‘Loving and generous’ Limerick dad of country music star and top greyhound trainer passes away

THE FATHER of Irish country music star Jimmy Buckley and leading greyhound trainer Pat Buckley has gone to his God.

Michael (Mike) Buckley, of Gurtavalla, Doon, and formerly of Glengar and Main Street, Doon, County Limerick, passed away peacefully at University Hospital Limerick this Thursday.

Jimmy announced the sad news on social media, describing his late father as a “loving and generous dad to us all”.

“He will be sadly missed by our dear mother Mary, as she was by his side for over 60 years. He was very proud of all eight of his children and his many grandchildren.

“He loved his music and was so very proud of both Claudia and me, and was an eager follower of both our careers,” wrote Jimmy, one of the biggest names on the Irish country music scene. 

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Brother, Pat, is equally as successful in his chosen profession of greyhound training with over 36 classics to his name.

Jimmy said he announced his father’s passing with “great sadness and a heavy heart”.

“I just wanted to share this with all of our friends and many supporters near and far, as your support and warm wishes will give us great comfort at this very sad time.

“Over the next few days, we will come together as a family to celebrate his life, remember the stories, and honour the man he was. Rest peacefully dad, we love you forever,” wrote Jimmy in the touching post on social media.

Buckley Greyhound Training, led by Pat, also shared their fond memories of Mike on social media, saying he was responsible for their family’s lifelong love of greyhounds, having started with his first dogs back in the 1960s. 

“Over the years he bred and sold many brilliant greyhounds under his well-known ‘Velvet’ prefix. One of his proudest moments came in 2014 when Velvet All Jam, trained by his son Tadgh, won the Irish Oaks.

"Throughout the years there were many other outstanding dogs, including Velvet Commander, Velvet Cash and Velvet Paul. Still to this day Velvet Commander is the most expensive dog ever sold in Irish racing,” reads the post.

Mike was immensely proud of his family’s achievements, particularly when Pat’s dogs were victorious in the English, Irish and Scottish Derbies, as well as many other classic and  feature races. 

“More recently, he was absolutely over the moon when TedTastic won the T.A. Morris Stakes in Clonmel for the Whelans on a Sunday Syndicate, made up of many of his great old friends.

"He also took great pride in Jimmy’s success on the coursing field, including the Coursing Derby winner Upper Hand, who was born and bred at Jimmy’s Galway base, along with all the great “Montpelier” dogs. Mike followed every race and every competition with great passion, always offering advice, guidance and encouragement along the way.

“He was a true genius with a dog and passed that love and knowledge on to Jimmy, Tadgh and Pat, and now proudly to the third generation,” reads the tribute which describes Mike “as an incredible character, loved by all who knew him”. 

“He was as sharp as a tack, with a quick wit and a roguish charm that made him wonderful company. He loved a pint, a bit of craic, and the company of his many friends.

“Most of all, he loved his wife Mary, who stood by his side every day for the past 60 years. He was a devoted father and was adored by all of his children, as well as his 23 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, who will cherish his memory always”.

Mike is predeceased by his parents Mike and Josephine and his brothers James, Jack, Bill and Chris.

He is sadly missed by loving wife Mary, sons Michael, Pat, Jimmy and Tadhg, daughters Siobhán Kinane, Anne Hayes, Molly Maher and Mairéad English, sons-in-law Nickie, John, Paul and Martin, daughters-in-law Pauline, Daizi and Clarice, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and all his friends from the greyhound community.

Funeral arrangements have been arranged for what is expected to be one of the biggest ever funerals in Doon as people from all walks of life - including the worlds of country music and greyhound training - come to pay their respects.

Mike will repose at Whites Funeral Home, Doon (V94 D450) this Friday evening, March 6 from 4pm until 7pm. Arriving in St. Patrick’s Church, Doon Saturday morning for Requiem Mass at 11.30 am followed by burial in Doon cemetery.

Requiem Mass will be streamed live at: www.churchcamlive.ie/doon-parish-live-stream

May he rest in peace.