BILLY RAMSBOTTOM
Greyhound racing lost a true friend yesterday with the sad passing of one of the great gentlemen of the sport, Billy Ramsbottom.
Only days after featuring in the “Our People, The Generations”, Billy passed on at the great age of 93.
A regular at the tracks of Ireland for many decades, Billy was known by so many in the sport and regularly held court with scores of doggy people touching base with him every night he attended a meeting.
The following is an exert from the “Our People, The Generations” feature telling of Billy’s history in the sport. “The Ramsbottom Family story in greyhound racing starts in 1966 with now Grandad Billy and his brother, Fr. Pat Ramsbottom. Billy who was farming in Garryglass, Co. Laois, purchased 2 pups from John Madden in Bagnelstown. These pups then returned to the family farm to be reared and trained and thus started a life-long love of greyhound racing.
His late wife Mary (who was a regular face at racing and who unfortunately passed away a number of years ago) was key in the day to day management of the kennels and her influence and love of greyhound racing lives on through Billy, her children and grandchildren.
Over the years Billy had lots of help with his 8 children taking an active role in walking and caring for the greyhounds daily needs. During this time the family raced their greyhound in Enniscorthy, Kilkenny & Newbridge, and they fondly recall all 8 children and the racing greyhound heading off together in the back of the car (this was before back seat seatbelts!).”
His was a love affair with the sport. As his son Karol so often said in recent years, “it’s the dogs that keep him going”. Of course, Karol has become a successful trainer himself, as was his brother Liam in the past. Liam now has a successful operation behind the scenes, rearing dogs and getting them ready for the track before they move on.
It’s no fluke that Karol and Liam had success with the greyhounds as they had great guidance from Billy. There is no doubt, Billy’s absence from the tracks will be felt by many. A true gentleman, the best of company and an old school doggy man, they don’t make them like Billy any more.
His passing will come as a shock to his family, especially at this time of the year, but they should take solace in the fact that he had a wonderful life filled with great times and many tremendous memories. He now joins his late wife Mary.
We would like to take this opportunity to pass on our condolences to all that knew Billy, in particular his eight children, sons Pat, Liam, JJ, Mellow and Karol, daughters Mairead, Patricia and Mary, his seventeen beloved grandchildren, his sons and daughters in law, his extended family and many friends in the sport. May He Rest In Peace.
Funeral Notice
The death has occurred of William (Billy) Ramsbottom, Garryglass, Timahoe, Laois
Billy passed away suddenly but peacefully in his 93rd year at Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium surrounded by his loving family. Predeceased by his wife Mary, brothers Sean, Noel and Fr Pat. Sadly missed by his heart broken family, sons Pat, Liam, JJ, Mellow and Karol, daughters Mairead, Patricia and Mary P, sisters in law Bríd, Marie Goretti, brother in law Michael, sons in law Donal and Dan, daughters in law Margaret, Deirdre, Fran, Linda, Irene and his 17 adored grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and a large circle of friends.
May Billy Rest in Peace
Reposing in Saint Michael's Church, Timahoe (R32 X880) on Sunday (Christmas Eve) from 1pm to 5:30pm. Arriving for Requiem mass to Saint Michael's Church, Timahoe for 1pm on (Saint Stephens Day) Tuesday, followed by Interment in Saint Michael's Cemetery. Family flowers only. House private on Tuesday morning please. Those wishing to extend their sympathies can do on the online Condolence facilities HERE.
The Ramsbottom Family would like to thank you for your Co-operation, understanding and support during this sensitive and difficult time.
**********
Picture: The late Billy Ramsbottom with his son Karol, daughter-in-law Linda and grandchildren Mia, Lauren, Ellie and Amy. The family were pictured just last week for the Our People, The Generations series, and we were honoured to be able to tell their story and history in our sport. As part of this series the family currently feature on the homepage of the Greyhound Racing Ireland website, and we have decided to retain the family's picture in tribute to Billy and his contribution to greyhound racing. May he rest in peace.