AINE Murphy, matriarch of Ballycurragh Stud in Rathoe, Co Carlow, passed away peacefully in St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny, on February 3rd. She was 88.

Her son Willie said: “A lot of people passed through the stud in her time, from all parts of the country, and made tea for them all. From the time we stood Dusky in 1977, my mother was familiar with all the stallions and she was a very big part of Ballycurragh through the good times and the recessions that followed.”

Aine was predeceased by her husband Andy and is survived by children Noelle, Willie and Jim.

Avid racegoer mourned

WE send our condolences to the family and friends of regular reader and avid racegoer Michael Fitzgerald of Caherguillamore, Bruff, Co. Limerick who passed away peacefully in Ard na Rí Nursing Home, Bruff, Co. Limerick on February 6th.

Michael is survived by his wife Nuala (née Shire), his daughters Christina and Antoinette (O’Neill), his sons Michael and Tony, daughter-in-law Síle, son-in-law Peter and Catríona (Tony’s partner), his loving grandchildren, nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, relatives and friends.

Michael’s funeral took place on Tuesday morning in St. Mary’s Church, Meanus.

Lucy Stokes passes on

RACING and hunting lost a special person in January when Lucy Stokes from Tullylease, Co Cork, passed away on January 22nd. She was 79 years of age and died in Cork University Hospital.

Lucy never missed a day’s racing on a Sunday and was a stylish regular at the Galway and Cheltenham Festivals.

Her nephew Fergus Stokes is a professional huntsman with the Limericks and formerly whipped-in to the late Ger Withers in the Duhallows. Lucy’s hospitality to the Duhallow Hunt in her pub was legendary.

She was survived by her partner, Pat Griffin from Ardfert, who shared the commentary duties on the southern point-to-point circuit and is well known on the pony racing scene.