Kilkenny’s renowned Maureen Mullins died peacefully at her home in Goresbridge on St Valentine’s Day aged 94.
Mother of perennial champion trainer Willie and Irish racing’s great matriarch, she died following a short illness.
Along with her late husband Paddy, also a multiple champion trainer who died in 2010, she leaves behind an indelible legacy through the remarkable exploits of their children and grandchildren.
Together they had a daughter and four sons who have cemented the Mullins name as synonymous with Irish racing.
Confirming the news of her death at home in Goresbridge on Wednesday morning, her son Tony said: “She died peacefully at home and I suppose that’s all we can all hope for. And she had a full life. She missed nothing. It is always a shock but it is nice that she didn’t suffer for long.”
Maureen Mullins had been one of the most familiar faces on a racecourse for the best part of seven decades having been a key cog in her husband’s long and distinguished training career.
More recently, she could be seen frequently attending the track accompanying her children and grandchildren, and she was still undertaking some official duties up to only a few weeks ago.
“She cut the ribbon to open the new weighing room at Gowran Park in January and a couple of days after she came down with pneumonia or a flu, and she was in the house since,” Tony said. “She was moving around with some assistance up to a few days ago so it was relatively peaceful, and people have been great here.”
As well as Tony, a former champion jockey, and Willie — her eldest son — Maureen was mother to Tom, George and Sandra.
Her grandchildren have continued the phenomenal tradition of the family with Patrick, the record-breaking amateur rider, multiple Grade 1-winner Danny, David, Charlie, Fiona and Emmet having all ridden winners.
In 2022, Emmet emulated his uncle Willie by becoming a Grand National-winning trainer when Noble Yeats landed the Aintree showpiece, six years after cousin David won the race on Rule The World for Mouse Morris.
Maureen Mullins was always recognised as being one of the driving forces behind the success of her husband, who trained Dawn Run to complete the unique Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup double in 1984 and 1986, and she excelled in many facets in the sport, including as an owner and breeder.
She also rode a winner at her local Gowran Park on board Razzo Forte in a race for wives and daughters of trainers in 1982.
