William O'Sullivan: 'Michael will forever be in our hearts and minds'
STANDING TOGETHER: The hearse carrying the coffin of Michael O'Sullivan passes members of the Duhallow Pony Club ahead of the funeral. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA
A community in mourning came together in an emotional show of support for the family of Michael O’Sullivan as the young jockey, who passed away on Sunday from injuries sustained in a fall 10 days earlier, was laid to rest in St John’s Cemetery, Glantane on Wednesday afternoon.
From he and his family’s background in pony club, showjumping, hunting, point-to-points, National Hunt and Flat racing, and GAA, the crowds descended upon the small rural village not far from Mallow, and but for the generosity of friends and neighbours, it may have been overwhelmed by the congregation.
Villagers opened their gates to let the masses park in their front and rear gardens, while walkers were offered the warmth and comfort of Kilshannig GAA Club, where the funeral was live streamed and refreshments presented.
In the church, Michael’s father, William, a self-professed quiet man, spoke courageously and proudly of his son, painting a picture of the youth which grew to be the man racing lovers got to know in the last few years.
William spoke of the boy who was a joy from the start, "a smart boy" for whom "school was no difficulty" but who was determined, from an early stage, to realise an ambition of being a jockey.
A little persuasion from his mother and grandmother, the core of this rural family with solid roots, he agreed to continue his education in UCD and much to the pride of his entire family, he emerged with an honours degree in Agricultural Science.
Testament to the bright young man he was, he managed that distinction despite his family having it on "good authority" that "he read the Racing Post during lectures in UCD".
Michael, his father told us, later admitted he was "glad to have gone to college, where he made some great friends", but once that part of his life was complete, he returned to focus on riding horses.
Champion novice point-to-point rider in 2019, he was champion conditional rider in 2022, his first season as a professional. A star was on the rise.
It hadn’t all been plain sailing but, surrounded by a loving family, his devastation at grasping defeat from the jaws of victory aboard Oighear Dubh after the horse ducked through tape on the run-in when having a Cheltenham race at his mercy, rather than being lambasted, the then 17-year-old was greeted with a hug by the trainer, his loving uncle, Eugene.
William also spoke of his son’s affection for Marine Nationale, who gave him his first graded and first Cheltenham Festival successes, and he wished nothing but success for that horse and his trainer, Barry Connell, and his team for the future.
On behalf of his family, William also acknowledged trainer Gerard O’Leary, revealing that Michael "loved riding for you," and adding “it gives us comfort to know that his last thoughts would have been of anticipation, determination, and excitement".
He spoke of Michael’s brother, Alan, his great group of friends, his love of sports, including GAA and rugby, his skiing pursuits, and his loving girlfriend Charlotte, who read a poem she penned for her late boyfriend.
Despite the anguish, the loss of a loved one, one who shone so bright, and would have illuminated the sport for years, William wished to focus on what Michael would have wanted in this immeasurably difficult time.
“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.”
All the while, in the grounds of St John the Baptist Church, hundreds stood outside. As the rain picked up and the conditions — fittingly, not unlike those that best serve O’Sullivan’s beloved National Hunt racing — worsened, not a single person moved. Solemnly they stood, all there to show respect to one of their own, one taken from them far too soon.
“If …,” one former jockey commented, “… if you could picture solidarity …”
