, where happiness
lasted forever, and a hundred years was as one day. Tir na nÓg
was said to be located somewhere off the south western coast
of Ireland. It is said that Niamh crossed the Western Sea on
a magical horse, Embarr, and asked Fionn mac Cumhail if his
son Oisín would come with her to Tír na nÓg.
Oisín agreed and went with her, promising his father
he would return to Ireland to visit soon.
Oisín
was a member of the Fianna and, though he fell in love with
Niamh during their time together in Tír na nÓg,
he became homesick after what he thought was three years and
he wanted to return to visit Ireland. Niamh let him borrow Embarr,
who could run above the Sea and the Ground, but she made him
promise not to get off of the horse or touch Irish soil.
The
three years Oisín spent in Tír na nÓg turned
out to be 300 Irish years. When Oisín returned to Ireland,
he asked where he could find Fionn mac Cumhail and the Fianna,
only to find that they had been dead for hundreds of years and
were now only remembered as legends. Whilst travelling through
Ireland, Oisín was asked by some men to help them move
a standing stone. He reached down to help them, but fell off
Embarr. Upon touching the ground he instantly became an old
man. Embarr returned across the sea to Tír na nÓg.
Meanwhile, Niamh had given birth to Oisín daughter. When
Embarr returned to Tír na nÓg Niamh knew that
something had happened to Oisín she went to Ireland to
search for him, but he had already died.
