O'Connor mourns legendary rugby grandfather

Karl Mullen, the legendary Irish rugby player of the 1940s and '50s, who has died, was grandfather of Rathfeigh-based showjumper, Cian O'Connor. O'Connor named his stables, Karlswood, after his famous grandfather. On his blog on Sunday, O'Connor writes how it was a bittersweet weekend for him, with jumping success in Louth and the death of his grandfather, who had always been a great support to him. "My grandfather Dr Karl Mullen passed away peacefully at his home in Kilcullen tonight," he wrote on Sunday. "He was a wonderful man, a true gentleman to the end and a major influence on my career. Ironically he was the Captain of the Irish rugby team the last time they won the Grand Slam in 1948, a feat that was not repeated until just a few weeks ago when the wonderful Irish side beat the Welsh on their own soil." O'Connor added that: "Karl will be remembered by everybody as a sporting icon, one of the country's leading gynaecologists and a great family man. It is the passing of a true legend and I know myself, my two sisters and of course my mum will miss him dearly." The jumper won the 1m50 Grand Prix at the Louth county show on Sunday, while Karlswood representative Mark Kinsella jumped Irish Independent Echo Beach in the Grand Prix on Sunday and had one fence down, which was a very good result for his first time riding her at this level.