Epsom Derby winning jockey pays tribute to late mum with 10km run

FORMER Epsom Derby winning jockey Emmet McNamara is to run a 10km in memory of his late mother and to raise much needed funds for Milford Care Centre.

Paula McNamara, Beechmount House, Rathkeale, was sadly laid to rest on February 1 with her son Emmet praising the “fantastic care” she received from the staff at the hospice.

Emmet explained that he has been “keen to try and repay the kindness” shown to his mother by supporting the work of Milford Care Centre.

Prior to Paula's passing, Emmet informed her that he was going to take part in the run to raise money for the care centre and she was “over the moon and delighted.”

“Initially, I was hoping that she might be there to cheer us across the line, but, unfortunately, she has passed since but it's nice at the same time to be able to do it in her honour,” said Emmet.

The Rathkeale man set a target of €2,000 for the fundraiser in aid of Milford Care Centre but has already managed to triple this figure before he participates in the run this Sunday.

Emmet said he “never dreamed for a second” that he would reach the target and that it has been “phenomenal” to triple it, raising over €6,000 to date.

“It's testament to Milford because I think a lot of the people who would have donated have had previous experience with Milford and are keen to try and donate again.”

He continued: “I would only hope that someone in a similar situation to us in the weeks and months and years to come that their family member will be able to receive the same standard of care that mom did.” Emmet feels it's “so fitting” that the race will be held in the University of Limerick, where Paula worked for many years.

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He added that the day before Paula passed away, she was treated to a manicure at the hospice and enjoyed a pamper in a Jacuzzi bath. “It was an enjoyable experience to be inside there because I suppose there can often be negative connotations with going to a hospice... but it was really a place where she enjoyed her stay,” stated Emmet.

He noted that a harpist also visited the hospice and played some songs for Paula who thoroughly enjoyed music. “A lot of those things combined, I suppose, just made her feel that it was a home away from home and that she was really cared for.”

Paula was diagnosed with endometrial cancer in November 2022 but Emmet said she put up a “brave fight” and “smiled her way through it even though there was a lot of difficult times.”

She studied at the University of Limerick and worked there for over 30 years in various roles including as an academy administrator for the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and as a personal assistant.

Emmet is excited about participating in the 10km run and will be joined by his friends and well-known jockeys Billy Lee and Gary Carroll. He is hoping for a big turnout on the day.

He said the run is a very well supported event and he is looking forward to it and hopes to perform as well as he can. Emmet has been working in Tipperary for the past ten years and he regularly runs and competes with his club Fethard AC.

To donate to the fundraiser search online for ‘Emmet McNamara fundraising for Milford Care Centre’ on the Eventmaster website.