Paddy Mullins - The Galway Maestro

Paddy Mullins

(Photo: Peter Mooney)

"I wouldn't miss going there for diamonds."

Paddy Mullins, the legendary Galway specialist, told Barry Henriques of the 'Kilkenny People': "I raced in Tuam much earlier than I raced in Galway. It took us a long time to have a horse capable of giving a good account of himself in Galway. But when we succeeded in getting a decent horse ready for Galway, we never looked back afterwards."

"I loved Galway," he added,"and I suspect Galway loved me. It was a very lucky track for me, and I never had any major misfortune there over all the years I have been travelling there. My brother, Captain Luke Mullins, was the Clerk of the Course there for years, so it was particularly enjoyable for me and my family to go and stay with him.

I love going to Galway and nothing has changed over the years to quench that regard. It has an attraction all its own and it is, without doubt, the best racing track in the country. They have made enormous improvements over the years, and I wouldn't miss going down there for diamonds. It is a unique place in every sense of the word."

Extract from 'Galway for the Races' - published in 2006.