Photograph of Dolphin Senior Team 1976/77 – Paul Mahony Captain
We were saddened to learn today of the death of our former Senior Captain, Paul Mahony.
Paul made his Dolphin Senior debut in 1972, in a season that saw him win Cork Charity Cup and Munster Senior League medals while being on the losing side in the Munster Senior Cup final. The 1975/76 season saw him pick up 2nd Charity Cup + Munster Senior League medals, while again suffering disappointment in the Senior Cup Final.
Paul was Club captain for the Jubilee season, unfortunately Paul missed out with a hamstring injury on the main Jubilee fixture, Dolphin v Munster, where Munster brought their full strength team and won 20-4. Paul was in the Munster squad that season.
In November 1976 Paul won his 3rd Charity Cup medal in 10-6 victory over Cork Constitution, the newspapers at the time crediting him as playing a prominent role in the victory.
Paul joined Cork Institute of Technology in 1980 and was appointed a senior lecturer and head of the Department of Continuing Education in 1995. Before retiring, he had over 30 years’ experience lecturing on financial accounting to final level of four accountancy bodies as well as on undergraduate and post-graduate degree courses and had written several technical publications on accounting standards.
The Mahony family were synonymous with Dolphin, back in the 1920’s & 30’s, at least four of the seven Mahony brothers, Jack, Nacey , Theo and Kevin played with Dolphin, Nacey being Paul’s father.
Jack was Dolphin’s 2nd International in 1923.
Nacey was very well known in rugby circles, he was Dolphin President in 1955-56 when John O’Meara was Senior Captain, interestingly when John O’Meara was Club President in our Jubilee Season 1976-77, the Senior captain was Paul Mahony.
Nacey went on to become Munster Branch President in 1947/48 and IRFU President in 1973/74.
Paul’s brother Brian was a Vice President of Dolphin and his sons Niall,Conor & Cian also played with Dolphin, Conor & Cian were integral members of the side which brought Dolphin to Division 1 for the first time in 1997.
Our deepest sympathies go to his wife Ruth, daughter Suzanne and his son David.
Visitation will take place on Wednesday 12th at Crowley’s Funeral Home Ballincollig from 7.30 to 8.30 pm. Requiem Mass on Thursday at 1pm in the Church of St Mary & St John, Ballincollig.