One of the iconic figures in the world of Galway Gaelic football - Tuam's Jack Mangan - passed away at his home in England last week at the age of 86. A native of Bishop Street, Jack Mangan, will be remembered as the commanding and athletic goalkeeper who captained Galway to their fourth All-Ireland senior success in 1956 at Croke Park.
By all accounts, a most gregarious and humble man, he is mostly fondly remembered by older GAA fans for a wonder save that he brought off in the closing minutes of the '56 All-Ireland semi-final win over Tyrone.
With Galway leading by 0-8 to 0-6 and with full time almost up, one of the great forward talents of the 1950s - Tyrone's Iggy Jones - faced Jack Mangan on the edge of the small square with the goal at his mercy.
His fisted effort seemed destined for the back of the net - a score that almost certainly would have denied Galway a place in the final - but Jack Mangan reacted with incredible agility to pull of what fans have always described as a miracle save.
Former Galway Football Board Chairman, John Joe Holleran, this week recalled the moment, from his memories of listening to Micheal O'Hehir's radio commentary of the match.
"We were all listening to the radio and waiting for the final whistle as Galway were hanging on. Then we heard Micheal O'Hehir telling us that Iggy Jones was about to score a goal from the edge of the square.. our hearts dropped but then we heard the words: 'a great diving save' and of course the rest is history," said John Joe Holleran.
A past pupil of Tuam CBS, Jack Mangan was born in Bishop Street in 1927, before taking up a position with the famous Clery's Shop in Dublin. In 1959, he emigrated to England, working for a short time in London before then moving onto Wolverhampton in the Midlands where he managed a highly successful sports and social club.
He didn't start off as Galway captain in 1956, but he took up the position in the aftermath of the Connacht final of that year following a disciplinary matter that had arisen in Galway football.
Jack won his first Connacht medal with Galway in 1954 and was also a key early member of the Tuam Stars team that completed an unequalled seven-in-a-row of county titles from 1954 to 1960.
The Tuam stalwart also captained Connacht To Railway Cup success in 1957 and lined out for an Irish team that played against the Combined Universities in special challenge matches during the 50s.
His passing now leaves just three surviving captains from Galway's nine All-Ireland winning football teams - John Donnellan, Dunmore MacHales (1964); Ray Silke, Corofin (1998) and Gary Fahey, Killanin (2001)
In the Summer of 2012, Jack Mangan was back in Tuam for the opening of the roundabout called after him, that appropriately enough links the Frank Stockwell and Sean Purcell Roads, just a stone's throw from the old stadium where so many sporting spirits of the past still live on.
Jack married Evelyn O'Rourke from Maree, Oranmore in 1961, living in England since, where they reared a family of six children, three boys and three girls. His name will always be associated with the 1956 October 7 Sunday, when he was presented with the Sam Maguire Cup after a 2-13 to 3-7 success over Cork, a delayed final because of a polio outbreak in Cork and one also remembered for the 2-5 from play scored by the late Frank Stockwell, a feat never to be matched in a 60 minute final.
John Joe Holleran described Jack Mangan as not only a legend in Galway football but a 'gentleman true and true in every aspect of his life.
"In later years it was great for me to meet up with one of my boyhood heroes. I know that Purcell and Stockwell were christened the 'Terrible Twins' but many of us used to take that a step further and refer to the 'Triplets', Jack, Frank and Sean, who all grew up together in Tuam.
"Galway GAA is a sadder place since the passing of Jack on September 17 last, but he has left a legacy to Galway football that will never die. It will only be enriched more with the passing of time," said John Joe Holleran.
Jack Mangan, Galway All-Ireland winning captain ofo 1956, goalkeeper extraordinaire and devoted family man, is survived by his wife Evelyn; sons John, Francis and David; daughters Teresa, Susan and Claire; brother Henry (Tuam) and sister Terry (Kilrush, Co. Clare).
Reposing for the late Jack Mangan will take place from 5pm to 7pm on Friday, October 4, at the Maree Pastoral Centre (attached to the church). His burial will take place at Rinville Cemetery, Oranmore on Saturday, October 5, following Requiem Mass at 12 noon in St Joseph's Church, Maree.

The Connacht Tribune, 27th September 2013 Tweet

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