Phonsie O'Brien


Alphonse Septimus 'Phonsie' O'Brien (1929 – 5 July 2016) was an Irish jockey and racehorse trainer.[1]

Phonsie O'Brien
OccupationHorse trainer
Born1929
Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland
Died5 July 2016 (aged 86–87)
Kilsheelan, Ireland
NationalityIrish

He was the youngest of seven sons born in Churchtown, County Cork to Dan O'Brien, and brother of racehorse trainer Vincent O'Brien.[2] He had a riding career in the 1940s which he followed by taking a licence to train horse in 1956. He was based in stables at South Lodge, Carrick-on-Suir and later at Cashel. He trained the winner of the Galway Plate four times in succession from 1962 to 1965 and was credited with Chamour's victory in the 1960 Irish Derby. Vincent O'Brien had trained Chamour but was suspended from training after the horse failed a drugs test. Phonsie O'Brien took over the training licence while his brother was suspended.[3]

O'Brien's daughter, Mary Ann O'Brien, is a businesswoman who founded the Lily O'Brien's chocolate company.[4]

O'Brien died at his home near Kilsheelan on 5 July 2016.

References
  1. "Tributes paid following death of Phonsie O'Brien". RTE.ie. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  2. "Phonsie O'Brien, brother of Vincent, dies aged 86". Irish Examiner. 6 July 2016. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  3. "Phonsie O'Brien dies peacefully at home". www.theirishfield.ie. Archived from the original on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  4. Smith, Andrea (12 June 2013). "'I'd pretend it was all fine at work, then go home and start sobbing with stress'". Herald.ie.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.