John O'Mahony remembered as a 'life giver' who would measure every inch in order to win

He guided Galway to All-Ireland titles in 1998 and 2001. He managed his native Mayo on two occasions, from 1987-91 and 2006-10. He also led Leitrim to a Connacht title in 1994. He served as a teacher in St Nathy’s in Ballagaderreen.

After the service, his coffin was draped in a flag featuring the GAA crest, along with those of Leitrim, Galway, Mayo and Ballaghaderreen.

John’s brothers Fr Dan and Fr Stephen concelebrated the Mass with John’s wife Gerardine’s brother Fr Tommy Towey among the celebrants.

Taoiseach Simon Harris and Captain Paul O’Donnell, representing President Michael D Higgins, were present along with GAA president Jarlath Burns.

Fr Stephen in his homily spoke of his immense pride at being known as John O’Mahony’s brother. He spoke of John's faith, how he treated everyone the same, and the competitor he was.

“He respected life and the lives of the many people he came in contact with, whether for a brief moment or for those who are part of the fabric of his life.

“Pauper and Prince got the same respect and with that attitude he was a life giver.

“He treated people as people, not just as a student, as a footballer, as a background team member, as a canvasser, as a constituent or as a politician.

“And many stories have been told over the last few days of people and ways in which he had helped, help he had always gave freely and willingly to support anyone who needed it.

“It was allied to a fiercely competitive spirit." 

Fr Stephen recounted a funny episode from their childhood.

 “I'm sure you all know who's a Halloween brack is. Myself and John were at home and we had the brack and of course the competition, for John anyway, was to get the ring.

“I was took a nice slice and no luck but John was into doorsteps and if he didn't get through the first one he'd figure out where that he had the next turn as well.

“But I only recount that because it's underlines that competitive spirit that he would do anything it takes to win.

“And that attitude was taken into all aspects of his life whether it be as a teacher, as a football coach or as a politician.

“He would do whatever it took to win.

“And that famously I suppose, as many people will know, meant attention to detail, where he often talked about the difference between success and failure came down to inches. Everything was important in achieving the goal."

The famous Leitrim Connacht final win over his own Mayo took meticulous planning. 

“Before the Connacht final in 1994 he had arranged for a meal in a secluded hotel near Hyde Park in Roscommon. He was worried that the gate of the hotel wouldn't be wide enough for the team bus and he drove up to Roscommon to measure if there was an inch to spare.

“And I suppose that sums him up in many ways."

But of the many great teams John O'Mahony was part of, one always took priority,. 

“I have no doubt in my mind that the greatest team he was part of was team O’Mahony Towey based in Tower House because as I say he was a team player and together with Geraldine they formed formidable team.” 

John’s daughter Deirdre gave a eulogy after communion. She spoke about her father's love for where he came from and his deep sense of community and love for his family.

“Everything about Johnno ran deep, especially his sense of place and community. He grew up out the road in Magheraboy, his father was a proud Cork man and his mother a gentle woman from Erris. And theirs was the last house before the border.

“When we were small he showed us a small stream a few yards away from the house dividing Mayo and Roscommon, and although you’d hardly notice it, he said that when he was growing up it may as well have been a 10 foot wall.

“And that fuelled his passion for football. He said rivalry was the heartbeat of the GAA and pumps ever more furiously the closer you get to the border.

“Johnno faced lots of challenges at home. it wasn’t easy living with six women and John and Ger would have a triage system for when things would go wrong. You would go through Ger first and if it was serious enough it would be escalated to the boss.

“It mostly worked well, he gave great advice, sometimes offers of intervention but above all he gave you that feeling that you would get through it and he always had your back.

“He'd often say when the five of us would turn on each other there are plenty of people out there who are willing to tear you down but in here we had to stick together and we had to have each other’s backs. He applied that to his teams as well, loyalty to each other and to the team was all important, no place for fancy dans.

“He loved his home place and the places that adopted him, especially Ballagadereen. He was technically a blow-in but Ballagadereen and St Nathy’s through and through. Green and white running through his veins even as he wore other colours on the outside.

“He loved his friends, his Monday night card games which I think came as close to religion as anything ever did.

“He loved the sun although he didn't have a great relationship with airplanes.

"The late Páidí Ó Sé once tried to help him with that. On the way back from an All Stars tour where he prescribed something to help dad get over the flight. It worked so well that dad nearly missed his connecting flight from Heathrow which we think was probably Páidí's plan all along.

“He loved his brothers, he loved us and his 11 grandchildren. His great love of course was Ger. Ger called Dad her present husband as if the arrangement was subject to good behaviour and change at any moment.

“The reality of course was that they had this incredible bond.

“Johnno summed Ger up a few years ago when he said that when times were good she was behind you and when times were tough she was out in front fighting for you…Ger was home for him.

“Luckily Johnno left us words for this, to remember the simple messages and above all, to keep the faith.”

He was laid to rest after the ceremony at Kilcolman Cemetery, Ballaghaderreen.