All-Ireland winning football manager and former politician John O’Mahony has passed away at the age of 71.
Born in 1953 in Magheraboy, Kilmovee parish – “the last house in Mayo” – he became one of the leading inter-county managers in the game, winning two All-Ireland SFC titles with Galway in 1998 and 2001. He also managed his native Mayo for two stints.
O’Mahony won eight Connacht SFC titles in total as manager, three with Mayo, one with Leitrim and four with the Tribesmen.
The Ballaghaderreen resident and former teacher at St. Nathy’s College also guided Leitrim to a historic Connacht SFC title in 1994, their first since 1927.
As a player, he was an All-Ireland minor winner in 1971, and a member of the All-winning U-21 Mayo team in 1974.
In 1997, he also managed St. Brigid’s to their first Roscommon senior county title since 1969.
O’Mahony later entered politics and in the 2007 General Election, he was elected in Mayo, serving as a Fine Gael TD until 2016.
In 2016, he was nominated by the then Taoiseach Enda Kenny to the 25th Seanad, serving in the position until 2020.
*More to follow.