RIP: Mayo town 'grateful for the memories' as well-known local passes away

KILTIMAGH bade a fond farewell to one of its favourite sons with the recent passing of Vinnie O’Hora from Treenagleragh, Kiltimagh, Mayo.

Vinnie was a true legend of the Kiltimagh community and the town he loved so well. He died peacefully, following a short illness, in Castlebar Hospital, surrounded by his devoted family.

Vinnie, who was in his 93rd year, was heart and soul ‘old stock’ of the Kiltimagh region.

In plain and simple terms, Vinnie was a good and noble gentleman who was always a wonderful ambassador for Kiltimagh. 

Sharing time with Vinnie was a joy and a treasure and one always came away feeling uplifted and encouraged after an engaging chat with a man who was so grounded in everything that at the heart of the community culture in which he was raised and who shared it so willingly and wholeheartedly with all he met along life’s journey.

The O’Hora family from Treenagleragh on the slopes of the ‘mountain’ carved out their own niches in so many remarkable ways in Irish life over the years.

They were gifted with intellectual qualities and a reasoning that went to the very heart of independent thought millions of miles away from the ‘group-think’ that is suffocating society today.

Emerson once stated “Nothing astonishes people so much as common sense and plain dealing” and Vinnie O’Hora reflected that truism to his core.

He was the embodiment of commonsense and genuine nobility that was always at the heart of his long life.

He was a gifted builder and tradesman whose work can be seen in so many homes all around the region.

A job undertaken by Vinnie was assured of the stamp of utmost approval by all his clients. There was an honesty and integrity that came with every assignment he lent his name to down through the years.

Vinnie was part of the Kiltimagh community that I have held close to my heart since childhood days.

Though living in the parish of Claremorris, my home place in Cloonmore was just over three miles from Kiltimagh and seven from Claremorris.

It was our town in those times and the place where I made so many life-long friends and where to this day I still feel so much at home among the people of Kiltimagh parish. 

When it came to table quizzes, Vinnie was in the Premier Division. His gifted memory always ensured that he was a huge addition to any team.

Several years ago in the mid-1980s, Vinnie and the O’Hora family were the winners of a top prize on Murphy’s Micro Quiz-M on RTÉ that was presented by Mike Murphy.

That was a huge win at the time and generated a lot of excitement and interest around the region.

Mayo football and supporting the county teams was such a part of his life over the decades.

He was a sub on the Kiltimagh team that was defeated by Crossmolina in the Mayo Junior Football Final around 1955.

He attended the 2025 Mayo Junior Football Final in Castlebar and was in Carrick-on-Shannon to see them crowned Connacht Junior champions at the end of November. 

Vinnie had a keen interest in politics and current affairs and was strongly aligned with Fine Gael down the years.

He enjoyed good debates and had true and lasting friends on all sides of the politics spectrum.

The homely and heartfelt tributes that have poured in for Vinnie since his passing reflect the special regard in which he was held by so many.

Geraldine Pye (nee Gallagher from Chapel Street, Kiltimagh), who now resides in Adelaide, Australia, said Vinnie had been part of her life as long as she could remember.

“Vinnie had a great friendship with our mother in Chapel Street- she held him in very high regard. He was one of life’s true gentlemen, a man of wisdom, integrity and wit.

He was a great husband/ father, father-in-law/ neighbour and friend to many. Another light has gone from Treenagleragh but not forgotten.”

Terence Flanagan said Vinnie was a highly respected member of the illustrious O’Hora clan.

“He was a stalwart worker for the local community and father of the lovely family that I had the pleasure of teaching in secondary school in Kiltimagh.”

John and Margaret Gallagher stated: “Vinnie was one of life’s greats, a kind, intelligent, and caring gentleman and a true friend. We are so grateful for all the memories and the great friendship we shared.”

Joan King said Vinnie would be greatly missed throughout the community. “So many memories came flooding back, memories of a gentleman and a scholar, a wit who was ever compassionate. He was an exceptional man.”

Reposing was at O’ Hora’s Funeral Home with removal to the Church of the Holy Family, Kiltimagh. Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated by Fr Michael Quinn, PP, and was followed by interment in Kilkinure Cemetery.

Vinnie, who was predeceased by his wife Anne (nee Healy from Clarkfield, Knock, in November 2025), his daughters, baby Patricia and Ailish (January 2023), and his brothers Liam, Nathy, Paddy, Louis, Jimmy, Joe, Aiden (Fr Cormac) and Frank and sisters Kathleen, Sr Mary James and Margaret (Gilmartin), will be dearly missed by his daughters Kathleen (Feerick), Sinead (Tierney) and Louise, sons Vincent and Padraig, sons-in-law Brendan and Pat, daughter-in-law Louise (McNicholas), grandchildren Luke, Éabha, Amélie and Eli, sister-in-law Christine, brother-in-law Martin Healy, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and many friends.