The late Séamus Ó Faoláin: Lake County mourns iconic GAA figure

Former teacher a true Gael who loved his sport, the Irish language and his county

Seámus Ó Faoláin (Whelan), the former Westmeath GAA chairman whose long spell at the helm coincided with an unprecedented level of Gaelic games development and success in this county, has died.

Séamus, who had been battling ill-health for a short time, held the premier office in Westmeath GAA between 1986 and 2008, during which time he and former secretary, Paddy Collins, became a formidable team in advancing national sports in the Lake County.

A proud native of Castletown Geoghegan but resident in Mullingar, Séamus was a member of the teaching staff of Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar for several decades. He passed away at St James’s Hospital, Dublin on Monday morning.

Séamus was a son of Billy and May (née Ennis) Whelan from Castletown Geoghegan. Billy, the local postman, was renowned for his musical talent and was known as ‘the whistling postman’. Deeply involved in Irish traditional music circles, Billy was an all-Ireland banjo and lilting champion and well-known as the composer of the famous song, ‘The Westmeath Bachelor’.

Between home and school, Séamus was immersed in Irish culture and sport from an early age. He went to Castletown Geoghegan National School, where he learned everything ‘trí Ghaeilge’ under headmaster Pat Heraty. Séamus not only went on to teach Irish but became a lifelong promoter of the language through the GAA (he was also chairman of Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn, Mullingar during its early years).

Séamus attended secondary school at Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar, where he would return as a teacher many years later. He studied for the profession at University College, Galway – where current President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins was lecturing at the time – and completed a HDip in Maynooth before entering the world of work. While in college, he played football for Ballinagore.

A member of Castletown Geoghegan Hurling Club from an early age, he was also heavily involved in the revival of Gaelic football in the Dysart/Castletown parish, with the formation of the St Malachy’s club in 1968. He was in attendance at the club’s first AGM, and on the field, captained St Malachy’s to both the Derravaragh Cup and its first junior championship in 1970. Séamus also hurled with Castletown Geoghegan for many years, and one of his earliest, fondest GAA memories was when the club won three Westmeath senior hurling titles in a row during the 1950s.

Seamus went on to become treasurer of the club, sparking a long career in GAA administration. An occasional county board delegate, he gained a reputation as a capable contributor to debate and was invited to take up the position of county board registrar. He held this and other positions including Irish officer, hurling officer and youth officer until eventually becoming chairman.

In a 2013 interview with the Westmeath Examiner, Séamus recalled how his rise to the chair came about:

“Fr Ulic Troy – the best orator I ever heard in my life – called to see me in Coláiste Mhuire… and told me he was stepping down from the post of chairman. I had no ambition to be chairman but he encouraged me and then the late Pat Smith of Shandonagh told me his club was going to nominate me,” he said.

“Westmeath GAA was going through a difficult period at the time and there was not a queue of people looking for positions on the county board. The days before the convention in [January] 1986, I had decided not to go forward but at a management meeting immediately prior to the convention, I was persuaded to leave my name in the ring.”

The rest is history, as Séamus was subsequently approved by delegates and remained in the post for two success-laden decades, in which time Westmeath won minor and U21 All-Ireland crowns (1995 and 1999), a Leinster SFC title (2004), reached All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals and the top flight of the National League, and vastly improved its lot as a hurling county with, for example, success in the Christy Ring Cup.

The Páidí Ó Sé era brought unprecedented glamour and national attention to Westmeath, putting the Lake County in a spotlight it had never been in before. While handling all of this, Séamus and his officers never lost sight of the grassroots – the clubs, schools and supporters. Meanwhile, Scór thrived in Westmeath during the Ó Faoláin era, with Séamus always paying close attention to the cultural sphere.

Séamus, Paddy Collins and the officers who served alongside them revolutionised the development of Gaelic games in Westmeath schools, with Séamus tracing the county’s All-Ireland minor football success of 1995 to the revamp of Comórtas na mBunscol during the early 1990s.

During his tenure, one of Westmeath GAA’s primary projects was the redevelopment of Cusack Park. In the late 1980s, the stadium required a major overhaul – a difficult proposition, given the straitened economic situation in the country. Here, however, the teacher and GAA administrator – who routinely described himself as being shy – developed sharp political and business acumen, as he deftly oversaw fundraising campaigns and negotiations with government. Subsequent work turned the Cusack Park’s pitch into one of the finest playing surfaces in the country, with new stands, terraces, offices, dressing rooms and seating were also installed, as Westmeath GAA headquarters became what it is today.

“It was a source of great pride to Seamus,” wrote Tom Hunt in his history of the Castletown Geoghegan and St Malachy’s clubs (published last year), “that the project was entirely paid for when he retired from the post of county chairman.”

With new term limits introduced for elected GAA officials, Séamus stepped down as chairman of Westmeath GAA in 2008. With him, and also the departing Paddy Collins, went years of knowledge and experience. “I was the luckiest person to have worked with Pat Collins, the straightest, most honourable, knowledgeable and totally committed official to Westmeath GAA who always worked for the betterment of the clubs of Westmeath,” Séamus later said.

Despite stepping down from the chair, Séamus didn’t withdraw entirely, “moving upstairs” as many esteemed executives do towards the end of their careers. He went on to serve the county with distinction as its representative on the GAA’s Ard Chomhairle. Having retired from the teaching staff at Coláiste Mhuire as well, he could channel all of his energy into this role, and did so with trademark professionalism.

Séamus married Sarah (née Farrell), a native of Carlow, in 2004, a year he always looked back upon fondly for personal as well as GAA reasons.

He was predeceased by his sister, Brigid Hogan and is survived by Sarah, his brother, Gerry, sisters, Marie Cosgrave and Connie Keegan, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours, friends and a GAA community in mourning at the loss of his good humour, eloquence, intellect, story-telling and above all, his genial manner, and his burning passion for Irish culture and sport.