Tributes pour in for Irish jockey Michael O’Sullivan who has died following Thurles fall

The Cork native was involved in a five-horse pile-up last week.

On Feburary 6, while riding Wee Charlie - trained by Gerard O'Leary - he was one of three who fell at the final fence during the two-mile Racing Again Handicap Chase.

Racing was abandoned in Thurles on the day following the fall, and Mr O'Sullivan had been in intensive care in Cork University Hospital since the incident.

In a statement, the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board announced that the youngster had died in the early hours of this morning.

On behalf of the O’Sullivan family, it is with profound sadness that the IHRB confirms the passing of Michael O’Sullivan pic.twitter.com/LIo58toZpy

— IHRB (@ihrb_ie) February 16, 2025

The CEO of the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board, Darragh O'Loughlin, paid tribute to Mr O'Sullivan, describing him as an "exceptionally talented young rider".

"Michael will be deeply missed by everyone in racing who had the pleasure of knowing him," he said.

The Chief Medical Officer of the IHRB, Dr Jennifer Pugh, also paid tribute to Mr O'Sullivan saying that his "dedication, modesty and kind nature always made him a pleasure to be around.

"Michael's success and his humility will have inspired many and I share the feeling of loss today with all those who knew him," she added.

O'Sullivan was crowned champion under-21 rider in 2019 on the point-to-point circuit, before his first win under rules at Cork in 2018, guiding Wilcosdiana, who trained by his uncle Eugene, to victory.

O'Sullivan turned pro in 2022 and enjoyed a day-one double at the Cheltenham Festival in 2023.

He was also crowned champion conditional in Ireland with 32 winners that year. In total, O'Sullivan rode 90 winners in Ireland and five in Britain under rules.

Tributes have poured in from the racing world and from the the likes of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and trainer Gordon Elliot.