PAULA McNamara will be laid to rest today (Saturday) following her 12.30pm funeral Mass in St John The Baptist Church, Ballycannon, Croagh, Co Limerick.

Wife of Rathkeale trainer Eric and mother of four, including jockey Conor and former jockey Emmet, Paula passed away peacefully on Wednesday in Milford Hospice, surrounded by her family.

She worked for many years with the University of Limerick.

Family friend Frankie Ward said: “You wouldn’t see Paula at the races very often but she was a lovely woman, a great person, the backbone of the family, and all her children have done her and Eric proud.

“They are all in our thoughts today.”

A private cremation service for family only will take place on Monday.