Dr. Declan Monaghan’s new book, The Irish National Stud, 1900-2025: Horses, Politics and Elitism, launched at Maynooth University by Senator Fiona O’Loughlin, explores the rich history of the Irish National Stud in County Kildare. The book uses a wide range of primary and secondary sources to chronicle the Stud’s development from its founding as Tully Stud by Colonel William Hall-Walker in 1900, through its transfer to the British government in 1916 and the ensuing legal disputes during Ireland’s independence struggle, to its evolution as the Irish National Stud from 1944 to the present.

Monaghan’s work highlights the intersection of horse breeding with political, cultural, and social issues, revealing Ireland’s complex relationship with Britain through the lens of Thoroughbred racing. The narrative also compares the Irish National Stud with its British counterpart and examines the influence of elite breeders on the industry in both countries, providing a comprehensive thematic and chronological account of this iconic institution’s role in Irish and British equine history.