Seán Flanagan was born in Aughnamore, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo in 1922. He was educated locally, then later at St. Jarlath's College in Tuam, County Galway, where he showed enthusiasm for sport. He won two Connacht championship medals with the college in 1939 and in 1940. He later studied at Clonliffe College in Dublin and then enrolled in University College Dublin where he studied law and qualified as a solicitor.
Football career
Flanagan also played senior Gaelic football for Mayo. He captained the All-Ireland final winning sides of 1950 and 1951 and won five Connacht senior championship medals in all. He also won two National Football League titles in 1949 and 1954. While still a footballer, Flanagan entered into a career in politics.
Sent off the 5-1 second-favourite in the hands of Sean Flanagan, Marine Nationale was ridden in mid-pack as dual winner Energumene set off from the front, quickly joined by Quilixios and the forward-going Solness.
... relationship ended, with Sean Flanagan handed the ride, the depth of personal respect and affection never altered ... Marine Nationale wins the Queen MotherChampions steeple chase, Jockey Sean Flanagan.
Under Sean Flanagan, Marine Nationale was always travelling and jumping well sat off the pace set by the Willie Mullins-trained dual winner Energumene, under PaulTownend, then Quilixios and Solness...Winning jockey Flanagan added.
Sean Flanagan, Wednesday’s winning rider, also paid tribute to O’Sullivan’s role in Marine Nationale’s success. “First and foremost, his family obviously have to find it very hard,” Flanagan said.
O'Sullivan tragically died last month as a result of injuries sustained in a fall at Thurles. Winning rider Sean Flanagan was quick to think of O'Sullivan and said. "It's hugely emotional for a lot of reasons ... More to follow... More from Sporting Life ... .
Having led early on, under Sean Flanagan, the now 10-year-old almost took the wrong course after the Grand National-style fence and lost lots of ground ... I didn't get chance to chat to Sean but he ...
But if it's action you're after on day two, you've come to the right place ... There's a view that Sean Flanagan gave his mount too much to do when runner-up behind Solness at the DublinRacingFestival, but it's not one I share ... Disregard that last run.
He was a first Festival winner for his jockey Sean Flanagan but his trainer Noel Meade was no stranger to causing upsets at the Festival, with his five previous winners including Very Wood, 33/1 winner of the Albert Bartlett in 2014 ... .