Tributes paid as Tipperary jockey Michael Byrne tragically passes away aged 36

Tributes have been paid as Tipperary jockey Michael Byrne sadly passed away on Saturday at the age of 36.

The former Grand National jockey from Knockgraffon, Cahir is deeply regretted by his loving parents Michael and Kitty, brothers David, Stephen and Eoin, sisters Amy and Katie, brother-in-law Johnny, sisters-in-law Michelle, Chloe and Rebecca, nephews Tadhg, Andy, M.J. and Harry, nieces Erin, Hannah and Mila, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.

Reposing at his home (Eircode E21 VK02) this Wednesday evening from 4pm to 8pm.

Requiem Mass on Thursday in Holycross Abbey at 3pm and can be viewed on https://www.churchservices.tv/holycrossabbey followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

The racing community in Ireland and Britain has been left devastated following the tragic death of the former Aintree Festival winning jockey.

Michael rode in the Grand National and recorded 96 career wins.

Dozens of tributes have been paid to the former rider who competed in the 2014 Grand National and rode winners at Cheltenham and several other big tracks.

On rip.ie, people have been posting tributes also:

Your cousins in the Boston area and our extended Byrne family members throughout the United States, send our sincerest sympathies over the loss of Michael Byrne. Though we never had the pleasure of meeting Michael, we pray for his soul and for the members of his loving family grieving his loss. *** My dear Kitty and Michael words cannot express my heartfelt sympathy to you on the death of your beloved son. My abiding memory of Michael in school is his beaming smile. He left a lasting happy memory for all of us. To Amy, Katie, David, Stephen and Eoin please know you are in my prayers. God bless you all. Rest in peace dear Michael. *** Rest in Peace Michael. Deepest sympathy to all the Byrne family at this very sad time. Michael was a true gentleman. Rest easy my friend. ***

The Cahir jockey rode a handful of winners in Ireland before moving to Britain where he enjoyed a successful career and retired in 2016 and returned home, where he prepared horses for the sales.

He is a nephew of renowned point-to-point trainer Pat Doyle, who handled many champion jump horses in their early days, and had been working with his uncle at his Suirview Stables.

Doyle told the Racing Post: "Michael was very successful as a jockey and was a brilliant horseman and it's very, very sad.

"He was a great guy who was involved in horses and into his football. He had three brothers and two sisters and all the family are very close. He was a wonderful young man with a wonderful family around him and he'll be very sadly missed."

The Cahir native had his best spell in the UK for Welsh-based trainer Tim Vaughan, riding 61 winners in total for the Cowbridge handler.

"It is just so sad and I am devastated for Michael's family and friends," said Vaughan, who provided Byrne's 2014 Aintree ride Golan Way in the edition won by Pineau De Re.

"He was a lovely person - reliable, honest and loyal. He started his career in Peter Bowen's stable and worked for us for about five years. Dicky (Richard) Johnson was our main jockey at the time and Michael was conditional, he rode out his claim here. We enjoyed lots of success together and got on famously well.

"He was a lovely kid from a lovely family and there's no other word to describe it than tragic," said Vaughan.

In 2010, Byrne was in Aintree's winners' enclosure after the Listed mares' bumper, when Bowen-trained Big Time Billy won at big odds of 28-1.

The following month, Byrne was victorious again at Aintree on 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup second Take The Stand, just nine days after the pair's triumph on hunter chase night at Prestbury Park.

Buck Magic provided another career milestone there, securing a conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at the 2021 November Meeting.

The thoroughbred's trainer Neil Mulholland said: "Michael will be sadly missed, he was a lovely fella and used to ride out here. A lot of my staff worked with him and they have been affected by the news. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends."

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