Farming and Racing Community Saddened At Sudden Death Of Jim Allen

The Ulster farming and racing fraternity were deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Jim Allen on Friday past writes Joe Kavanagh.

Big Jim has been a major figure within sheep farming for decades and had won the All-Ireland Champion Sheep Shearing title on three occasions to match his Ulster Championship title in the shearing art. He was a regularly seen as a judge at major agricultural shows in Ireland. Again, in his younger days, Jim Allen was a very talented ruby player and a member of the Lurgan team which won the Senior League in both 1969 and 1970.

Jim Allen since his retirement had developed his Moira-based equestrian centre and gallop which hosts the annual Maralin point to point. He was a regular familiar figure on the Ulster point-to-point circuit when meeting his farming friends and always attended the Down Royal fixtures where he was a long-standing member while also following the jumps racing at Downpatrick.

He will be greatly missed by his very many friends within the province and Jim built relationships with many from the South of Ireland through his point-to-point venue and gallop and equestrian facilities.

Condolences are offered to his wife, Margaret and son, Paddy and the wider family circle.

The funeral takes place on Wednesday 28 October at noon at St John’s Church of Ireland in Moira.