Portlaoise jockey Holly Dunne chasing racing dream after year on sidelines

Portlaoise native Holly Dunne is an emerging name in Irish horse racing, a young jockey working her way through one of the most demanding sports.

NOTE: This interview was conducted for Laois Life in April 2026.

Still early in her career, she has already experienced the thrill of success and the reality of a serious injury in April 2025. Dunne reflects on her journey so far and the determination that continues to drive her forward.

Her introduction to horses came at a young age, despite having no family background in the sport. What began as a childhood interest quickly developed into a clear ambition.

“I don't come from a horse background at all. When I was about five, I wanted to start horse riding and do lessons at a pony school. Then I think my love just grew stronger for horses, and when I was about 10, I wanted to go down the racing route. I remember saying to my mother and father that I wanted to be a jockey and ride racehorses, so it just went from there, really,” she said.

Breaking into racing required both opportunity and persistence. Dunne found that chance locally, but emphasised that nothing came easily without hard work.

“Well, I was lucky that there was a yard near Ballylinan, it was called Boley’s Stud. I think I started working there when I was 15. I was just doing weekends because I was in school, but I worked there for years. I had to work hard to then get where I wanted to be because you have to get your license to be a jockey. You don't just get handed a licence, you have to go and do assessments for it. So, yes, I did work very hard to get to where I am, but I'm very lucky from where I started up in Boley’s Stud. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have got any of my first rides for them or anything racing-wise, but I was there for years working hard to get to where I was,” Dunne explained.

The high of that first winner remains a defining moment, one that continues to fuel her ambition.

“ I got my first winner, in Tinahealy in 2024, at a point-to-point. To be honest, the adrenaline is just like a buzz. It's so hard to describe the feeling, but I remember when I first won, I didn't really believe it at first. Then, maybe about half an hour later, it actually sank in. It just makes you keep on wanting to do it. It's very addictive. After you have your first winner, you're like, well, I could get used to this, you know, it's just the feeling, you're just on a buzz, you're on a high, and the adrenaline, there’s nothing like it,” she added.

However, that progress was halted by a serious fall that left her out for almost a year. The injury proved to be one of the toughest challenges of her young career so far.

“I was racing, and I fell, and I broke my femur in April 2025. I was out of work for 11 months, and I'm only back working now since the end of January, so I'm hoping to be back racing in the next few months. I've had a few ups and downs over the last year.

“I couldn't do anything; I couldn't even walk for the first two months when I broke my femur. What was hard about it was that I missed four races that I should have been racing in. I had to watch other people ride them. I think the hardest thing for me was that I was missing chances of having more winners.

“As time went on, I actually got a little bit in my own head about, oh, like it's such a dangerous sport, do I want to go back to it. When you're off and you've nothing else to do, you think of the worst scenario. I was thinking then, oh, it could have been worse, I could have been paralysed. It was very hard mentally when I was off,” she recalled.

Despite the difficulties, the time away from racing helped her reset mentally and sharpen her focus on what she wants to achieve.

“I think it puts more stuff in perspective. Since being off and now back to work, I'm like, it's actually not the end of the world, there are actually worse things out there. I'm hungrier now for rides and hungrier for a win when I eventually get back racing. I've been off for a year, so I'm gonna have to try to get my name back out there,” she said.

A highlight of her young career so far came at Cheltenham, where she experienced the atmosphere of one of racing’s biggest stages and saw first-hand the level she hopes to reach.

“It was a pinch-me moment when I was told I was going to Cheltenham. Henry's yard is so big, and they can't send everyone, so when I was asked to go, I was like, this is unreal. When I went there and saw the likes of Paul Townend, Danny Mullins, and obviously Rachel Blackmore. You'd be walking around with all those in the morning and riding out with them, and you’d be like Jesus, I hope now in a few years I'll be able to go and race in the same race as them in Cheltenham. When I was there, it was just a dream, even though I wasn't racing. It was a dream to lead up in Cheltenham, one of the biggest festivals in racing,” she added.

Rachel Blackmore, in particular, has been a major inspiration as Dunne looks to establish herself in a male-dominated sport.

“I have to say Rachel is after putting women jockeys on the map. It is a mixed sport, but it's mostly men in that sport. She achieved everything that a jockey would want to achieve in their career. To be honest, I've always wanted to be like Rachel for the last few years. I've always said I'd love to be like her. I think it's after really helping women who want to be jockeys. We can look at Rachel and be like, she was able to do it, so why can’t we? I do think Rachel is still a big inspiration for me to get what I want in my career, and hopefully, you know, go further with it,” Dunne said.

Now working under Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead, Holly Dunne continues to learn her trade in one of the country’s leading yards, gaining experience that will stand to her as she returns to competitive racing.

Dunne’s journey so far has already demonstrated resilience and determination, and as she looks ahead, she does so with renewed hunger and a clear sense of purpose.