THE following is a tribute, written by Leo Powell, following the death on October 28th, 2010, of Paddy Mullins.

A number of weeks ago I met Maureen Mullins in Kilkenny at lunchtime. The reason for meeting her was a sad one, though one that offered me an opportunity to be given one of the greatest honours I am likely to get.

Maureen asked if, when the time would come to pass, I would speak at the funeral for Paddy. What an honour on the one hand, and what a responsibility on the other. Naturally I said yes – how could I say otherwise? Sadly, with passing time and other commitments, I find myself putting the finishing touches to this in Melbourne. The news of his death reached me as I got off the plane.

I was determined not to simply list out the great achievements of a truly remarkable man. They will be written about everywhere. Rather I will try to focus a little on Paddy Mullins, the private man. And a private man he was too.

In the course of my chat with Maureen she uttered a phrase that for me said so much about Paddy, his amazing partnership in love and business with Maureen, his role as a father and grandfather and his approach to life itself. I had brought with me a number of photographs of Paddy through the years. All of them were likeable and all captured the essence of the man. What was that special ingredient?

Well, it was Maureen who said it. “He had such a kind eye,” she said. “He had such a kind eye.” And indeed, if you look at the many photographs of Paddy, you too will spot that kindness. It was a characteristic that he brought to every aspect of his life. And it brought many rewards,

Paddy was not a hugely demonstrative man in public; rather he was seen as a solid and very quiet man. Now don’t get carried away. I am not suggesting he was a hell-raiser at home, but he was a different man. He lived for Maureen, his children and his horses. He was a listener more than a talker. His results did the talking for him. However, in the company of people he knew and trusted he was more of a raconteur.

Some years ago Paddy was deservedly honoured by his peers, the members of the Irish Racehorse Trainer’s Association, with their Hall of Fame accolade. It took place at the Keadeen Hotel and Paddy was unaware of the impending award. I was the master of ceremonies on the day and had plenty of tick-tacking with Willie and Sandra, if I remember correctly, to find out how he would react and if he might say a few words.

As you might imagine, I was told that there was no way he would speak, nor be interviewed. I understood. So we went on with the day, giving out awards and having a quick chat with the winners. Then, the moment arrived. As I announced Paddy’s achievements and the penny dropped, I glanced in his direction to see a look of shock on his face.

To a standing ovation, Paddy shuffled in his unique fashion to the stage and took the trophy. Then he took me by surprise by coming up to me to be interviewed. A little hesitant at first as I had not prepared anything, Paddy gave his usual quiet, one word answers to my questions. As I struggled, I put forward what I believed was a safe question.

“I suppose Dawn Run’s great feat in winning the Gold Cup, to add to her Champion Hurdle victory, was the highlight of your training career, “ I suggested. “No it wasn’t,” was the quick retort. “What was?” I asked. “Hurry Harriet in the Champion Stakes,” came the instant reply. Feeling as if I was drawing blood from a stone, I batted the ball back.

“What made it so special?” I queried. “You’d have had to have been there,” was the parting shot. And he was gone.

I have since read more about that day and heard Maureen tell me stories. A small Doninga team of Paddy, Maureen and Sandra was there on the day as the mare, a 33/1 chance, lowered the colours of one of the queens of the turf, Allez France. This was a wonderful story as Paddy had spotted the dam of the filly for sale in an advertisement in The Irish Field. The year Hurry Harriet won the Champion Stakes she was making her 12th start of the season, winning just one other race. Paddy kept her sweet during a long campaign.

Paddy Mullins enjoyed a charmed childhood and he and his family moved, just short of his fifth birthday, to Doninga House and he never again left the area for too long. He hunted, pointed and educated himself about every aspect of the horse. And always at his side was the irrepressible Maureen.

While Paddy had many of the qualities of a diplomat - and he needed them with some owners - he was very principled and if something had to be said, or an action taken, it would be done. Indeed, early in his career, he asked an owner in the yard to take his horses away - a large percentage of the small stable at the time - because Paddy felt that his authority as a trainer was being undermined. It was a noble if somewhat precarious decision at the time.

While I have said that the successes enjoyed by Paddy at Doninga will be well recorded elsewhere, it would be remiss of me not to at least acknowledge them here.

They run the gamut of racing, from the Champion Stakes at Newmarket to a classic win at the Curragh, from his beloved Gowran Park to Cheltenham and Dueling Grounds in America.

Dawn Run’s name is etched in the history books, alongside that of Paddy, the two inextricably linked. Her achievement, if ever matched, will never be eclipsed. Grabel winning the richest jumps race in the world, the $750,000 Dueling Grounds International Hurdle, half-owned by Maureen. He won four Irish Grand Nationals with Vulpine, Herring Gull, Dim Wit and Luska, a French Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham Festival races with Herring Gull again, Counsel Cottage, Hazy Dawn and Mack’s Friendly, while an Irish classic success came his way thanks to Vintage Tipple.

While the focus is on racecourse success, Paddy also was a producer of quality men for the business and many well-known people have had the benefit of a Paddy Mullins education. Jimmy Murphy, Ferdy Murphy and Terry Casey were just some of the people who learned so much from The Master of Doninga.

In pedigrees we use the term ‘nick’ to describe a pedigree mix that works especially well. In a very special way, Paddy and Maureen produced five amazing children. And in a remarkable feat Paddy saddled winners with Maureen, Sandra, Willie, Tony, Tom and George in the plate. What a singular performance.

As his friend and admirer Sir Peter O’Sullevan summed Paddy up in the foreword to his biography, he was “a gentle man in every sense.” There is surely nothing more to add.

Paddy, you graced the turf for almost three-quarters of a century in a professional capacity with dignity and honour and enjoyed the successes your talent deserved. You also leave behind a legacy in the form of your extended family. You won’t be forgotten and have cemented your place in the annals of the turf. More than that, however, you leave behind a sad, loving and proud family, especially your soul mate and great love, Maureen. May you rest in peace.