On a mission from peaceful Tipperary to war-torn Ukraine

When John O’Connor sits down in his kitchen at his home in Dualla, he takes in a beautifully idyllic scene.

The horses in his care at Ballykelly Stud graze the green fields and he can view graceful woodlands in the distance.

The peaceful home surroundings are far removed from the war-zone environment he chooses to immerse himself in.
John, no stranger to hostile situations given his years of playing rugby battling for success with London Irish, is now accustomed to leaving the tranquil settings of Dualla to traverse war torn Ukraine.

During 2023 John went on four fact finding business missions travelling huge distances around the vast Ukraine countryside.
2024 will see even more regular visits to a country beleaguered by war.

Why take off on such a hazardous expeditions removing himself from such a safe and peaceful setting as Dualla and Tipperary.

“You could say it's my last hurrah,” said John as he reflects on why he is taking on such a perilous mission.

He has a distinguished career in the aerospace industry working in developing air traffic control systems.

John O’Connor specialised in military radar technology and was at the forefront of using research and development to identify how that military technology was transferable to non military use.

His expertise saw him working with governments in South America and Africa on mining ventures or renewable energy schemes.

He has used his military technology experience to work in countries whose infrastructure has been ravaged by war.
He spent years on reconstruction projects in Kuwait after the Gulf War and is now focussed on bringing his expertise to Ukraine.

“At the outbreak of the war in Ukraine I was at a kind of loose end, I had the horses but, I was looking for something to do that was suitable for my background,” he said.

“I have spent a lot of time in difficult environments, you need to have the experience, be resourceful and not be foolish in your risk taking and I had worked at high levels of government in previous roles. There is a need to prepare for what happens when the shooting stops,” said John.

Companies in Ireland, he said, because of the support the country had shown Ukraine on so many levels, were in a good position to avail of opportunities.

“Ireland has been very generous to Ukraine, has given so many people fleeing war a home, it has supported a fast tracking of membership of the EU for Ukraine and has been a big supporter of sanctions against Russia,” he said.

He established a group called Ucrain Nua and is lobbying the British Ireland Trading Alliance concerning the opportunities that could arise in Ukraine.

“Ucrain Nua is aimed at companies who want to be involved in the post-war reconstruction. This war will end and it is important that companies are seen to be in-country now to ensure they are favoured partners,” said John.

During 2023 John, who is spearheading a group of investors, travelled to Ukraine to examine potential sites for mini bio refineries that run on corn.

Volunteers at the Hippodrome trotting horses venue in Kyiv. Horse breeder John O’Connor has set up Operation Cossack to help them source vital supplies for the care of the horses.

He also used his time to find out what bureaucratic and administration hurdles might have to be overcome in getting a massive business venture off the ground.

John and members of his team held meetings with local and international officials and visited locations where redevelopment work needs to be carried out.

John, and his backers, are in the process of building a number of plants at various locations around Ukraine that will convert corn, that the country is finding it difficult to export, into liquid bio fuel.

“Basically 40 tonnes of corn a day goes into these machines, processing it into cattle feed, and the fermentation process gives off a lot of bio ethanol which you then blend with regular petrol to run your car off.

“With Ukrainian ports effectively blockaded, they’re having a lot of trouble getting corn out, but at the same time they’re having problems getting fuel in, so this is the kind of innovative solution I’m trying to bring to the place,” said John.
It is a multi-million project and he has made significant progress on the design and planning of the first of the plants which will be located in Noviska.

In September Ucrain Nua signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UKR Agro Leasing which provides a framework to explore opportunities for the creation of liquid bio fuel production.

“The Ucrain Nua strategic deployment of these facilities provides a level of security for the country, helps create a market for agricultural output and provides jobs and other community support.

“We have an agreement to build one plant and we see the opportunity to provide up to 20 plants around the country,” he said.
“Business is happening in Ukraine. They were speaking about recovery when the situation was far worse than what it is now. It is a big mistake for Irish companies to sit back and wait until the war is over,” said John O’Connor.

BALLINDERRY MOTH
John O’Connor was born in Ireland. His father Barney, who was from Galway, was a renowned greyhound trainer who enjoyed huge success with Ballinderry Moth, a winner of the Oaks.

Barney moved his family to London where he enjoyed a long association with Walthomstow Greyhound Stadium.
“When we were living in London I would have come over with my Dad and the dogs to Ireland at least five times a year,” said John.

Barney decided to move back to Ireland in the late eighties.

He choose to live in Lisronagh because of the coursing pedigree of the area.

“He would have always loved this area because of the coursing and greyhounds. Dad and Mam bought a house in Lisronagh. He had a lot of friends around Clonmel. He knew Ned Kennedy and Jack Nallen and he was always happy with his decision to move to Tipperary. Barney was famous in the greyhound world because of the success of Ballinderry Moth. Ballinderry Moth won the Oaks and became foundation bitch and the dogs that followed were among the best greyhounds around. Ballinderry Moth was a history making animal,” said John.

John moved back to Ireland in 1994 and set up home in Dualla after purchasing Ballykelly Stud from John Magnier, where he has bred a good number of high-class horses including the Cheltenham Festival heroine, Indefatigable.

John would have inherited a knowledge and love of animals from his father. He was moved by the plight of horses he came across in Ukraine on one of his missions in the last twelve months.

He visited the Hippodrome in Kyiv, a venue famous for trotting horses, and he was concerned about the welfare of the horses because of the shortage of essential items.

John said the horses were being very well cared for but the dedicated volunteers looking after them were running out of supplies and he wanted to help the group of volunteers in Kyiv charged with their care.

OPERATION COSSACK
He was so concerned by their difficulties that he set up Operation Cossack and started to find a solution to their problems.
Prior to one of his trips to Ukraine during 2023, John put out an appeal to the horse racing community to come to the rescue of the horses in Ukraine by donating high-value items like supplements and veterinary kit.

“They were in desperate need of medical supplies, foodstuffs and other items. The people looking after the horses over in Kyiv were just so grateful for any help they received. The items donated were of a great help to them and I hope to help them out in the future as well,” said John.