‘Michael will be deeply missed’: North Cork community will rally around O'Sullivan family

The North Cork community of Lombardstown will “rally around” the family of Michael O’Sullivan following yesterday’s announcement of the death of the 24-year-old jockey in Cork University Hospital (CUH), where he had been in intensive care after his fall during a race in Thurles on February 6.

The death of the rider, who had to be airlifted to CUH from Thurles Racecourse after he fell from the Gerard O’Leary- trained horse Wee Charlie, has shocked and saddened the racing world and his local community.

It also prompted tributes from political leaders, including from Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon.

The jockey’s death in CUH in the early hours of Sunday morning, surrounded by his family, was announced in a statement by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

“Michael sadly passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning surrounded by his loving family in Cork University Hospital,” said the IHRB’s chief medical officer Dr Jennifer Pugh.

“We extend our appreciation to the multidisciplinary teams who provided the best of medical care to Michael, both on the racecourse and in Cork University Hospital.

“Michael’s family took the decision to donate his organs at this incredibly difficult time, but in doing so made a choice that will make a real difference to the lives of other patients and their families.”

IHRB chief executive Darragh O’Loughlin described Michael O’Sullivan as “an exceptionally talented young rider who was always popular in the weighroom”.

“Michael will be deeply missed by everyone in racing who had the pleasure of knowing him,” he said.

“Our hearts go out to Michael’s family, especially his parents Bernadette and William and his brother Alan, who will feel his loss most keenly.”

Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea, himself a native of Lombardstown, said the young jockey was very much part of the local community and will be missed greatly. “He had a talent for racing that he was brought up in, but made it his own,” said the TD. “His achievements and his presence will live long in our memories.

“My thoughts are with William, Bernie, Alan, and with all Michael’s extended family, neighbours, and friends at this very sad time.

“The community here will rally to support them through this very difficult time.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin described Michael O’Sullivan as a “talented rider who inspired many”.

“My sincere sympathies go to Michael’s family, his friends, and colleagues in the racing world,” said Mr Martin in a post on social media.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said he was keeping the family of the jockey in his prayers.

“I know people across our country are thinking of the family of Michael O’Sullivan this morning and of the wider racing family — an incredible talent taken so young,” he said.

Fine Gael councillor Liam Madden, from Mourneabbey, the neighbouring parish to Lombardstown, just outside Mallow, said the young rider’s family was steeped in racing as his father, uncles, and grandfather had been involved in the sport.

“It’s sad; sad for the area,” said Mr Madden. “They’re great people; they will still be doing that sport. It could happen in any sport.”

His fellow Kanturk-Mallow councillor Pat Hayes recalled that Mr O’Sullivan had been a member of the Duhallow Pony Club. “There’s a great community out there,” he said.

“There will be hard ol’ times ahead, and they’ve had a hard week, but the community will rally around them too, and they’re a good family — they’d be well known.

“I would know him because I would go to racing and they would be known in the racing circles for [many] years because of their Cheltenham wins, going back to their fathers and uncles.

“They’re a family steeped in racing, sure,” he said, pointing out that the late jockey’s first cousin Maxine is also a jockey and winner at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mr O’Sullivan rode his first winner at Cork Racecourse, Wilcosdiana, for Tony Wilson in Mallow in 2018, and would go on to ride 95 winners across Britain and Ireland.

A standout memory will be the first day of the Cheltenham meeting two years ago when he rode two winners, the first of which was Marine Nationale in the Grade One festival opener, following up with a win on board Jazzy Matty for Gordon Elliot in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap later that afternoon.

He would have celebrated his 25th birthday this coming Friday.