Champion horse trainer, Willie Mullins awarded honorary doctorate at SETU

South East Technological University (SETU) awarded an honorary doctorate to Willie Mullins, champion Irish racehorse trainer and former amateur jockey. The honour was presented during the University's conferring ceremony at the National Opera House in Wexford.

The honorary doctorate was awarded to Willie in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport of horse racing and his impact on Irish culture and heritage in the southeast, and nationally.

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Willie began his training career in 1988, having worked as an assistant to both his father Paddy, and to trainer, Jim Bolger. With firm roots in the southeast, Willie hails from Goresbridge, county Kilkenny, and has based his work as a trainer at Closutton in Bagenalstown, county Carlow.

Willie is a former six-time amateur champion in Ireland. His greatest moments in the saddle were winning the 1983 Aintree Foxhunters on the horse, ‘Atha Cliath’, and the 1996 Cheltenham Champion Bumper on ‘Wither or Which’. He has since become a eighteen-time Irish National Hunt Champion trainer and the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival, having saddled more than 100 winners.

Among his accolades, Willie has had success at the Grand National, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, The King George, the Champion Hurdle in England, Ireland, and France, the Supreme Novice Hurdle, and numerous other Cheltenham winners and an Irish classic “the Irish St Ledger” among a host of other races on the Flat.

Willie has consistently produced champion horses. The 2022/2023 season saw him achieve record-breaking levels with 237 winners from 831 runners. Alongside this, Willie won the British Jump Trainers’ Championship title, a feat that had not been achieved by an Irish trainer since the legendary Vincent O’Brien in 1954.

Willie is a household name among racing enthusiasts and sports fans with a career spanning over four decades with successes in both domestic and international racing. Beyond his impressive record on the racecourse, Willie is deeply committed to the development of young talent in the racing industry. He has played a pivotal role in mentoring aspiring trainers and jockeys, emphasising the importance of education and hard work in achieving success. His dedication to nurturing the next generation reflects his belief in the potential of youth, not just in racing, but in all areas of life.

On presenting this honorary doctorate, Professor Veronica Campbell, President of SETU said, “I am delighted to present SETU’s honorary doctorate to Willie Mullins. Willie exemplifies the spirit of commitment to excellence that we aim to instil in all our graduates. His immense achievement in raising Ireland’s profile, and particularly the profile of the southeast, in the racing world is a shared goal of our University as we strive to be a force for connection and enhancement in our region.”

Prof. Campbell continued, “As one of the most respected figures in Irish sport, this honorary doctorate not only celebrates Willie’s career but also reinforces his lasting impact on the sport of horse racing and the cultural fabric of Ireland. His legacy as a trainer, mentor, and ambassador for Irish racing will continue to inspire generations to come.”

On receiving SETU’s honorary doctorate award, Willie commented, “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from South East Technological University. It is not only a personal achievement to have my life’s work and contribution recognised by our regional University, but also a testament to the incredible team of staff and jockeys I work with, and of course our beloved horses.”