Horse racing’s Pat Smullen laid to rest in home village of Rhode, Ireland
OF all the tributes that have been made since the death of Irish horseracing’s legendary Pat Smullen last week, two simple words, posted on the Twitter account of his daughter Hannah have best summed up such a loss to his family, the village of Rhode where he lived, the County of Offaly and country of Ireland: ‘My Hero’.
A nine times champion Irish flat racing jockey and winner of 12 European classics including the Epsom Derby, Pat Smullen’s funeral Mass at St Peter’s Church in Rhode took place last Saturday, 19th September with very few in attendance, however hundreds were at The Curragh Racecourse, the scene of his many racing victories in Kildare Ireland when his hearse made a brief stop there on the way. Horse Racing Ireland’s chief Brian Kavanagh and Curragh Racecourse chairman Padraig McManus presented Pat’s wife, trainer Frances Crowley with a floral wreath.
At St Peter’s Church his coffin, draped in the silks from his 2016 Epsom Derby and Irish Derby wins was brought to the altar. A racing helmet, saddle, a model tractor and coffee mug were presented in honour of what he loved most, representing his life in sport and at home on his farm in Rhode.
After receiving a diagnosis of cancer in 2018, Pat Smullen underwent several surgeries and intensive treatments. He lost his battle on 15th September.
His widow Frances said in her eulogy to her husband that while he had been strong, brave, tough, a fighter and a winner, he was only human, and that while his spirit never quit his body was forced to give in.
Pat Smullen leaves behind son and daughter Paddy and Sarah as well as eldest daughter Hannah and wife Frances. His mother Mary, brothers Sean, Ger and Brian and especially cousins Alan and Ken were united in their grief as well as his mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
His funeral Mass was celebrated with family only in attendance due to Covid-19 restrictions, and he is buried in the adjoining cemetery at St Peter’s Church in Rhode, Offaly, Ireland.
