The Colonel William Hall Walker at Ireland’s National Stud, unveiled by Michael D. Higgins
Colonel William Hall Walker was close friends with English aristocracy, leading a horse to King Edward VII. He helped to find Ireland’s National Stud. They reported:
The unveiling of the sculpture was undertaken by President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins who spoke of his pride and gratitude to Hall Walker for bestowing such a treasure to the state. A bonsai tree and stars depicts Hall Walker’s love of Japanese culture and his unique breeding theories.“
See here: http://www.irishnationalstud.ie/PanelGroup_article.aspx?ID=446
Michael D. Higgins said in his speech on March 29 2015 to the National Stud on the unveiling of the statue of Walker:
Colonel Hall Walker has been described as an eccentric man, but also as an inspired man. He was indeed a citizen whose innate creativity and huge imagination ensured his legacy here in Ireland would be a significant one.
As a passionate and enthusiastic owner, one of his early sporting achievements was to win the English Grand National in 1896 with a horse called “The Soarer”. It was with the proceeds of that victory that he decided to purchase the Tully Estate in 1900 from the Fay family. Winning the famous Gimcrack Stakes four times, he used the occasion of the customary victor’s speech in 1907 to propose the establishment of a National Stud for the development of a thoroughbred breeding sector, commencing a enterprise that remains one of Ireland’s great success stories.
Today Ireland is the largest breeder of thoroughbreds in Europe, and the fourth largest in the world. The industry is worth over one billion euro per year to the Irish economy, and provides direct employment to approximately 14,000 people. There is no doubt that this industry is a key part of our country’s economic activity, and that racehorse owners are an important support to much direct economic activity through the many breeding and training operations that exist throughout the country as well as to indirect activity including, of course, the off course betting industry.
However, while such economic activity is of fundamental importance, it should not be the sole means by which we judge the value of the horsebreeding industry to our culture and our communities. A love of horses, their breeding and training, are an integral part of Ireland’s identity and of our reputation abroad. Across the world, Irish breeders, trainers and racehorse owners command high respect amongst their counterparts, and that international reputation attracts many tourists to our shores every year.
We owe a great debt of gratitude to Colonel Walker. Through his vision and hard work, what was once a farm here at Tully quickly became one of the best studs at the time in Europe and his collection of foundation mares had a remarkable effect on racing. Even more significant was his introduction of the Aga Khan to English horseracing which was to make such a significant contribution to the upgrading of the thoroughbred.
The importance of the National Stud to our citizens, and the proud place it holds in our national psyche, was at no time more evident than during that landmark state visit in 2011, when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth travelled to Kildare specifically to visit the Stud, an event which was broadcast around the world.
In addition to his passion for thoroughbred horses, Colonel Hall Walker had, of course, an abiding interest in Asian horticulture and it was in that context that he brought a master horticulturist from Japan to Tully, to create the inspiring Japanese Gardens which, through their creative design and use of plants, flowers, trees and rockery, recreate the journey of life and beautifully sketch the human experience, and the many different pathways we must choose as we strive to realise all our possibilities.
Colonel Hall Walker was, indeed, a man unafraid to imagine and to turn his imaginings into realities to be enjoyed and shared by all, leaving the people of Ireland the legacy that is the Irish National Stud, a legacy which has ensured Ireland’s role as a major player in the horse industry. Last year the Stud provided a wonderful showcase for 116,000 visitors from home and abroad, eager to see the best Irish bloodstock and world class gardens in a beautiful setting.”
Cartoon of William Walker by Spy (Leslie Ward) in Vanity Fair, June 1906.