Galway bids a final farewell to its prince of centre backs It was a measure of the high esteem in which former Galway footballer Jack Mahon was held by GAA people all over the country that the Director General of the Association, Liam Mulvihill, flew home from New York at short notice in order to attend his Requiem Mass at Salthill Church. The president of the GAA, Sean Kelly, sent his regrets from the International Rules tour in Australia while prominent sports figures from throughout the island made the journey to Galway in order to sympathise with the Dunmore natives family. A lone piper led the cortege from the O'Flaherty Funeral Home to Salthill, accompanied by two of his grandsons wearing Galway jerseys. Officials from the Football Board mounted a Guard of Honour to the man, known in his playing days as the prince of centre backs, who was both their PRO and President of the County Board at the time of his death. Salthill Church was packed to capacity on Tuesday morning, where his son, John, recalled the pride Jack took in the resurgence of Galway football in 1998. "It was not just the fact that they had won it (the All-Ireland), but the style of football that hey played," he said. He recalled how Michael Meehan gave his father "a huge boost" when he brought the Cup into University College Hospital after captaining the U21s to their All-Ireland victory in May. The life he received from that visit sustained Jack for months afterwards, during the battle with chronic leukemia which lasted for almost three years. John described his father as his best friend and recalled how much their afternoon visits to the John Mullholland bookies office in Salthill meant to Mr. Mahon during his illness. Jack was the third member of the 1956 All-Ireland winning team to die this year. The Chief Celebrant, a former classmate at both St. Jarlath's College and Maynooth, Mgr. Tommy Shannon, recalled the bravery he showed in his farewell tribute to the great Sean Purcell at Tuam Cathedral. Mgr. Shannon said it was appropriate that Jack's 19the and last book, published just a fortnight before his death, was called 'Memories' as though he was urging people to read it in his memory. He told the congregation that Jack was "always the head of the class" during their five years together at St. Jarlath's. His promise as a footballer soon shone through and his classmates admired his ability to field a high ball. "During the first three years he progressed more than most," said Mgr. Shannon. "In our final year, he starred at midfield in out Connacht Colleges final. He scored two penalties and two points before scoring with the last kick of the game to give St. Jarlath's a one point victory over a fine St. Nathy's side. I'd like to acknowledge the presence of many members of that team here today". After leaving school, the two of them took O'Brien's turf lorry at 3.30 a.m. one September morning in order to join the seminary at Maynooth, Co. Kildare. There were 70 other teenage seminarians at the College, from all over Ireland, and Jack was soon lining out at centre half forward on the Maynooth team. "He decided that the priesthood was not for him and we said goodbye. In 1976, when Maynooth won their first and only, Sigerson Cup title, Jack was the person honoured to present the players with their medals." Mgr. Shannon recalled that Jack won three county medals with Dunmore McHales, while his All-Ireland victory with Galway was a source of joy for all his old classmates at the seminary. The trainee priests were surprised to see him line out at centre half back, because they knew him as centre forward. "In the same year, Jack made his first incursion in to the field of writing when he became a regular columnist with 'Gaelic Weekly'. Such was his success that it was inevitable that sooner or later he would write a book and he did in 1965 when he penned his first book, 'Twelve Glorious Years'. "In writing this book he did a great service or Galway people everywhere, and for all time, as he chronicled a golden era which began in 1956 and culminated with the three-in-a-row in 1966. Once he had a taste for writing, you just couldn't stop him. He was a man with a mission, consumed with a passionate interest in and love of our games." He described Jack Mahon's latest book as a testament to how much the late author loved all sports, including football, hurling, boxing, horse racing, and golf. He paid tribute to the Mahon family for looking after Jack during his long illness. "Something else which was a constant was his love for Eileen and your lovely six children. John, Pearse, Karl, Branwell, Lisa, and Genevieve. He counted himself a very lucky man to have the privilege of marrying you in 1960. For 45 years you were always his pride and joy, all through his married life but especially through his illness. You helped him to be brave and determined. You answered his every need." Courtesy of The Connacht Tribune 28 October 2005 Tweet

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