A sell-out crowd packed the ballroom of the Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, Co Limerick, last Wednesday night for a gala dinner to celebrate the achievements of Tim and Martin Molony.

The Limerick brothers were champion jockeys in Ireland and Britain during the 1940s and 50s, and Martin’s son Peter is well-known in racing and breeding circles as the owner of Rathmore Stud in Kilmallock.

The night raised a total of €60,000 for the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund. Top lot at the charity auction was a nomination to Makfi donated by Sheikh Fahad, who has close ties with Peter Molony through his racing adviser David Redvers. The Makfi ‘nom’ was bought by Steve Parkin of Clipper Logistics for €15,000. Ger Lyons and bloodstock agent Mick Flanagan also bought major items.

Tim Molony died in 1989 but Martin, aged 89, is still with us. Unfortunately Martin was laid low by a wasp attack this week and had to miss the party. He would have enjoyed seeing a video tribute from Phonsie O’Brien who summed up the brothers with the line: “On his way to mass Martin would meet Tim coming home from a London club.”