A MINUTE’S silence will be observed at Gowran Park today for Maureen Mullins who was laid to rest in Goresbridge on Friday.

In her 95th year, Mrs Mullins passed away peacefully on Wednesday after a short illness. Wife of the late Paddy, she has been described as Irish racing’s first lady and matriarch of a famous racing dynasty.

On Friday, her family, friends and neighbours were joined by many faces from the racing world to say a final farewell to a special lady who had been a constant presence on racecourses for over 70 years.

President Higgins was represented at the funeral Mass by Col Stephen Howard, a sign of the respect in which Mrs Mullins was held nationally.

Tony Mullins, delivering the eulogy, said he did not know where to start. “There was no start,” he said. “Our mother was always there, during good days and bad, to buck us up and keep us going.

“She always looked on the positive side. That’s the way it was right up to the end. An amazing woman, an amazing story, from start to finish. We will never miss anyone the way we miss her.”

Predeceased by her husband Paddy, Maureen Mullins is survived by her children Sandra (McCarthy), William, George, Tony and Tom, and 10 grandchildren, sisters Elizabeth and Angela, brothers Tom and Noel.

Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said: “Mrs Mullins was a hugely popular figure in the horse racing community.

“It was fitting that Mrs Mullins was the recipient of HRI’s Contribution to the Industry Award in 2016, recognising her great many years of involvement in racing. She was an enthusiastic racegoer to say the least and it was wonderful that she was still attending race meetings until very recently.

“Mrs Mullins was the matriarch of a true racing dynasty. A strong and independent woman, she will certainly be missed from the racecourses the length and breadth of the country.”

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