Mayo GAA legend John O’Mahony passes away aged 71

Former Mayo GAA manager and TD, John O’Mahony who guided neighbouring county Galway to two All-Ireland football titles has died at the age of 71.

A native of Kilmovee in east Mayo, O'Mahony was considered one of the top GAA coaches of his generation guiding Galway to All-Ireland glory in 1998 and 2001 while also winning three Connacht titles with his native Mayo and sensationally leading Leitrim to only their second Connacht title in 1994.

O'Mahony came to national prominence during his first stint as Mayo manager when he took over in 1987 and led the county to back-to-back provincial titles in ’88 and ’89.

Mayo reached the All-Ireland final for the first time in 38 years when they defeated Tyrone in the All-Ireland semi-final in 1989 but were narrowly defeated by Cork in the final.

His first stint as Mayo manager ended in 1991 but he was soon appointed manager of the Leitrim senior football team. He brought success to the county in 1994 when he masterminded victory over his native Mayo in the Connacht Final to secure Leitrim's first provincial title since 1927.

In late 1997, O'Mahony shocked many in the GAA world when he took up the position as manager of the Galway senior football team. At the time the Tribesmen had been playing second-fiddle to Mayo who had lost two All-Ireland finals in 1996 and 1997.

O'Mahony once again masterminded victory of his native county in the first round of the 1998 Connacht championship in MacHale Park. A Connacht title followed as did an All-Ireland title when Galway defeated Kildare in the All-Ireland final in 1998.

He guided the Tribesmen to another All-Ireland final in 2000 but lost after a replay to Kerry. Following defeat in the Connacht championship in 2021, they returned to the All-Ireland final via ‘the back door’ and brought Sam Maguire back across the Shannon with a comprehensive victory over Meath.

O'Mahony stepped down as Galway manager in 2004 but returned to the sidelines in 2006 when he succeeded Mickey Moran as the Mayo football team manager. He guided Mayo to another Connacht title in 2009 but All-Ireland glory with his native county eluded him and he stepped down following defeat to Longford in 2010.

In 2007, O'Mahony was elected as a Fine Gael TD for Mayo and was reelected again in 2011. However, following boundary changes and the reduction of seats in Mayo from five to four, he ran in the Galway West constituency in 2016 and failed to get elected.

He was appointed to the Seanad by Enda Kenny and served as Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport.