John O'Mahony (Mayo politician)

John Christopher O'Mahony (8 June 1953 – 6 July 2024) was an Irish Fine Gael politician and football manager who served as a Senator from 2016 to 2020, after being nominated by the Taoiseach. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Mayo constituency from 2007 to 2016.

Background
O'Mahony was a native of Kilmovee, County Mayo. He was a graduate of University College Galway. He taught for many years at St Nathy's College, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon.

O'Mahony was married to Gerardine Towey; together, they had five daughters.

O'Mahony died in Galway on 6 July 2024, after battling cancer in later years. He was 71.

GAA career
O'Mahony was manager of the Mayo Gaelic football team, and formerly led Galway to two All-Ireland Senior Football Championship victories in 1998 and 2001, and guided Leitrim to success in the 1994 Connacht Senior Football Championship. In 2009, he was named at 114 in the Sunday Tribune's list of the 125 Most Influential People In GAA History.

Political career
O'Mahony was elected as a TD for the Mayo constituency at the 2007 general election. He lost his seat at the 2016 general election. In the 2016 general election, he stood in the Galway West constituency, due to the Mayo constituency being reduced from five to four seats, and Fine Gael having four outgoing TDs in the Mayo constituency.

In May 2016, he was nominated by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny to the 25th Seanad.

He was the Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport.