Sadly, we report that Mallow, Co Cork UCD student Mr Michael O’Sullivan, a 24 year old jockey, who was involved in a pile-up at Thurles Racecourse on February 6th last, has succumbed to his injuries.
This unwelcome news has been confirmed by the International Horse Racing Board (IHRB) early this morning.
A two-time winner at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival; Mr O’Sullivan was one of several jockeys who fell at the final hurdle on the Thurles course; mounted aboard ‘Wee Charlie’, for horse trainer Mr Gerard O’Leary.
He received immediate medical attention at the racetrack before being airlifted to Cork University Hospital, where he was taken into an intensive care unit and placed in a induced coma.
Just shortly before his 25th birthday and surrounded by his family; Mr O’Sullivan passed away just 9 days later.
O’Sullivan shot to prominence in 2023 when winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, seated aboard ‘Marine Nationale’, before then going on to win the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, same day with ‘Jazzy Matty’.
Old William (Bill to close friends) was a right one for the horses. It was all in the stars, he figured. “Lady Luck is on your side or she isn’t”. he always said. “And it helps to find out where she stands and what psychic mood, she’s in”. Which is why we ended-up in front of a garishly coloured caravan at the fair-ground.
It belonged to Madame Fortuna, a Thurles fortune-teller, as you’ve probably guessed. I felt like an absolute idiot, since I don’t, as a rule, go along with this ‘stars and magic’ stuff. Anyhow, we were supposed to be at the Thurles February races and now it looked like we might miss the first race, all because of Old Bill’s superstitious tendencies. He could see my blood was up, but he imparted a tolerant grin and went on to explain his foibles.“Nobody ever believes you should consult your stars at vital moments in life. But it works for me”, adding “The bane of the bookies, that’s me, Bill, right enough”.
“OK, OK”, I grunted impatiently. “Let’s get this nonsense over with”. “Now remember” he warned, a serious expression forming on his chubby face. “You must believe in it all. It’s no good and money wasted if you don’t have faith. Faith that moves mountains. Follow me, young man”. I nodded and followed him up the few wooden steps that led to Madame Fortuna’s caravan consulting room.
We entered and this ancient looking woman, dressed like one of the extras in “The Desert Song” was seated at a table, gazing into a crystal ball. She grinned slyly at Bill, who acknowledged her greeting with a knowing smile. She sensed my scepticism, for I detected a scowl as she turned in my direction. “Old witch, bothered, I’m sure”, I swore inwardly. “Twenty pounds each, gentlemen”, she squeaked. Well at least she was doing pretty well, out of Old Bill’s passion for the nags. I flicked two tenner’s on the table, as did Old Bill, with a lot more eagerness, also placing his two notes on her small table, latter littered with all sorts of curious and weird looking objects.
To cut a long story short she then went into this meditation routine, as her eyes penetrated the crystal ball. After a bout of what appeared to me as silly theatrics, she emitted a low moan and collapsed over the ball. “Oh no, not a bloody heart attack”, I groaned. Then she quickly recovered, resuming her original posture and spoke in unearthly, haunting tones. “I see a man and an arrow …. and another man …. and something else…”, then less dreamily she announced: “No more!” Bill thanks her profusely. He seemed to be content enough with his money’s worth. (Wouldn’t have said the same for me).
Later at the race track Bill scrutinised the race card carefully, over a pint of Guinness in the bar. Suddenly he began to tremble with excitement. He said he was going to put one hundred pounds on a horse. He didn’t say which horse, but told me to look carefully at the card. Then he was gone.; I’m not a gambler, really, nonetheless, I glanced at the card to see if anything might strike my fancy. When I saw the first horse on the card for the next race, my pulse suddenly started racing. I wondered … heck; I decided to put one hundred pounds on “Robin Hood”, the number one on the card. I recalled the old gypsy’s reference to a man and a bow and an arrow… I’m not superstitious… but …!
Then I dashed over to the grand stand and followed the progress of the race through my binoculars. It turned out to be a hell of a close race. The colours of Robin Hood’s jockey were Lincoln green, but Robin didn’t get the final verdict, so I dashed back to the bar without waiting to hear the results of the race. I decided I must be one of those fellows whose horses follow other horses – going out at twenty to one and romping home at midnight! Disgusted and with sweet prayers for that gypsy, I ordered my usual pint of comfort. Then who should sidle-up to me but Bill and boy did he look a picture of pleasure. “We’ll celebrate and invite the gypsy along; …. major windfall”. “You won…?”, I asked, dazed. “Have a look”, Bill gestured with his hands towards his coat pocket, which was bulging with a wad of fifty-pound notes. “All thanks to the gypsy”, he beamed, “What are you having?” “How?” I asked. “Didn’t you see the last horse on the card?” said Bill, “Number Six?Don’t tell me you forgot to have a flutter?” I checked the card again carefully. Then my eyes rested on Number Six for the first time. I did not know whether to die laughing or cry myself to death. I recalled what the gypsy had said. “I see a man and an arrow …. and another man …. and something else…!” Oh, me of little faith. Number six was called “William Tell” and he crossed the line, a winner; at 33/1.
END
Tom Ryan, ”Iona”, Rahealty, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
This afternoon, racing here at Thurles, Co. Tipperary was abandoned following an injury sustained by jockey Mr Michael O’Sullivan in a fall at the final fence.
Mr O’Sullivan was riding ‘Wee Charlie’ for Mr Gerard O’Leary in the second race on the card. He was one of three fallers at the last fence in the two mile ‘Racing Again February 20th Handicap Chase’. Two other horses were badly hampered, having unseated their riders.
Mr O’Sullivan was treated on the track before being stabilised and brought to Cork Reginal Hospital by air ambulance.
Initially racing was deferred, before eventually being abandoned at around 3:30pm, by race day stewards, due to the prevailing medical situation. Mr O’Sullivan shot to prominence back in 2023, having won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham aboard ‘Marine Nationale’. His second winner at Cheltenham that year, making it an opening-day double came with his win on ‘Jazzy Matty’; riding for Gordon Elliott.
Wishing all athletes and their families a very Happy Christmas and a healthy 2025.
Basketball training has been moving forward satisfactorily this season so far, with our new athlete members settling in very nicely. Thanks to all the volunteers and MrMartin Hehir, at the Presentation Sports Hall, for their support.
We held our annual Christmas party in Meitheal on Wednesday, December 11th, and a great night was had by all present.
A big thank you to the Meitheal Staff; together with Mr Paul Scully from Photo Station, who looked after the photographs; Ms Rosalie Butler for the music and dance and all the athletes who sang on the night.
Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) will mark its 140th birthday in Thurles today, Friday, 1st November, 2024.
The GAA was founded on November 1st 1884 at a meeting in Hayes Hotel, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, by a group of spirited Irishmen, latter who had the foresight to realise the importance of establishing a national organisation to make athletics more accessible to the masses and to revive and nurture traditional, indigenous sports and pastimes.
Michael Cusack 1847- 1906.[GAA’s first President elect.]
Irish teacher and founder Michael Cusack, latter born in 1847, (during the Great Irish Famine 1846-1849), a native of the parish of Carron on the eastern fringe of the Burren, in Co. Clare, would become its first President.
To mark today’s birthday, the GAA’s History Committee will attend at Hayes’ Hotel for a meeting at 12:00 noon, to make a presentation to the hotel. They are expected to be joined by Munster GAA President and GAA Vice President Mr Ger Ryan(Tipperary), as well as other Tipp GAA officials including Mr Patrick McKay, great grandson of John McKay, the former who was elected first secretary in 1884. To mark the event a meeting will be held in the same room where the Association was initially founded.
All are welcome to attend this event in Hayes Hotel.
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