Michael O’Sullivan

At midday on Wednesday, William O’Sullivan stood on the altar in St John the Baptist Church in Glantane in County Cork and, on behalf of himself and his wife Bernie, spoke about their son Michael.

“Michael was fixed on being a jockey from a young age,” William said.  “Many an evening I came home to find Michael and Alan riding the couch.  He joined Duhallow Pony Club, participated in show jumping and hunting.  We had many journeys together to Ballyrafter and further afield.  Looking back, these were precious times.”

Outside, it rained.  The human contents spilled out beyond the church doors and into the elements, but nobody cared. Comhbhá an dúlra, they call it.  Pathetic fallacy.  The sympathy of nature.   

Inside, nobody was seeking sympathy.  The theme was one of appreciation, remembrance, gratitude.  William O’Sullivan spent the first few minutes of his eulogy thanking everybody for everything that they had done for Michael during the near 25 years of his life, including in the closing, harrowing days that followed his fall at Thurles on 6^th February.  It was a measure of the family that the O’Sullivans are, the foundation for the young man that Michael O’Sullivan became. 

Wednesday’s service was a service of tribute: ‘A funeral mass celebrating the life of Michael O’Sullivan’. 

“Going to university was never a given,” William said, “because Michael had it in his head from a young age that he wanted to be a jockey.  He needed encouragement, particularly from Bernie and Granny and others.  He agreed to go as long as he could pursue his riding career after.  We have it on good authority that he read the Racing Post during lectures in UCD.  But despite this, he was awarded an honours degree in Agricultural Science.  Another proud day for us all.”

Everybody knew how good a jockey Michael O’Sullivan was.  It is not a coincidence that his services were employed by some of the best judges in Irish racing.  His talent was there for all to see, like on the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse in December 2022.  

Things didn’t pan out perfectly for him through the race, a horse in front of him made a mistake and he lost the good position that he had engineered for himself earlier as a consequence.  He didn’t panic though, he allowed his horse find his rhythm, make his ground gradually.  A mistake at the final flight could have ended his chance of winning but, again, the young rider allowed his horse a moment to gather himself before asking him for maximum effort, driving him forward to get up and win by a head.

Michael’s career progression was solid and sure-footed, a sustained upward trajectory that was set to take him to the very top.  His roots run deep too.  His dad won the Foxhunters’ at the 1991 Cheltenham Festival on Lovely Citizen, who was trained by Michael’s uncle Eugene, his dad’s brother, and owned and bred by his grandfather Owen.  Lovely Citizen was one of just two Irish-trained winners at the 1991 Cheltenham Festival.

Champion novice point-to-point rider in 2019, champion conditional jockey on the track in 2022/23, his first season riding outside the amateur ranks.  He was a fledgling professional when he got the leg up on Marine Nationale at Fairyhouse before that Royal Bond Hurdle in 2022, a claiming rider who couldn’t utilise his claim, and winning his first Grade 1 race on his first Grade 1 ride over obstacles.  

Of course, his zenith was Cheltenham, the first day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.  On Marine Nationale in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, when Facile Vega kicked for home in front of him off the home turn, and he waited, trusted in his horse’s ability and produced him with a perfectly-timed run.  

Three hours later, he got Jazzy Matty home by a neck in the Fred Winter Hurdle and, at the end of the first day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, he was leading rider.

But Michael O’Sullivan was much more than a top-class jockey, one of the rising stars of the weigh room and destined for the very top.  His qualities went well beyond the saddle.  Respectful, generous, thoughtful.  Anyone who ever had the pleasure of meeting him will tell you that.  Always obliging.  Engaging. Appreciative.  Nothing was ever too much trouble.  He always took the time to help.

His calm demeanour in the saddle was an extension of his persona.  Clever and articulate.  And well-rounded, multi-dimensional.  He was never only about racing.  He was a proud member of Kilshannig GAA Club, his dad told us.  He loved rugby, he supported Munster and Ireland.  He spoke French, he got a kick out of skiing, he loved music.  And all of this while maintaining a laser-like focus on his career.

“Michael wanted to be the very best, and take every opportunity.  He travelled the length and breadth of the country for a ride.  He pursued opportunities in France and in England, and had successes in both places, speaking fluent French in interviews.  Delighting his mother.”

People smiled.  You could smile because William O’Sullivan set the tone.  Later on, Michael’s brother Alan talked over as the gifts were brought to the altar.  Michael’s whip, his Kilshannig jersey, his grandfather’s racing colours, his degree parchment.

His sunglasses.

“As a symbol of Michael’s love of the good life,” said his brother, and everybody smiled again.

The depth of the loss is unfathomable, for William and Bernie, for Alan, for Michael’s partner Charlotte Giles, for his granny Mary, his uncles and aunts, his cousins, but the focus was not on that loss.

“It gives us comfort to know that his last thought would have been of anticipation, determination and excitement,” said Michael’s father.

It is difficult to know from where William O’Sullivan got the strength to speak about his son for fully 10 minutes, unwavering.  Probably from the same place as the place from where Charlotte got the strength to read a poem, For Michael.

“With the reins in his hands and the wind at his back, he’d race through life, never looking back.  A man of grit, of courage, and grace, whose smile could light up the darkest space.”

That smile will always be remembered.

“Michael was much loved and will be missed,” said William O’Sullivan.  “While we are broken-hearted, we will now focus on what Michael would want for us.  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.”

© The Sunday Times, 23rd February 2025