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.
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, Co. Kilkenny, and has based his work as a trainer at Closutton in Bagenalstown, Co. 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 an 18-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 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.”