Tears flow as hundreds gather at funeral of tragic jockey Michael O'Sullivan

Tears flow as hundreds gather at funeral of tragic jockey Michael O’Sullivan

Posted by author February 19, 2025 Horse Racing

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TEARS flowed as hundreds of mourners gathered at the funeral of Michael O’Sullivan – the Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey who died aged 24.

Racing has been in a state of shock since Sunday after his tragic passing was confirmed.

The hearse carrying the coffin of tragic jockey Michael O’Sullivan is led by a horse away from the grounds following the funeral at St John the Baptist Church in CorkCredit: PA

Pallbearers carrying a coffin draped in blue and gold. — The coffin is carried in as racing remembered the tragic 24-year-old jockeyCredit: PA

Jockey Michael O'Sullivan at Ascot Racecourse. — Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey O’Sullivan sadly died as a result of the injuries he suffered in a fallCredit: PA

Pallbearers carrying a coffin into a church. — O’Sullivan was one of the rising stars of the sport and his sudden death has cast a huge cloud over racingCredit: PA

Pallbearers carrying a coffin draped in blue and gold into a church. — The rain fell in Cork as O’Sullivan’s coffin was carried into the churchCredit: PA

Hearse leaving funeral service. — Mourners lined the street as racing paid its respects to the fallen jockeyCredit: PA

Ruby Walsh attending a funeral. — Legendary former jockey Ruby Walsh was among those in attendanceCredit: PA

Hearse carrying a coffin passes mourners. — The streets were lined to remember O’Sullivan, and included youngsters from Duhallow Pony Club, where the late jockey learned to rideCredit: PA

O’Sullivan, a rising star of the weighing room, suffered injuries in a fall at Thurles racecourse in Ireland on February 6 from which he never recovered.

As the tributes poured in he was remembered as a ‘beautiful person‘ – with the sport lucky to have such an accomplished, confident and intelligent young man among its ranks.

His awful passing at a young age – five days shy of his 25th birthday – and just weeks before Cheltenham Festival has left a huge hole in people’s hearts.

There has been no racing in Ireland for the past three days – as the sport and community came to terms with such a devastating loss.

And the funeral mass at St John the Baptist Church in Cork was packed with mourners including legendary trainer Willie Mullins, all remembering a much-loved and respected rider, son, boyfriend and brother.

Tears flowed as Charlotte, the girlfriend O’Sullivan leaves behind, spoke of how much she will miss her partner.

A rousing applause once she finished showed how her words echoed with everyone there.

And no one took longer than Mullins – who O’Sullivan had recently rode a big winner for – to talk to the heartbroken family.

Willie’s son Patrick, iconic ex-jockey Ruby Walsh and current top rider Keith Donoghue were among the other mourners in attendance.

Prior to that, O’Sullivan’s coffin bearing the blue and gold flag of his GAA club Kilshannig, was met at the church door by a guard of honour made up of over a dozen jockeys he raced with.

Ahead of his funeral, his family spoke of how proud they were of all his accomplishments, which included winning two races in one day at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.

A post on rip.ie read: “On Sunday, February 16, 2025 after a trojan battle to recover from injuries sustained in a fall, Michael died peacefully a few days short of his 25th birthday, surrounded by his heartbroken parents Bernie (née Goulding) and William, brother Alan, partner Charlotte and extended family.

“Michael had accomplished so much in his short life.

“As a family we are so incredibly proud not only of his achievements in the saddle, but of the extraordinary young man he had become.

“He was full of kindness, integrity, ambition and love, always striving to be the best person he could be.

“Michael will be very sadly missed by Bernie, William, Alan, “Granny Mary”, aunts Kathleen, Marie, Anne, Marguerite and Marie, uncles Connie, Willie, Sean, Andy, Patsy, Eugene, Patrick and Michael, aunts-in-law, uncles-in-law, cousins, Charlotte, his many friends as well as his weigh room colleagues and the wider racing community.”

And they added to that during the service, with dad William saying: “Behind every good man is a good woman.

“Michael had Charlotte by his side for the last number of years, a good match, shared many interests.

“We are grateful for the love they shared and the fun they had. You will always be dear to us.”

“Michael was much loved and will be dearly missed.

“While we are broken-hearted, we will now focus on what Michael would want for us.

“He would want us to mend over time, he would want us to support Alan in his life choices and find joy in his achievements.

“He would want us to find joy in the achievements of his cousins and friends and his many weighing room colleagues. May you all stay safe.

“Michael will forever be in our hearts and minds.”

O’Sullivan was injured when part of a desperate five-horse pile-up at the final fence of a handicap chase.

He was attended to on-track by racecourse paramedics and airlifted to Cork Hospital, where he remained in intensive care until his passing.

Racing fans have pleaded with Cheltenham bosses to consider an exceptional name change to honour O’Sullivan.

In light of his 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle win on Marine Nationale, punters want the opening race of the Festival to be run under a different banner.

Currently the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, fans think it only right it be renamed The Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, as a way of remembering his biggest win in the saddle.