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Maureen Mullins, the mother of the masterful champion trainer Willie, passed away this morning aged 94 following a short illness.
Wife to multiple champion trainer Paddy, who died in 2010, the pair had four sons and a daughter, leaving behind an ineffaceable legacy that has helped shape the way Irish racing is today.
Maureen Mullins had been a familiar face on the racecourse right up until her very last few weeks. In her earlier years, she played a key role in the training operation alongside her husband, before attending the track with her children and grandchildren in later years.
Maureen Mullins was the mother of Tony, Willie, Tom, George and Sandra. All five of her children rode winners on the track, with Tony crowned Irish jumps champion jockey alongside Frank Berry in 1984. Four of the five have entered the winners' enclosure as a successful trainer, while George operates a thriving horse transport business.
Her grandchildren continue to drive the Mullins legacy into the history books with record-breaking amateur Patrick, multiple Grade 1-winning jockey Danny, David, and most recently Charlie, who Maureen watched steer the Willie Mullins-trained Coco Masterpiece to victory in the Thurles bumper yesterday, all successful riders on the track.
Grandson Emmet, also successful in the saddle, joined his uncle Wille on the Aintree Grand National roll of honour when this year's live Stayers' Hurdle candidate Noble Yeats landed the historic showpiece in 2022, while cousin David partnered the Mouse Morris-trained Rule The World to victory back in 2016.
Maureen also enjoyed a number of successful days on the track as a prominent owner-breeder. I'm Ready, winner of the Irish Cambridgeshire in 1979 and Girl In Blue, winner of Irish Lincoln in 1984 both earmark the intelligence and understanding Maureen had of the breeding game, while son Willie memorably drove Pargan to victory in his mother's colours in the GPT Amateur Handicap at Galway in 1985.
More recently Maureen enjoyed notable success courtesy of Kilcruit, whom she both bred and owned. The Stowaway gelding landed the Grade 1 Punchestown bumper in 2021 and was trained by son Willie.
Her eldest son Willie continues to dominate the Irish racing scene with the Closutton-based handler crowned champion trainer every year since the 2008-2009 season. It would certainly be no surprise were he to pass the 100 winners mark at the Cheltenham Festival next month, as he sits on a staggering 94 and continues to dominate the Prestbury Park stage in March.
Grandson Danny Mullins paid tribute by posting on X (formerly Twitter): "What a woman, such an inspiration. RIP."
One thing is for sure, the Mullins' legacy will live long into the future and Irish racing's great matriarch will be fondly remembered for her tremendous career.
