Caragh Monaghan © Photo Healy Racing
Caragh Monaghan, an All-Ireland winner in 2021 with the Meath seniors ladies' football team, made a big decision to give up gaelic football to pursue a career as a jockey and she rode her first winner at Navan recently for local trainer Ian Donoghue.
She also rides out for another local trainer Gavin Cromwell who will be well represented at this weekend’s Fairyhouse Winter Festival which features three Grade 1 races on Sunday.
Monaghan would love to be a part of the occasion in what promises to be a huge weekend in Co Meath.
"I have been playing with Meath the whole way up since under 12s - won Leinsters and All Irelands playing underage and then obviously a senior All-Ireland which was a huge day for me," she said.
"Then eventually I knew something was going to have to give - it was going to be horses or football. Then I went full-time with the horses after that.
"It was really nice to get that recognition with the horses after all the football recognition.
"I would love to get a ride there (in Fairyhouse). Hopefully, Gavin might have a few going and Ian will probably have a few going, so I might ride one for Ian if he does have one.
"It is a big meeting and there will be a few nice horses going from this yard (Cromwell's), so it would be great to see them run well coming up to Christmas."
