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| Mr What in Rathcoole after his Grand National Win in 1958 Source : http://holyfamilynsrathcoole.scoilnet.ie/oldrath4.htm |
The newsletter this week (see menu bar above) records the passing of three parishioners, to the families of each of whom we express here our sincere condolences. One of the deceased is Toss (Thomas) Taaffe, a household name in the 1950s, along with his brother jockey Pat. Their father, Tom, trained horses, as does Tom's namesake and grandson (son of Pat) today.
Tom trained the winner of the 1958 Grand National at Aintree, Mr What (photoed above), a rank outsider. His two sons were booked for the other two horses that he had running, so he had to look around for a jockey for Mr What. And so it happened that the English rider Arthur Freeman saddled the winner for his Irish trainer. You will find all the details, plus Pathé newsreel, here. Click here for Toss's obituary.
He is being buried today in Saggart graveyard, the race of his life well ended, we pray.
