The mother of Irish racing - a day in the life with Mrs Maureen Mullins

The Mullins have had another successful Punchestown Festival and who better to talk to than Kilkenny’s Maureen Mullins – the mother of Irish racing.

At the age of 93 years young, she is certainly a remarkable lady. We spent the best couple of hours on her couch chatting about all things racing, growing up on a farm, and how proud she is of all her children and grandchildren.

Maureen's late husband, the great Paddy Mullins

Behind every great man is an even greater woman and many would agree that Maureen was the driving force behind her late Paddy’s success. She was instrumental in encouraging him to race further afield, abroad in the UK, France, and America.

Punchestown week has had us on the edge of our seats as Maureen's sons and grandson Emmet take the best of Irish horses that they have trained to the track, and her grandsons Danny, Patrick and Charlie riding to glory.

Maureen Mullins with grandson Danny Mullins at his first win in the Thyestes was the Thyestes Handicap Chase on Total Recall, trained by her son Willie Mullins. (Photo by Vicky Comerford)

After more than six decades at the helm of Ireland's greatest horse racing dynasty, here is a glimpse into Maureen world…

Tell us about Maureen Doran, before you became Mrs Maureen Mullins.

I grew up on a farm near Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow and I was one of nine children. My passion for horses and the sport was sparked decades ago as a child. Many of my siblings played musical instruments but my interests were hunting and show jumping.

We had wonderful parents, and my father was a great farmer and stock man. Our farm had a lot of sheep and cattle, so we were lucky to have a few horses too.

Growing up, I remember the cows all had to be milked by hand by 6.30am, for the milk collection in Bagenalstown. I think my father was one of the first to get an electric milking parlour in those days. He was also one of the first to grow tobacco in the area, which he later sold onto Carrolls.

My father was also a wonderful musician, he played the piano and fiddle every day. My mother was a beautiful piano player too.

I was one of the first ladies to have a driver’s licence at the age of 16. I headed to Dublin when I finished school and got a job for the British Paint Company as a secretary. My boss Mr McNally was an advent hunter, so I didn’t spend a lot of time in the office! I spent most of it out hunting and going to race meetings with him.

Where did you meet Paddy Mullins?

I had known Paddy since I was 14 years of age. We used to go hunting together with the Mount Loftus Harriers. We got married in 1954 and had five children - Sandra, Willie, Tom, George and Tony.  We were married for 54 years, and sadly Paddy passed away 11 years ago.

Paddy was 34, when he took over his father Willie's training licence, and rode his first winner as a trainer, Flash Parade II, at Punchestown.

After his riding career ended, Paddy turned his attention to training from his Goresbridge yard. Only for Paddy, I would never have gotten into horse racing so much.

You both had some fantastic years on the track.

I’d say our greatest win was when Vintage Tipple, ridden by Frankie Dettori, won the Irish Oaks in 2003. There’s a lot of people in National Hunt racing that had more money, farmers didn’t have a lot of money at that time.

I’d say it was the greatest thrill of any race we have ever won. Paddy was 81 years old, and it was over 50 years since he trained his first winner. He won other races that were a lot more valuable, but the Irish Oaks was his biggest win.

The biggest national hunt race winner was of course Dawn Run, who was an iconic mare in Irish racing.

Maureen Mullins and Harry McCalmont of Noreland Stud (grandson of Major Dermot McCalmont). Photo by Vicky Comerford

Who do you think is the greatest influence in racing in Ireland?

I think Major Dermot McCalmont from Mount Juliet was. He was the joint master of the East Kilkenny Hunt, and the owner of the famous horse, The Tetrarch.

He was a great influence as he knew a lot of the people that governed racing. He had such a knowledge of it because he used to mostly race in England. He had an idea of how good jockeys could be, even if they were local lads that were not brought up with horses.

He bred some successful horses and that in turn gave an interest to the local farmers to get a brood mare of their own. To have one good broodmare to sell at the end of the year was some help to farmers.

You have said the Kilkenny mare Height of Fashion from Goresbridge, was one in a million.

She was owned by Jack Donohoe and trained by my husband Paddy. She really put us on the map. She was the national hunt mare of the century.

The Height of Fashion had speed and stamina and was always ready to race. She was not temperamental at any stage; she was easy to ride and easy to look after. Every jockey that rode her, agreed with her.

We knew on the days that she was racing that she would always run well, even if she didn’t win. There are some very good flat mares now, but I think she was the brood mare of that era.

You were a successful point to point rider. You even beat your daughter Sandra into third place at a race in Gowran.

I wasn’t a great point to point rider, I just scraped two wins. I only stopped riding 20 years ago at the age of 75. As for the win in Gowran in 1982, that was great fun, but my daughter didn’t think so!!

You are still a regular in all your glamour in the parade ring. I’ve seen you in action in Cheltenham, you are like the Queen Mother, and the crowd parts for you.

(She laughs at this). I am not sure about the best dressed, but I am certainly the oldest one there!

I do remember one year in Cheltenham, walking in somewhere and the security guard stopped me. He told me that my name wasn’t on the list, and I responded by walking on through and saying, ‘make sure it’s on it tomorrow’.

It’s been on it every year since!

What do you think of your son’s bringing so many runners to Puncestown again and again?

I hope they have a few past the post! All my children are doing something that they like, and I am proud of that.

What’s the best piece of advice you have given your family?

Just believe in yourself, even if it's something that your parents don’t want you to do. Also, to be honest with people.

Who is your style icon?

A long time ago I got some suits and tweed coats made by a German designer Wolfangle who was based in Dublin. They have lasted me a lifetime and I still wear them to the races.

Also, there’s my daughter in law Helen who has a boutique in Carlow called ‘Touch of Class’. She knows exactly what you must wear for each season. That’s the thing about style - that you know what to wear on the day to suit the weather.

My last question, what is the secret of the Mullins dynasty?

Paddy’s father – the late Willie Mullins was the best rider at his age and at an early age. He did everything for horses and the horse industry here. He was asked to judge every horse that Major Dermot McCalmont brought from England to Mount Juliet. Willie Mullins was a brilliant judge of horses, and he had a good eye for a foal and yearling.

It’s followed down through in the genes and onto the track.