It's been a year since Michael O'Sullivan's tragic death - and his legacy just keeps on growing

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It's been a year since racing was plunged into inexplicable grief by the tragic death of one of the sport's brightest stars in Michael O'Sullivan, but his legacy continues to grow.

When his brother Alan O'Sullivan and a couple of the extended family set their sights on the Cork City Marathon last summer to keep themselves busy, little did they know how it would evolve.

O'Sullivan's mother, Bernie, suggested doing it to raise funds for Bru Columbanus, a provider of free accommodation to families of patients in Cork hospitals, so those going through the most harrowing of times can stay close to their loved ones. Her idea soon snowballed into something truly remarkable, raising an astonishing €105,570 in Michael's memory.

"It just took off," explained Alan O'Sullivan. "We never thought starting off we'd raise that much. Bru Columbanus was a haven for my parents at the time as they didn't have to go home for the ten days. It's very well run and you'd be lost without it, so it was just nice to do it for them."

Michael O'SullivanCredit: Patrick McCann

Explaining how it all started, he said: "David [O'Sullivan] was running the main marathon and when I heard he was doing it, I said I'd do it as well. It was just something to keep yourself occupied and the mind busy at that time. 

"My mother came up with the idea of doing it for charity and she wanted to do it for Bru Columbanus, so it all fell into place after that. I think we set the goal at €5,000 or something like that, so it was crazy what we got in the end.

"It expanded then. It was myself, David and his girlfriend, another cousin of ours, Sonny, my girlfriend Danielle and a few trainers who did it with us as well. There could have been up to eight of us in the end.

"I'd do a lot of running anyway, playing GAA and stuff, as well as riding. David has an office job so it was a huge achievement – it took a bit out of him! When he started thinking of it, I kind of wanted to do it to support him, and that was before it was ever for charity. It was a great day on the day as well and I'm very glad we did it."

Last year's running of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the race in which Michael announced himself on the biggest stage of them all by winning it on Marine Nationale in 2023, was renamed in his honour, as was the Grade 3 Michael O'Sullivan Chase at Cork on April 20. That race was won by Mister Policeman, who O'Sullivan had guided to success at the same track a year earlier as a 5lb claimer.

Alan's talents in the saddle have been well documented, most notably his steer on Filey Bay to land the Connacht Hotel Handicap at Galway last summer, which earned him ride of the year at the annual HRI awards. 

Alan O'Sullivan after winning on Filey Bay at GalwayCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

However, no matter what heights he scales, it will be hard to top his poignant victory on the Ian Donoghue-trained Hitthehayson in the qualified rider race that honoured his late brother and Lorna Brooke at Fairyhouse last November.

He said: "The Supreme was brilliant and we were well looked after. Cork owners won the Supreme, then the race in Cork was won by Willie [Mullins] when Michael had won on the same horse before. Then there's the race at Fairyhouse for Michael and Lorna Brooke that I won. So it's mad that they all had a connection.

"We had the anniversary mass Saturday night and we've one or two in point-to-points on Sunday, so we're kept busy as usual and that's what you have to do."

Read more:

Fitting winner as Alan O'Sullivan steers Hitthehayson home in race remembering his brother Michael and Lorna Brooke 

'I know Michael is definitely looking down on me - I want to do stuff he'd want to see me doing, I want to make him proud' 

'There's definitely someone looking down on us today' - Jazzy Matty completes emotional double to honour Michael O'Sullivan 

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