Funeral arrangements for leading Midlands racecourse manager announced

THE funeral arrangements for Kilbeggan Races manager Paddy Dunican have been announced.

Mr Dunican's remains will repose in Nannery's Chapel of Rest, River View, Kilbeggan from 3-6pm tomorrow (Tuesday, April 9) for removal to the Church of St James, Kilbeggan at 7pm.

He will be buried in the Relic cemetery, Kilbeggan, after Requiem Mass at 11am on Wednesday, April 10.

Mr Dunican, 61, who passed away tragically on Saturday, became known as 'Mr Kilbeggan Races' after a remarkable career in horse racecourse management and administration which spanned more than 30 years.

From a well known farming family in The Square, Kilbeggan which was immersed in racing, ploughing and auctioneering, Mr Dunican took charge of the local racecourse in 1988 when it hosted just three evening meetings each year.

With the single-minded drive which became his hallmark, plus the support of a strong local committee, he not only secured the future of the racecourse but established it as one of the leading horse racing venues in the country.

He transformed a course whose existence on the Irish racing calendar was sometimes questioned in the 1970s and 1980s to one which this year will host 10 race meetings, beginning with a two-day festival on April 24.

His relentless pursuit of excellence saw the construction of a showpiece of racecourse infrastructure, the Kilbeggan pavilion, in the early 1990s and he used those new facilities to attract sponsors to the course.

Mr Dunican was a master networker and political operator, realising early on that access to those holding the levers of power would be key to the growth of Kilbeggan Races.

He engineered a steady flow of top politicians to Kilbeggan, from serving Taoisigh to the serving President, always ensuring they pressed the flesh with supporters, local, national and international.

On one occasion he secured the presence of the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates. Speaking at the course, Dr Saeed Mohammed Al Shamsi commented: “Because the nature of this town and the people of this town is just marvellous and beautiful to see. All the families with their children, with the community, enjoying a beautiful day like this together, I feel like I am amongst my family.”

Paddy Dunican's ability to think outside the box was legendary and perhaps he, and he alone, would have the ambition and the foresight to conceptualise the Irish Midlands National race and ensure Kilbeggan would be its home.

His laser focus on placing Kilbeggan front and centre in the industry saw it attract significant sponsorship as businesspeople realised the benefits of associating themselves with a winning partner.

He established the popular Best Dressed Days at Kilbeggan, forged connections with numerous national personalities, all while overseeing significant improvements in the track at the same time.

Conscious of Kilbeggan's place in the ferociously competitive pecking order of Irish racing, he managed to create a niche national hunt venue which drew owners and trainers who were searching for somewhere to run their horses.

He was a tireless, fearless, relentless and ultimately very effective advocate for Kilbeggan and the so-called 'smaller' racecourses.

Spring racing, summer racing, autumn racing, evening racing, afternoon racing, Saturday racing – he dreamed of a bespoke festival fitting each one.

His appreciation of the importance of representation saw him become a strong voice in the Association of Irish Racecourses and more recently he was key to the establishment of the United Irish Racecourses group which was inspired by the belief that a fairer share of revenue from TV rights could be attained.

In the gaps between the ever growing schedule of race meetings in Kilbeggan, he made trips to Galway, Leopardstown, the Curragh, Fairyhouse, Punchestown, Cheltenham, Ascot and beyond, for ever bending the ear of listeners about his own course and its merits.

Of course, Mr Dunican's determination saw him ruffle some feathers but that was as it should be. His core value was professionalism and he prized it above all other virtues. He was awarded an MBA in recent years and pioneered the use of social media for promotion and marketing.

Personal presentation was critical: on race day he was always immaculately turned out in suit and tie.

He understood the value of awards, both gifting them and receiving them. He handed out leading jockey and training awards at Kilbeggan each year and delighted in winning prizes like those presented by Athlone Chamber of Commerce and many other organisations.

Speaking to the Racing Post, Peter Roe, manager, Fairyhouse, described Paddy Dunican as “one of the toughest people in Irish racing”.

“At times you'd admire him for standing up and asking the questions. He was so racecourse-focused during his time with the Association of Irish Racecourses and everything else. All he ever wanted was things for the betterment of the racecourses,” added Mr Roe.

“When you think of how close Kilbeggan was to closing and look at it now, it can only be put down to one person. Everything it has achieved is down to him. Kilbeggan will, unfortunately, never be the same because it will never have a person who is so committed to its cause.”

In a tribute posted on social media, Limerick Racecourse said: “We were shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Paddy Dunican this morning. Paddy was the face of Kilbeggan Races for many years, our interim manager for our Christmas Racing Festival 2021 and regular steward at our racecourse. He'll be sadly missed. Condolences to all the family. Rest in peace Paddy.”

His legacy stretches far beyond the equine world and he was also widely known for his auctioneering skills.

And because community and volunteerism were also close to his heart, he participated in organisations such as Tullamore Rotary Club and this year, as its president, managed to ensure the presence of Garda Commissioner Drew Harris at its annual road safety event.

An Garda Siochana Laois Offaly described him as a “true gent” this week while Tullamore Rotary Club posted the following tribute: “A tireless and dedicated volunteer, he especially made his mark with our annual road safety campaign, elevating it to national status. Above all, Paddy was a cherished friend to all in our club, many of whom spent countless hours in deep conversation with Paddy over a cup of tea over the years, discussing and debating the workings of the world.

Passionate, loyal and generous, his passing leaves a void that cannot be filled.”

Paddy Dunican was predeceased by his parents Paul and Crissie and is survived by sisters Rosemary, Gemma, Grainne and Aoife, and brothers Nicholas and Peter.