John Nallen
Gaelic football legend who played for four counties, writes Dermot McMonagle
PEOPLE from many counties gathered recently in Cavan town to celebrate the life of John Nallen who died on January 4.
John Nallen was one of those characters whom nobody forgot. A man openly revered by commentators, former teammates, adversaries and their children as one of the greats of Gaelic football.
The Crossmolina, Co Mayo, native, who was born in 1932, had the distinction of playing inter-county senior football with four counties — Mayo, Galway, Meath and Cavan. John captained the Mayo minor footballers to a Connacht victory in 1950.
A year later he joined the Ulster Bank in Tuam, Co Galway, where he declared to play his football with the Tuam Stars and Galway.
From 1952-60, John won eight Galway senior championship medals with the ‘Stars’ where he was often referred to as the midfield engine who supplied the ammunition to Sean Purcell and Frank Stockwell.
After one year with Galway, John declared to play his county football for his native Mayo where he soon won a national league title and later came to national attention with his midfield display in the drawn All-Ireland Football semi-final against a great Dublin team in August 1955, for which he was awarded Sports Star of the Week in the Irish Independent.
John won representative honours with Connacht and Ireland.
Promotion within the bank was always accompanied by an obligatory transfer, as John took his football with him to Trim, Co Meath and later to Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan.
John’s popularity within the bank was evident with many of his former colleagues and fellow managers who came to pay last respects.
John Nallen served Ulster Bank for more than four decades in eight locations, ending as manager in Cavan town.
John was a family man at heart, which included his extended Mayo, Cavan, Banagher and Clonmel connections. On retirement he tended his garden with passion, producing fruits, vegetables and flowers to be shared over conversations with friends.
Holidays to France and Italy were always enjoyed where he passionately shared the traditions of freshly baked breads in the mornings and a glass or two of good wine in the evenings.
He is survived by his wife Maura, son Padraig, daughter Maureen and their partners Peta and Ben.
John Nallen’s funeral Mass was held in the Cathedral of St Patrick and Felim, Cavan, followed by burial in Cullies cemetery.