AIDAN Walsh, for so many years a fixture on Irish racecourses and involved in the sport on many levels, passed away peacefully last Friday (January 19th) after a short illness. He was 76.

Racehorse owner and race sponsor, Aidan was a former member of the Racing Board and chairman of the Tote. He was a founding member of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners and he served on the board of both Navan and Punchestown Racecourses.

Along with wife Caren, he was a part-owner of Acclamation, a Group 2 winner 20 years ago and now a very influential stallion. In more recent years, he and Caren enjoyed success over jumps with horses trained by Gordon Elliott, most notably Black Tears who won the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Aidan fulfilled another lifetime ambition just last year when he part-owned Irish Greyhound Derby winner The Other Kobe.

Originally from Straffan, Co Kildare, and based in nearby Clane more recently, Aidan was a great supporter of GAA in those communities. His lifetime friend Charlie McCreevy said: “Aidan was a gentle soul. He and I grew up together; our families were both interested in GAA, horses and dogs.

“We went to Cheltenham together for 40 years and owned bits of horses and dogs together over the years. When I was in politics Aidan was always with me, though he was never a party member. There is a photo of us leaving Leinster House together in January 1982, when I was expelled from Fianna Fáil for criticising Charlie Haughey.”

The racing world was well represented at Aidan’s reposing and funeral Mass this week. His second cousin Fr Paul Walsh celebrated Mass and described Aidan as an extraordinary man who lived life to the full and had an impact on many people’s lives.”

In the early 1970s, Aidan established Texacloth Wool Merchants and was one of the first Irish entrepreneurs to do business in China.

Through his business, Aidan sponsored races for horses and greyhounds for many years.

He is survived by his wife Caren, brother Ger, sons David, Alan and Roy, daughter Annemarie and their mother Sheila, his son Paul, and stepdaughters Katie and Harriet.

Racing Board members from the mid-1990s. Back (l-r): Jim Bolger, Frank Smyth, Aidan Walsh, Paddy Walsh, Seamus Mulvaney Front (l-r): P.J. O'Connor, Valerie Cooper, Denis McCarthy (chairman), Sonia Rogers, Michael McEvoy