Tipperary’s Rachael Blackmore marries Brian Hayes in private west Cork ceremony

Tipperary’s own Rachael Blackmore has married her long-time partner, West Cork jockey Brian Hayes, in a low-key ceremony earlier this month.

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The retired champion jockey, from Killenaule, has been a household name in National Hunt racing, making history as the first female jockey to win the Grand National before retiring last year.

Rachael and Brian Hayes, who met at a training yard in Carlow, have kept their relationship largely out of the public eye for several years.

The couple exchanged vows in a private wedding attended by close family and friends in Rosscarbery, West Cork, with Mr Hayes confirming the news during a recent post-race interview.

“I got married ten days now I suppose. Myself and Rachael got married so off the market. It was a lovely day,” he told RacingTV.

“We got married on the Friday down at home in Rosscarbery, in my home place. We went up to Cavan then on the Monday and had a big party with all our friends and family. It was nice... it was nice just to get married finally.”

Despite the celebrations, racing duties followed quickly, with Hayes returning to the track shortly afterwards. He added that the couple plan to take a honeymoon in June, when both have a scheduled month off.

“I was at Fairyhouse two days later or something racing, but we might go somewhere in June. We have a month off in June so we might do something then,” he said.

The wedding news had previously come to light in a playful moment when mentioned at the Horse Racing Ireland Awards by trainer John “Shark” Hanlon, who recalled the early days of Ms Blackmore’s career alongside Brian Hayes.

“We had a lot of good times, a lot of good times,” he said of Rachael.

“I remember when she started, Brian Hayes was there, who is her partner now getting married in January.”

For Tipperary, the marriage marks another milestone in the life of one of the county’s most celebrated sports figures. While she has stepped away from the racetrack, Ms Blackmore’s achievements continue to inspire the next generation of local riders.

Her wedding to Brian Hayes closes one chapter while opening a new one, offering a glimpse of life beyond the sport for the county’s trailblazing jockey.

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