From Kells in County Meath, Gabriel Curran became apprenticed to Cyril Bryce Smith in 1965 before moving to join Kevin Prendergast on the Curragh.
His first winner came aboard Hard Case at Naas in June 1967, and his best season in the saddle was 1976 when he rode 49 winners.
When, in the early 1970s, Prendergast's stable jockey Laurie Johnson moved back to Australia, Gabriel (always known as 'Squibs') took over.
His greatest wins came on Nebbiolo (1977 2,000 Guineas), Northern Treasure (1976 Irish 2,000 Guineas) and Arctique Royale (1981 Irish 1,000 Guineas).
'Squibs' other wins for Prendergast included the 1976 Gimcrack Stakes on Nebbiolo, the 1976 Pretty Polly Stakes on Lady Singer, the 1982 Phoenix Stakes on Sweet Emma, the Anglesey Stakes in 1972 on Tekoah and the valuable Hennessy Handicap, run at Leopardstown, on Old Oak Tree in 1981 and Salacious in 1983.
He rode the longest-priced winner of an Irish Pattern race when partnering 100-1 shot Miss Therese, trained by Pat Lally, to victory in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes at the Curragh in 1973, and also landed two runnings of the Irish Cesarewitch on Polar Fox, trained by Phonsie O'Brien, in 1972 and Ravaro, trained by Joe Crowley, in 1985.
During his time at Prendergast's, he took apprentice Charlie Swan under his wing: when 'Squibs' retired in 1993, he rode work for Swan, who had started training, and in recent years he fulfilled a similar role for Tom Hogan.
Hogan said: "Squibs was part of the furniture in my yard for the past few years. He used to ride out five or six horses most mornings until last Friday. He remained a very good judge and always knew when a horse was spot-on. He had a great sense of humour and we are all going to miss him a lot."
Gabriel Curran was found dead at his home in Puckane, Co Tipperary, on February 20, 2008.
His wife Pauline predeceased him but he is is survived by a daughter, Hamara, who works for Derrinstown Stud.
