PAT CURTIN
The greyhound community was left reeling on Sunday afternoon as the news filtered through of the sudden and tragic passing of one of the greatest characters in the history of greyhound sport, Pat Curtin.
A hugely popular figure, he was also an incredibly talented man with a greyhound and tasted plenty of success both on the track and up the field.
From a training point of view, he will be best remembered for expertly steering Shelbourne Aston (Pic right with Pat) to Champion Stakes and Derby glory in 2008, landing one of the greatest gambles of all time in the latter. The brilliant brindle, who he owned with his great ally Noel Hehir and their close friends Paul and Margaret Montgomery, produced one of the most astonishing displays in the Derby final, coming from last place to snatch victory off Slip The Lark in the final stride.
He wasn’t the only star that Pat would train on the track, however. Caz Diamond captured the Golden Jacket around Galway in 2007, while he also trained the sensationally fast Kereight King to reach the Derby decider in 2013, only to withdraw the dog after he picked up an injury in the semis.
He was also one of the most prominent names in coursing circles, tasting success up the field with the likes of Boavista and Windfarm amongst many others.
Pat was born into greyhounds with his late father John always keeping a few, both coursing and track. He was actually born, and spent his first few years, in Letterkenny but as he said himself, his father “did the right thing” and moved the family to Clare when Pat was seven years of age.
It would be his home for the next ten years before he moved to London where he began work in the plant hire industry. He often told stories of his time in the UK where the greyhound bug never left him. He had dogs with his great friend John Mullins and managed to win some big prizes with the likes of Ballydaly Score and Shanaway Gold.
During his time in the UK he became friends with legendary jockey Tony McCoy who in-turn introduced him to footballer turned actor Vinnie Jones and former Arsenal star Ray Parlour. He became good friends with Jones and Parlour and got the duo involved in a few greyhounds but the call of home was strong. Pat returned to Ireland in early 2004, settling into the Ballygodoon Stud in Monard, Co. Tipperary.
Soon after he got his hands on Winters Pub in Dundrum in the then newly opened Dundrum Town Centre. Pat relied on his sister Bridget to make it possible for him to keep his involvement in both the greyhounds and the pub game, stating in the 2009 Irish Greyhound Review that, “I try to be there [Ballygodoon] as much as possible but when Bridget is there, everything is done properly and it works well.”
Pat was a giant of a man who provided me with one of my greatest memories in the sport. On the night of Shelbourne Aston’s Derby triumph, I watched the final from the infield area at Shelbourne Park. Of course, the final went right to the wire with Shelbourne Aston coming from last to first to deny Slip The Lark in a photo finish.
With the noise and sheer chaos of the moment, Pat couldn’t hear judge confirm the result. He turned to me and asked the question, “What did he say?” to which I replied, “He said you won the Derby, Pat”. Within seconds, Pat, who towered over me, welled up. He threw his arms around me. It was like being hugged by a grizzly bear, albeit the friendliest one imaginable.
That night, it seemed the vast majority of the greyhound racing community made their way to Winters, the pub and nightclub that Pat had the lease on in Dundrum. The party went on all night with revelers still leaving at 7am the next morning. Thanks to Pat’s generosity most didn’t have to put their hands in their pocket all night.
It was one of many nights that Pat hosted the unofficial afterparty to greyhound racing’s greatest occasions. Be it in Winters in Dundrum or Dandelion on St. Stephens Green, Pat always rolled out the red carpet for his friends in the sport. He was generous to a fault. There was simply nothing he wouldn’t do for a friend.
As social media reacted to his passing yesterday evening, I came across a video of Pat Buckley celebrating the success of Deerjet Sydney in the English Derby at Nottingham. It featured Buckley being approached and embraced by his taller namesake.
And Buckley was one of the first phone calls I fielded yesterday afternoon. He was clearly very cut up but was keen to talk about his friend, “Pat was some messer but you couldn’t help love him. He was a loveable rogue, the best of craic”.
Indeed, the phone was hopping yesterday afternoon as the news broke with each caller regaling some story about Pat and how much fun he was to be around. It summed up how popular he was and how much he will be missed.
It’s difficult to believe Pat will never grace the tracks of Ireland again. He and his great friend James ‘Craft’ McGee seemed to turn up everywhere, doing what must have been tens of thousands of miles a year together.
My heart is with Jo and their five beautiful children, Caitlin, Conor, Charlotte, Cillian and Ciara, who Pat loved so much. On behalf of each and every person involved in greyhound sport on both sides of the Irish Sea, we send our sincerest condolences to Joanne and the children, his brothers and sisters Geraldine Rose, Thomas, John, Jude, Bridget, Elizabeth and Ann, brothers-in-law Paul, Joe and Pat, sisters-in-law Mary, Colette and Claire, nephews, nieces, extended family and many, many friends.
Men like Pat don’t come around too often - if ever. To lose him at just 52 years of age is beyond tragic. I’m certain those that knew him will cherish their memories of the big man.
May He Rest In Peace.
Words by Ian Fortune.
Funeral announcement
Pat Curtin
Who died on 16th April 2023
Aged 52 years
It is with great sadness that the Curtin family announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Pat, one of the greatest characters in the history of greyhound sport.
Deeply regretted by Joanne and their five adored and much-loved children, Caitlin, Conor, Charlotte, Cillian and Ciara.
He will be sadly missed by his heartbroken siblings, Geraldine Rose, Thomas, John, Jude, Bridget, Elizabeth and Ann, brothers-in-law Paul, Joe and Pat, sisters-in-law Mary, Colette and Claire, nephews, nieces, extended family, cherished friends and all his greyhound sporting family. Pre-deceased by his father John and mother Elizabeth (Betty).
MAY HIS GENTLE SOUL REST IN PEACE
Pat will be reposing in St, Mary’s Church, Mullagh, on Wednesday, 19th April, from 5.00pm until 9.00pm. Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 20th April, at 1.30pm followed by burial afterwards in Clohanes Cemetery.
Pat's funeral Mass can be viewed on www.kibparish.ie, for those unable to attend.
The family would like to thank you for your sympathy and support at this difficult time. You are invited to leave a personal message or share a memory of Pat on the condolence page HERE: https://rip.ie/cb.php?dn=532875