02/09/2026
Ballymahon GAA Club was saddened to learn of the recent sudden passing of Frank Flynn, formerly of Main Street.
Frank was the middle of a trio of brothers (Jimmy RIP and Ciarán being the others) who represented the club with distinction from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Frank’s first taste of success with the club was as a prominent member of the first Schoolboy team from Ballymahon to win the county title in 1954.
He was corner back on the team that captured the club’s second Minor championship in 1957.
The highlight of his playing career came in 1960 when he was full-forward on the team that captured both the Junior Championship and the Leader Cup within eight days of each other. Mullinalaghta were defeated in the County Junior final, while Colmcille, who were strong favourites, were beaten by a point in the Leader Cup final.
Ballymahon were the only Junior club in the Leader Cup and this is a feat that will never be repeated again.
That wasn’t the only silverware that Ballymahon won in 1960. It was the era when tournaments were at the height of their popularity. Ballymahon won the St. Vincent de Paul Tournament, beating Longford Slashers in a replay in Pearse Park, while they also saw off Tubberclair in the final of Castleshanahan Tournament. A fifth medal just eluded that great team as Carrickedmond beat them by a point in the final of their own tournament. Ballymahon made amends for this in 1961, beating Carrickedmond in the final after extra time with Frank scoring the winning goal.
During the year, Frank manned both the full-back and full-forward positions, with his displays earning him a place on the county Junior team. He recalled with particular fondness holding both Mickey Kelly and Sean Donnelly scoreless in the Leader Cup clash against Longford Slashers, before scoring 2 goals at the other end of the pitch against Slashers in their next game.
Frank was a man of great intellect and held key positions in the Department of Labour, Gaeltarra Éireann and Údarás na Gaeltachta (the latter as CEO), before his career took him all across Europe.
He lived in Barna, where he was an esteemed member of the community, but Frank never forgot Ballymahon. His loss will be felt the greatest by his beloved wife Eileen, sons Jim and Micheál, his grandchildren, his daughters in law, his brother Ciarán and his sisters Ann, Nuala and Dorrie. To them we extend our sympathy.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.
