The Late Michael Mahoney (McMahon) With the passing of Michael Mahoney (McMahon) on Wednesday April 1, following a long illness bravely borne, the parish of Milltown Malbay lost an outstanding community person. Born into a faming family in the townland of Ballyvaskin of May 1938, Michael was one of a family of eight. On the retirement of his father, he took over management of the family farm. He was a progressive farmer and was always willing to share his acknowledge. In his youth he won awards for stock judging and in 1975 represented Ireland in a stock judging competition in England. He had a great fondness for all animals but particularly horses. Michael was very involved in the local clubs, organisations and community projects. Throughout his life, the GAA, traditional music and singing were always dear to his heart. Since his youth, he was deeply involved with his beloved Miltown, St Joseph's GAA Club. He won minor championships in the 1950s. He played in five senior football championship finals but the highlight of his playing career came when he lined out at centre forward on Miltown's 1959 senior championship winning team. He won Cusack Cup medals in 1960 and '63. He also played for Clare. He was a New York championship while resident there in the 1960s. When his playing days ended, he joined St Joseph's executive committee, becoming club chairman and later a trustee of Hennessy Park. He was a team selector when Miltown won senior championships in 1985 and 1990. He also represented the club at Scór. In 1989, he was part of a three-man committee that negotiated the purchase of Hennessy Park on behalf of the club and was a very active member of the committee that redeveloped the grounds. Michael was chairman of Craobh Laichtín Naofa CCE. He began playing traditional music at a young age, starting with the tin whistle and later progressing to the concert flute. He was also a talented singer and last year recorded a CD, On Malbay's Shore. For more than a quarter of a century, he was part of the Thursday night traditional music sessions at Peter and Bridie Cleary's Pub. He also played at the Westbridge Pub at weekends. He was very generous with his musical talent, always available to play at local functions and encouraging the youth to learn to play. Michael was vice-chairman of the Miltown Coursing Club for many years and was always active in organising the club's annual meeting. Indeed, he often entertained the crowd at such meetings with his rendering of Lovely Old Miltown. Michael was also a very active in local community projects. In 1993, together with his good friends, Clare County Councillor Christy Curtin, he redeveloped the derelict Vocational School and set up the West Clare Resource Centre, which today provides community services, health services and educational opportunities for the people and educational opportunities for the people of the area. For their foresight and achievements Michael and Christy received the following awards: 1995 Clare Champions/VEC/AIB Sport and Community award; 2003 Vodafone Award, Passion for the World Around Us; 2004 Innovation Through Technology award; 2004 Best Partnership Project, merit award presented by the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD; 2008 Pride of Place competition, national award for care of the elderly. When President McAleese visited the resource centre in 2004, Michael had the honour of welcoming her on behalf of the local community. His contribution to the community was immense and this was evidenced by the high turnout at his funeral. His coffin was draped with the Miltown and Clare colours. His family and friends in sport and music shouldered his remains from O'Friel's Funeral Home to the church. Members of Miltown, St Josephs and neighbouring GAA clubs, together with members of the local coursing club and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann lined the street in a guard of honour. At the funeral mass, his life and times were recalled in a fitting tribute by Christy Curtin. Traditional music was provided by Michael's friends from Cleary's Pub, led by Tony O'Loughlin, who also sang Michael's favourite song. The Hills of Shanaway. The funeral cortége to Freagh Cemetery was led by three horsemen. At the graveside there was traditional music, while Joe Cullen sang Lovely Old Miltown and poet Padraic Haugh recited a poem in memory of Michael. A fitting farewell to a talented man who will be sorely missed. "Ní bheigh a leitheid ann arís." Courtesy of the Clare Champion 8th May 2009 By Miltown GAA Tweet

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