Jack Mahon
Encyclopedia
Jack Mahon was a famous Irish
sportsperson who played Gaelic football
for Galway
in the 1950s.
A native of Dunmore, where his father was a National School teacher, Jack Mahon had a distinguished career as a player, at the highest level.
He first made a mark as a young player, winning a County Minor title with Dunmore McHales
in 1949 and a Connacht Colleges championship with St. Jarlath's College
, Tuam, in 1950. It was at a time when there was no All-Ireland Colleges championship played, so he did not get the opportunity to follow up on the Tuam school’s Hogan Cup triumph of 1947, inspired by his close friend Sean Purcell
.
Jack won the first of three County Senior championships in 1953, with a Dunmore McHales
team captained by his 19-year-old brother Brian, who has since lived in Tuam. Jack’s other two Galway S.F.C. medal were won in 1961 (ending the Tuam’s Stars’ seven in-a-row) and 1963.
It was a dream come true for Jack when he was selected on the Galway senior football team in 1951. He played on until 1961, winning an All-Ireland medal in 1956
, a National League
medal in 1957, as captain, and six Connacht championships including five in a row from 1956 to 1960 - he was one of four players who lined out in all five finals; the others were Sean Purcell, Mattie McDonagh
and Joe Young.
He won Railway Cup medals with Connacht in 1957 and ’58 and also in ’58 he played at centre half-back on the Combined Universities team which defeated the Rest of Ireland. His team-mates included Sean Purcell and they were in opposition to some of their best friends, Frank Stockwell
, Tom "Pook" Dillon, Mick Greally, John Nallen and Packy McGarty.
Following Mahon's retirement from senior fotball in 1961, Jack went into Football administration, serving as Galway Football Board chairman in the 1980s, as P.R.O. since, and last year he was given an honorary position: President of the County GAA Board. He earned fame as a writer and sports historian, having written a total of 19 books about Gaelic football and sport in general. His "History of Gaelic Football" is considered to be one of the most comprehensive accounts of the story of the game, while his most recent book, called "Memories", was launched at the beginning of the month, September, 2005, not long before he died.
1986 The first Streets of Galway was organised by Cospoir, predecessor to today’s Irish Sports Council, on Friday August 15, 1986. It’s ethos is a "Mass Family Fun Run – Sport for All". Race headquarters were at Moneenageisha College and the Great Southern Hotel, and the first race committee was: Jack Mahon, Mick Roche (Race Director), Geraldine Hanley, Sean McMenamon, Philip Cribben, Paddy Greaney, John McNamara and Jimmy Lydon. Entry is £4 and 560 runners took part. It has gone onwards and upwards in the years since its conceotion.
Jack was a family man and father of six children John, Lisa, Genevieve, Pearse, Karl and Branwell, His wife Eileen,his sons john and karl still live at their home in Salthill, Galway. Jack loved Salthill and he swam every day he was able to in the sea at Blackrock, Salthill, up to and as late as Autumn 2004. He also loved to walk the promenade in Salthill and did so up to and until his passing away.
Not long before Jack's last "turn out" was when he lost one of his best friends, The the Great Sean Purcell, Jack was very ill at the time but he knew he had to give it up for one of the greatest . He gave every thing he had left to give, and his eulogy to his great friend Sean Purcell in Tuam was one of his proudest moments, Jack was, in his way, saying goodbye to Dunmore, Tuam, Galway and Salthill, and good bye to a great friend.
Jack Mahon died on October 23, 2005 after a long illness. The death of Jack Mahon followed the very sad passing of his 1956 All-Ireland team-mates Sean Purcell and Mattie McDonagh - all within seven months. Galway Football Board Chairman Pat Egan said that if there was one quality that ’said it all’ about Jack Mahon it was his spirit. "Even in this last game Jack was involved in - and one he wasn’t going to win - he never gave up and wrote his last book during that period."
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson who played Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
for Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
in the 1950s.
A native of Dunmore, where his father was a National School teacher, Jack Mahon had a distinguished career as a player, at the highest level.
He first made a mark as a young player, winning a County Minor title with Dunmore McHales
Dunmore McHales
Dunmore MacHales is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dunmore, County Galway, Ireland. The club is a member of Galway GAA. Teams at underage level and Senior play in the Galway League and Championships....
in 1949 and a Connacht Colleges championship with St. Jarlath's College
St. Jarlath's College
St. Jarlath's College is a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland. It is an amalgamation of the former St. Jarlath's College and St...
, Tuam, in 1950. It was at a time when there was no All-Ireland Colleges championship played, so he did not get the opportunity to follow up on the Tuam school’s Hogan Cup triumph of 1947, inspired by his close friend Sean Purcell
Seán Purcell
Seán Purcell , nicknamed "The Master", was a famous Gaelic footballer for County Galway.Best known as a centre half forward, his versatility saw him used in virtually all outfield positions throughout an illustrious career. He was recognised by many football enthusiasts as one of the greatest...
.
Jack won the first of three County Senior championships in 1953, with a Dunmore McHales
Dunmore McHales
Dunmore MacHales is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Dunmore, County Galway, Ireland. The club is a member of Galway GAA. Teams at underage level and Senior play in the Galway League and Championships....
team captained by his 19-year-old brother Brian, who has since lived in Tuam. Jack’s other two Galway S.F.C. medal were won in 1961 (ending the Tuam’s Stars’ seven in-a-row) and 1963.
It was a dream come true for Jack when he was selected on the Galway senior football team in 1951. He played on until 1961, winning an All-Ireland medal in 1956
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1956
-All-Ireland Final:...
, a National League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
medal in 1957, as captain, and six Connacht championships including five in a row from 1956 to 1960 - he was one of four players who lined out in all five finals; the others were Sean Purcell, Mattie McDonagh
Mattie McDonagh
Matthew 'Mattie' McDonagh was an Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Ballygar and was a member of the Galway senior inter-county team from 1956 until 1968. McDonagh later served as manager of the Galway team...
and Joe Young.
He won Railway Cup medals with Connacht in 1957 and ’58 and also in ’58 he played at centre half-back on the Combined Universities team which defeated the Rest of Ireland. His team-mates included Sean Purcell and they were in opposition to some of their best friends, Frank Stockwell
Frank Stockwell
Frank Stockwell was an Irish sportsman who played Gaelic football with his local club Tuam Stars and was a member of the Galway, Louth and London inter-county teams at various periods from 1949 until 1960. Stockwell is regarded as Galway’s greatest-ever full forward.Stockwell began his...
, Tom "Pook" Dillon, Mick Greally, John Nallen and Packy McGarty.
Following Mahon's retirement from senior fotball in 1961, Jack went into Football administration, serving as Galway Football Board chairman in the 1980s, as P.R.O. since, and last year he was given an honorary position: President of the County GAA Board. He earned fame as a writer and sports historian, having written a total of 19 books about Gaelic football and sport in general. His "History of Gaelic Football" is considered to be one of the most comprehensive accounts of the story of the game, while his most recent book, called "Memories", was launched at the beginning of the month, September, 2005, not long before he died.
1986 The first Streets of Galway was organised by Cospoir, predecessor to today’s Irish Sports Council, on Friday August 15, 1986. It’s ethos is a "Mass Family Fun Run – Sport for All". Race headquarters were at Moneenageisha College and the Great Southern Hotel, and the first race committee was: Jack Mahon, Mick Roche (Race Director), Geraldine Hanley, Sean McMenamon, Philip Cribben, Paddy Greaney, John McNamara and Jimmy Lydon. Entry is £4 and 560 runners took part. It has gone onwards and upwards in the years since its conceotion.
Jack was a family man and father of six children John, Lisa, Genevieve, Pearse, Karl and Branwell, His wife Eileen,his sons john and karl still live at their home in Salthill, Galway. Jack loved Salthill and he swam every day he was able to in the sea at Blackrock, Salthill, up to and as late as Autumn 2004. He also loved to walk the promenade in Salthill and did so up to and until his passing away.
Not long before Jack's last "turn out" was when he lost one of his best friends, The the Great Sean Purcell, Jack was very ill at the time but he knew he had to give it up for one of the greatest . He gave every thing he had left to give, and his eulogy to his great friend Sean Purcell in Tuam was one of his proudest moments, Jack was, in his way, saying goodbye to Dunmore, Tuam, Galway and Salthill, and good bye to a great friend.
Jack Mahon died on October 23, 2005 after a long illness. The death of Jack Mahon followed the very sad passing of his 1956 All-Ireland team-mates Sean Purcell and Mattie McDonagh - all within seven months. Galway Football Board Chairman Pat Egan said that if there was one quality that ’said it all’ about Jack Mahon it was his spirit. "Even in this last game Jack was involved in - and one he wasn’t going to win - he never gave up and wrote his last book during that period."