Crowds gather to bid farewell to racehorse trainer Oliver Brady

Well-known personalities from Irish and British horse racing were among a large attendance at the funeral Mass and burial of businessman and racehorse trainer Oliver Brady in Co Monaghan today.

Mr Brady, who was managing director of Castleblayney-based Shabra Group – a recycling and packaging group – died on Tuesday aged 75 at the Mater Private Hospital, Dublin after a long battle with cancer.

Having earlier left the Brady residence, which adjoins Shabra Stables at Cortubber, Ballybay, the large cortege, led by a four-strong horse-drawn hearse containing Mr Brady’s casket, made its way through his native Ballybay to St Patrick’s Church, where it was met by chief celebrant of the funeral Mass, Fr Shane McCaughey.

In his homily, Fr McCaughey said: “Much has been written and spoken about this proud son of Monaghan in the days since his death – a man who made friends for life, whose word was his bond, a man of unique talents and abundant generosity who could train a horse to win the Derby and yet put washing-up liquid in a dishwasher and be mopping up suds for a week. A man who was humble enough to care for the poor while cherishing the sport of kings. Larger than life is a description that would not be an exaggeration for Oliver.”

He said Oliver Brady was one of 10 children whose mother, Annie, had raised her family in Ballybay in difficult times after the early death of her husband, John.

Among the items taken to the altar as symbols of Mr Brady's life were a picture of his mother, his racing silks, the Shabra logo, and a photograph of Mr Brady at a new school for children in Kenya.