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Amy O'Reilly
by Jackie Cowan
This profile first appeared, in slightly different form in County, Irish Examiner, 24th June, 2003
Amy O'Reilly, 27, is the only female driver regularly competing against men on the West Cork harness racing circuit. There are fewer 'Ladies Harness' events than previously, but O'Reilly prefers mixed races "where women and men compete on level pegging. You don't get any special treatment." That last statement was certainly proved when, as an inexperienced driver, she was disqualified in two major races, having passed the post first. She has won many ladies races, including this year and last at Central Track, and among victories in mixed company, she counts the free for all with Gillie's Guy at Drimoleague in the late nineties as one of the most satisfying.
But for many local fans, O'Reilly's victory in the Celtic Ladies' Championship at Portmarnock, Co. Dublin, in August, 200l, gave the biggest thrill. Pitted against far more experienced drivers, who had all won major titles, she admits, "It was fantastic to be there, never mind beat them." Her partner in that, Newtown Landslide, was considered a "no-hoper", but O'Reilly explains, "we took the lead from the gate, and kept the race very slow (to suit him). On the backstraight for the last time, we gave it all we had and we won by a couple of lengths." Indeed, to the resounding cheers of the huge crowd at Caheragh when the result was announced.
Originally from Corran, Leap, the former Amy Enright got involved in trotting in 1993, when she met Sean O'Reilly, farmer and harness race driver, and started competing herself in 1994. The pair were married in August, 2000, and live near Drimoleague, with toddler, Nicola, and four and a half-months old Cian. O'Reilly, a nurse, currently works thirty one hours a week at Bantry hospital, and feels lucky to have her mother, Mary Enright, and her mother-in-law, Noreen May O'Reilly, to share child minding duties. And as a grading officer for the ITHRF, she is also very busy, with colleague, Violet Hurley, on race days, before she dons her colours to enter the lists.
Trotting and harness racing appeals to all ages, and O'Reilly emphasises: "I love that it is a family sport. It's accessible. Farmers can have horses on their own farms, train themselves and then go out and compete. And I love the way horses are so well looked after." She also feels that the young people involved in trotting are great. "They are a great testimony to adults in the sport, who take time to teach the younger people how to train, passing on the knowledge, and are not afraid to show them the tricks of the trade." She loves the way the youngsters can be seen, at big meetings, chatting with ease to members of the trotting fraternity from all over the country. And adds, "you can hold a conversation with them. Involvement in trotting is a lesson life for them." This augurs well for little Nicola and Cian, both of whom have never yet missed a race meeting!
