Former equestrian commentator and writer Brian McSharry dies

The death has occurred of Brian McSharry, who commentated on show jumping and other equestrian disciplines for RTÉ having previously been equestrian correspondent for The Irish Times.

Averil Douglas, who took over from McSharry in this paper, and was also then editor of the Irish Horse World section of The Irish Field, spent many hours in his company. "I knew Brian for years and years and we travelled to shows throughout Ireland together. He was great fun as a colleague and I am very sorry to hear of his death."

Douglas and McSharry, who is survived by his wife Helen, children and grandchildren, were among those who attended a function in the Croke Park Hotel in early August to honour the Irish show jumping team of James Kernan, Eddie Macken, Captain Con Power and the late Paul Darragh, winners of the Aga Khan trophy at the Dublin Horse Show from 1977 to 1979.

The function was organised by the Association of Sports Journalists in Ireland whose president, Peter Byrne, on learning of McSharry's death, said: "We were delighted that Brian could come to our lunch and that was probably his last public appearance. He commentated on show jumping in the 1970s when the sport was covered live on television and those who took part were known throughout the country."

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There will be an open house in the McSharry family home at Rathfarnham from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday evening with a funeral service taking place on Friday at 11am in Dundrum Methodist Church, Ballinteer Road followed by cremation at Mount Jerome Crematorium.