"Dad, you were truly our greatest gift" - daughter’s tribute to Mayo GAA chairman Seamus Tuohy

Above everything he had achieved in the GAA and in his career as a psychiatric nurse and farmer, Seamus Tuohy was a deeply loving family man, his daughter, Shona, told mourners at his Funeral Mass today.

“As a husband, father, father-in-law, granddad, brother-in-law, and uncle he gave us his all," she told mourners in a crowded St. Aloysius Church, Breaffy.

She recalled her father had always said her mother, Marie, was the greatest gift in his life.

Continuing, she said: “Dad, you were truly our greatest gift and we will love you to bits and back."

Mr. Tuohy (66), chairman of the Mayo GAA Board, died unexpectedly in hospital last Tuesday.

Fr. Pat Farragher was the chief celebrant at Requiem Mass.

He was joined on the altar by Fr. Conal Eustace, PP, Castlebar/Breaffy, Fr. Frank Nally, Belcarra, and Fr. Stephen Farragher, Ballyhaunis.

Captain Pat Greenan, aide-de-camp to the Taoiseach Michael Martin, represented the Taoiseach at today’s funeral.

Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection, Rural Community Development and the Gaeltacht, attended, as did Sean O’Ceallaigh, vice-president of the GAA, and John Prenty, secretary of Connacht GAA.

Members of the Mayo GAA Board, along with members of Breaffy GAA Club, formed a guard of honour as the remains were carried into the church.

Huge numbers attended the ceremony, a repeat of yesterday’s turnout at Hastings Insurance McHale Park when the Tuohy family received the condolences of a multitude of mourners, including members of the All-Ireland winning Mayo team, at the Dr. Michael Loftus Room.

The Sam Maguire Cup was present at today’s Mass but it was discreetly, rather than prominently, placed on a table well to the side of the altar.

Fr. Farragher thanked all who attended as a gesture of support to Marie and the extended Tuohy family.

In her eulogy, Shona Tuohy said it was difficult to find words to describe the enormity of the family’s loss.

“Our hearts are broken," she explained.

Shona went on to describe her mum and dad, who celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary earlier this month, as “a wonderful team” and “the perfect example of true love and devotion."

Alluding briefly to her father’s GAA involvement and ambitions, Shona said that getting the Centre of Excellence at Bohola over the line was a huge goal for him.

Also important to him was finishing his five-year tenure as chairman of Mayo GAA Board.

Amongst her concluding comments Shona said her dad was “always proud to be from Mayo from the day he was born to the day he died."

She added: “As Jack Coyne said on that special date in July stick your chest out and be proud to be from Mayo.”

Seamus was laid to rest afterwards in Breaffy Cemetery.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.

BREAFFY GAA CLUB TRIBUTE

In a tribute on its social media platforms, Mr. Tuohy's home club, Breaffy GAA Club, said while it whole- heartedly recognised his wonderful achievements, the club and community experienced much more of Seamus' qualities over his lifetime.

It elaborated: "His roots were without doubt in Breaffy. His parents, Tom Tuohy from Islandeady and Claire Conroy from Cottage Road, Breaffy, were both steeped in rural community activities and this ethos was embedded in all their children as they grew up in Breaffy.

"His parents were actively involved in setting up an athletics club in Breaffy and were there to run many sports days especially for a growing young community in the parish.

"Seamus and his siblings continued that passion for participation and contributing to the community at a young age.

"He himself excelled at Community Games athletics and won national titles. He contributed to the sporting and personal development of the youth in the area.

"That brought him to GAA and he was an active Bord na nÓg chair in the club for years. He spread his wings further and as chair of the Community Council delivered many initiatives which made Breaffy and its surrounding area an attractive place to live.

"He had a strong sense of place and belonging. He was very content with his part-time farming and taking good care of his horses.

"In addition to his full-time professional work with mental health services his volunteering continued in this field, always there to give advice and guidance and support and a listening ear to those vulnerable in society and at critical points in their lives.

"Whatever project or initiative he became a part of he was fully invested and committed to it.

"This was most evident when he became chair of Mayo GAA Board, where he decided to give 100% of his time, on a voluntary basis, to making sure he could fulfill his duties, effectively, with passion and dedication to the highest standards possible. This he certainly did right to the very end.

"His adored wife Marie and his son Evan and daughter Shona were most important of all to him. His love for family, continued to blossom as he welcomed his son-in-law Peter and daughter-in-law Amy and later three grandchildren Ave, Aedamar and Isla.

"To them and the extended Tuohy family, we send our sincere sympathy.

"Love and care for family, friends, colleagues, a passion for youth development and community service, are all attributes which Seamus Tuohy had in abundance and will be his everlasting legacy to his family, Breaffy Community, Breaffy GAA Club and all who had the pleasure of knowing him."

GAA PRESIDENT'S TRIBUTE

GAA President Jarlath Burns has offered his condolences and those of the GAA to the family of Mayo chairperson Séamus Tuohy after his untimely passing following a recent illness.

He said: “Séamus epitomised the calibre of volunteers who run our counties and his loss will be sorely felt across Mayo GAA circles but of course most acutely, by his family and friends.

“His influence on Mayo GAA was huge and I was particularly pleased that the county delivered their recent All-Ireland football final win on his watch.

“However the impact he leaves stretches far beyond the county team, beginning with his club Breaffy and reaching right through every level of Gaelic games in the county.

“He was extremely popular, which was a hallmark of the qualities of the man, and I offer my sympathies to his wife Marie, his children Shona and Evan and his wider family.”

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