I’ll Miss Castleisland and the People Here – Sgt. John O’Mahony

Ted Kenny (left) with Mary McCarthy and her son Tom of the Central Bar at Sgt. John O’Mahony’s retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sgt. John O’Mahony receiving a presentation from Castleisland AFC members at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night. Making the presentation are: Mike Brosnan (left) Jamesie O’Callaghan and Jimmy O’Connor. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Bosco McMahon, Ballybunion (left) pictured with Sgt. John O’Mahony. Cllr. Bobby O’Connell and Caroline Barrett, Listowel at Sgt. O’Mahony’s retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Vincent Murphy (left) pictured with Mike Condon and Monsignor Dan O’Riordan at Sgt. John O’Mahony’s retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sgt. John O’Mahony (seated centre) pictured at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night with from left: Garda Ronan Coleman, Sgt. John English, Bernadette Hanrahan, Inspector Dan Keane, Inspector Donal Ashe, and Jim O’Connor. Back row: Garda Dave Dunworth, Sgt. Michael Costello, Garda Liz Twomey, Garda Stephen Kelly, Garda Mark Bolger, Garda Declan Hallett, Garda Declan Kelly, Garda Matthew O’Mahony, Garda Mike Dalton and Mossie O’Donnell. ©Photograph: John Reidy 22-2-2019

Vincent Murphy (left) making a presentation of an autographed Kerry jersey to Sgt. John O’Mahony (centre right) at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night. Included are Sgt. John English and Garda Declan Hallett. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Current and retired members of An Gárda Síochána pictured with Sgt. John O’Mahony at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night. Included are: Michael Maher, Garda Ronan Coleman; Sgt. O’Mahony, Garda Jim O’Brien, Mossie O’Donnell and Nora Maher. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Kerry minor footballer, Ethan Reidy and his nan, Mary O’Connor, brought the Tom Markham Cup to Sgt. John O’Mahony’s retirement party at the River Island Hotel on Friday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Charlie Farrelly (left) made a presentation on behalf of the Cahereen Heights Residents’ Association to Sgt. John O’Mahony at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel, Castleisland on Friday night with Sgt. John English. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sgt. john O’Mahony (centre) at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night with Bernadette Hanrahan and Inspector Dan Keane. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Inspector Donal Ashe (left) and Sgt. John English (right) making a presentation of a Garda statuette to Sgt. John O’Mahony at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sgt. John O’Mahony (centre) being greeted by Jamesie O’Callaghan (right) and Denis Sugrue at Sgt.O’Mahony’s retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Garda colleagues with Sgt. John O’Mahony (centre left) at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night. Included are from left: Jim O’Connor, Sgt O’Mahony, Sgt. John English and Inspector Dan Keane. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Put it there Sergeant: Sgt. John English (left) greets colleague Sgt. John O’Mahony at the latter’s retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on friday night. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sgt. John O’Mahony (centre) pictured at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night with Angie Divilly, Jerry Twomey, Eddie Rock, Charlie Nelligan, Pat Comiskey and Johnny Feehily. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sgt.John O’Mahony (seated centre) pictured at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night with front row: Garda Stephen Kelly, Sgt. Michael Costello, Sgt. John English, Sgt. O’Mahony, Garda Niamh Corkery, Garda Ronan Coleman and Inspector Tony Sugrue. Back row: Garda Dave Dunworth, Garda Liz Twomey, Garda Declan Kelly, Garda Declan Hallett, Garda Matthew O’Mahony, Garda Mike Dalton, Garda Mark Bolger, Garda Chris Scannell, Michael Conway and Garda Con Murphy. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sgt. John O’Mahony (centre) at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night with his family: Orlaith (left) Kieran and Laura O’Connor. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sgt. John O’Mahony at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night with family members, Kieran, Orlaith and Laura and the Tom Markham All-Ireland minor football championship cup. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sgt. John O’Mahony (front) pictured at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night with friends and family members: Maudie Murphy, Catherine and Theresa Goggin, Breda, Kevin and Moss O’Mahony and Bernadette Hanrahan. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sgt. John O’Mahony at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night with the original Emergency Response Unit members from left: Bob Noonan, Jerry Twomey, Eddie Rock, Pat Comiskey, Padraig Sears, Johnny Feehily, John Gantly and Eugene O’Sullivan. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Garda Ronan Coleman (left) making a presentation of a ‘Fitbit’ to Sgt. John O’Mahony at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night with their colleague, Sgt. John English. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Sgt. John O’Mahony (centre) at his retirement party at the River Island Hotel in Castleisland on Friday night with family members, Orlaith, Kieran and Laura and Sgt. John English. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Colleagues in An Gárda Síochána and the people of Castleisland turned out in ‘force’ on Friday night at the River Island Hotel for an event close to their hearts.

They were there, not from a sense of duty, but because they wanted to be there to say a heartfelt farewell and thank you to Sgt. John O’Mahony who retired after close on 40 years in the force and the last 16 spent in Castleisland.

Meetings and Greetings

A succession of tributes, meetings and greetings, speeches and gift presentations started at 8pm and continued right up to 11pm.

Sgt. John English was the impromptu master of ceremonies and he introduced those making speeches and presentations throughout the night.

It wasn’t until he cleared out his locker at Castleisland Garda Station and on his way home one day recently that the enormity of his life changing move hit him.

Decent and Hard Working

“The people of Castleisland are decent and hard working and I loved the town and my walks through the streets,” said Sgt John – who retired officially at midnight on Sunday night after almost 40 years in the force.

“I met some great people here and made friends for life and most of them are here tonight. Being stopped and welcomed on the streets here on my first days helped me settle in fast.

“Then I met Vincent Murphy when the youngsters here wanted to get a soccer league going and he told me I’d have to meet Georgie O’Callaghan.

Cross-Channel Game

“Georgie, God rest him, took me to my first cross-channel game at Old Trafford – which is something I thought I’d never do and it’s something I’ll always treasure,” he said.

There were presentations from Castleisland AFC and the club was represented on the night by Mike Brosnan, Jimmy O’Connor and Georgie’s twin brother, Jamesie O’Callaghan.

Castleisland station colleague, Garda Ronan Coleman along with Inspector Donal Ashe also made presentations on the night.

Great Sporting Surprise

There was also another great sporting surprise when Kerry minor footballer, Ethan Reidy and his devoted nan, Mary O’Connor arrived with the Tom Markhan Cup as their own tribute to the sports mad sergeant.

There were also gifts from Charlie Farrelly on behalf of the Cahereen Heights Residents Association and Vincent Murphy presented him with an autographed and framed Kerry football jersey.

A Humorous Account

Then the man himself took the mic and gave a humorous account of his life from his persuasion by Sgt. John Reddington in Ballyduff to join An Gárda Síochána as a young man.

He went through his part in the first Emergency Response Unit – during which he was shot during an infamous bank raid in Athy, Co. Kildare. His unit colleagues from those days were also in attendance and Eddie Rock spoke on their behalf.

Well-Wishers Gathered

The official part of the night was brought to a close by his daughters Orlaith and Laura and son, Kieran producing a cake in the colours of An Gárda Síochána with a cap and his number.

All his well-wishers then gathered around him and photographs and selfies were taken before the food was served.

Mike Condon waited patiently on stage to entertain the crowd from every walk of life from Castleisland and beyond and he did so until the small hours of the morning.

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