Background
I first learned the story of Tommy Cullinan (1906-1940) from his brother, John Brady Cullinan (1907-1989), a man who was in his late seventies, living in a veterans home near Montreal, Quebec. John Cullinan was discharged from the Canadian Army in
1942, and must have been injured during the war. He was, or so he believed, the last in a long line of Ennis, County Clare, Cullinans who were related to the better known families in the area. Despite the fact that we had corresponded for several
years, I never had the pleasure of meeting him; but his many letters were fascinating however, full of recollections of family members from the 1940s and before. He recounted numerous stories, including one about a brother, who won the Irish Grand
National--but I often wondered if these were all true. Needless-to-say, I felt quite bad for having doubted John Cullinan's stories, as I read the local newspaper article (below), as I sat in an Ennis pub, having some supper. In those next few days,
I would learn that everything John Cullinan told me in his letters had been true, perhaps even told modestly. John died in 1989, and was buried in Pointe-Claire, Quebec. I visited his grave last summer (1996).
Thomas B. (Tommy) Cullinan was born in Ennis on May 15, 1906 to Frederick George Cullinan (1860-1925) and Frances Emily Brady-Brown. His father was a Major during the Boer War, serving in Ireland; later he became Sheriff for the Town of Ennis, a
position which he held for 35 years. The family lived at Feighmore House, Carragh (Ennis), County Clare. Tommy was an Irish jockey, and had a promising career ahead of him. He had won numerous riding championships in Ireland, including Second Place,
at the Irish Grand National in 1928, then First Place at the same competition two years later. Sadly, Tommy Cullinan was killed, and the details surrounding his death remain somewhat of a mystery.
CLARE CHAMPION, AUGUST 1930
Clare Jockey's Triumph
Tommy Cullinan Entertains Swindon Irish and proud of it!
Patrons of the Regent Cinema, Swindon, not only had the thrills of the Grand National conveyed to them in a sound film, but saw the hero of the day T.B. Cullinan, the winning jockey, in the flesh.
Mr. Cullinan walked on to the stage after the Grand National film had been on and there was a round of applause when he was introduced to the audience by the manager, and again when he thanked them for the ovation.
I spoke to "Tommy" as he is popularly known, after his appearance on the stage, writes an "Evening World" reporter, and he described his successes as a jockey.
Double victory
He is proud of his Clare birth and proud also that the horse he rode to victory in the Grand National is Irish.
Tommy completed the double for himself and for F. Hartigan's stable by winning two races at Liverpool on "Shaun Goilin" and "Kakushin' in the Champion Steeplechase the following day.
Addressing the audience he said "Though I have lived in Swindon for two years, I did not think my success in the Grand National would have proved of interest to Sindon folk".
"Unfortunately, I have had to leave Swindon and live at Wantage, but my mother still stays at the town."
Gallant horse
"Shaun Goilin", whom I rode in the National, is a very brave and gallant horse. He is Irish like myself and the English meaning of his name is "John, the Fairy".
"I think there must be something of the Fairy about him, judging from the way he carried me to victory at Liverpool. He gave me a most marvellous ride".
"I chatted with him after his appearance before the audience and learned of his rise in the jockey world.
"I came from Ireland in December two years ago and rode the winner of the Irish Grand National in April 1928. My horse was called "Don Sancho".
Luck
"I was also second in the Grand National in 1928, when I rode "Billy Barton" ".which was trained at Wroughton and was owned by the late Sir Albury Eastings.
"I started to ride as an amateur in 1923 at the age of 18, and in 1927 headed the list for amateur riders.
"I came to England the same year with Mr. Frank Barbour, former owner of "Easter Hero" "and in January 1928, I became a professional.
"I have had quite a lot of luck since then. I intended to ride "Easter Hero" in the Grand National this year but I met with an accident and I was fortunate in securing "Shaun Goilin" as my mount".