Local club pays tribute to late John O'Mahony

A Westmeath GAA Club who had close links with John O’Mahony, the former Mayo TD and football manager who died at the weekend, have this week paid tribute to him.

O’Mahony had vast inter county experience with the likes of Galway and his native county Mayo. He managed his home county’s team for the first time between 1987 and 1991 before taking up the role again from 2006 until 2010.

He led Galway to two All-Ireland Senior Football Championship victories in 1998 and 2001, and guided Leitrim to success in the 1994 Connacht Senior Football Championship. The late Mr O’Mahoney was a high-profile manager on the club scene in Westmeath and his experience contributed greatly to progress at The Downs.

“It’s a well-worn cliché but the term ‘a gentleman’ truly describes John O’Mahony, both in life and in sport,” said the tribute posted on its Facebook page by The Downs GAA Club, who stated that their members had fond memories of the Mayoman.

The links between O’Mahony and The Downs go back to 2013, when, according to the club, he agreed to take a number of coaching sessions with their senior team.

“Since then John remained in contact with us and in 2019 he joined our senior management team and again in 2020 and 2021,” the item read.

“His knowledge and coaching skills were instrumental in developing our senior squad, who went on to win the senior championship in 2022.”

The writer described Mr O’Mahony as a quiet and unassuming individual who had a steely determination and a never say die attitude, which was never more evident than in 2021 when he was diagnosed with his illness and underwent a rigorous treatment programme. He admitted that it was little expected that they would see Mr O’Mahony back in The Downs that year.

“However, we were astounded, when, as soon as his treatment was complete, he was back on the training field, determined to see out his commitment.

“When his term ended with us at the end of 2021, he always kept in contact with us and was hot on the phone with his congratulations when we annexed the Flanagan Cup in 2022.”

The club went on to extend sympathies to Mr O’Mahony’s wife Geraldine his family Grainne, Niamh, Rhona, Deirdre, Cliodhna, extended family and a wide circle of friends.