Faugheen breeder John Waldron dies in road crash

Tributes have been paid to north Galway doctor and horse breeder John Waldron, who died in a road crash in Co Tipperary at the weekend.

Dr Waldron, who was in his early 70s, was returning home after serving as medical officer at a point-to-point meeting in Ballingarry when his car was in collision with another vehicle at Fortmoy cross, Borrisokane, shortly after 5pm on Sunday.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was taken to Limerick regional hospital. A woman in her 60s who was in the other vehicle was also taken to hospital.

Dr Waldron was well-known in horse racing as the breeder of Faugheen, winner of the 2015 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The GP, who had a practice in Bishop Street, Tuam, was credited in a song by The Saw Doctors, Merry Christmas Tuam.

He played a crucial role in the campaign to establish a family planning clinic in Galway in the late 1970s.

After the first clinic opened in Raleigh Row, Galway, in July 1977, he became its first volunteer doctor.

‘Tremendous loss’

Former Fianna Fáil MEP Mark Killilea said that Dr Waldron was a "great doctor and a gentleman down to his shoes", and his death was a "tremendous loss".

“He had his lovely mare which bred Faugheen, and more, and he started his retirement in earnest then,” Mr Killilea said.

"I was due to travel with him to Listowel on Monday where one of his horses was running in the last race, and John had brought down the colours for the horse to give to the trainer at Ballingarry," Mr Killilea said. "He really was a brilliant medical man, as was his father Tony before him."

Dr Waldron is survived by his wife Mary and three children.