A GIANT of a man whose wisdom and kindness enriched the lives of so many will be laid to rest in his beloved home of Irvinestown this morning (Thursday).

Mr. Malachy Mahon, who passed away peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday morning, was embedded in the fabric of the community; a teacher, a historian, a sportsman and a devoted Fermanagh man.

The outpouring of grief for the 84 year old from people of all age groups and backgrounds this week is a testament to a man who spent his life promoting the importance of inclusion.

Mr. Mahon, the first principal of St. Mary’s College in Irvinestown, was a trailblazer in education.

One of his former colleagues has told The Impartial Reporter that he was the “master” and a wonderful role model for young teachers who always encouraged his team “to plough the extra furrow.” “He wanted the best for his pupils in St. Mary’s at a time when children were disadvantaged because of the 11 plus and introduced the Junior Certificate when outsiders were sceptical.” Always supportive of teachers, Mr. Mahon wanted them to develop their own talents and encouraged all to go on further training courses so they could bring back new practises to the classroom. He had a great love of pupils and a great understanding of what families were suffering and this filtered out to the work he achieved in the community.

“I learnt everything from him. He was the ultimate teacher, the administrator who knew how to access funding for his school, the sportsman I could talk to, the historian who could tell the history of the town, the Fermanagh man who wanted more for everyone in our county.

“He was the Ulster man who was proud of our heritage and the writer who penned so many obituaries for our towns people, and the Gael who saw the day the Gael and Gall would come together to treasure a shared heritage. As said so often there will never be his like again.” In a statement, a spokesperson for the Ulster GAA paid tribute to Mr. Mahon, a former President of Ulster Council GAA and Vice President of the GAA who held office from 1974 to 1977.

“As a teacher and school principal Malachy spent considerable time developing our games and cultural activities at both primary and secondary school level and was one of the driving forces behind the development of the Irvinestown GAA County ground.” Mr. Mahon was a long-standing member of Ulster Council GAA and also served as Vice President from 1972 to 1973 and Treasurer from 1968 to 1971. He was Fermanagh GAA County Secretary from 1969 to 1975 and was delegate for Fermanagh to the Ulster Council GAA.

“Malachy was an outstanding and visionary leader for the GAA in Ulster during in what was a difficult and turbulent time for the Association and the Province of Ulster, and was an inspiration to many for his hard work and dedication to the GAA.” After leaving office, Mr. Mahon remained a committed grass-roots volunteer with his home Club Naomh Molaise Irvinestown, serving as Club President right up to his death.

Mr .Mahon belonged to many groups, including Irvinestown Fairs and Markets Trustees, Fermanagh Feis, Ulster Secondary Schools GAA and Fermanagh Civil Rights Association.

He was a director of Irvinestown Trustee Enterprise Company, and founder and director of Fermanagh Enterprise Limited, director of Fermanagh Local Action Group, a director of Ulster Community Investment Trust, a secretary of Fermanagh Tourist Development Committee, founder and director of the Lady of the Lake Festival Committee and a member of the Tor Mor Cultural Tourism Committee in County Donegal.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster, a Fermanagh-south Tyrone MLA, has described Mr. Mahon as “one of the wise men of Irvinestown.” “I want to pay tribute to Malachy and his vision for an inclusive way forward in Irvinestown and his determination to work with others for the good of his town. He will be sorely missed by all in Irvinestown and beyond for his genuine generosity and goodwill,” she said.

Mr. Mahon’s funeral mass will take place this morning at Sacred Heart Church in Irvinestown.

He is survived by wife Brenda and children; Tiernach, Fionnula, Hugh, Catriona and Niamh.