It is with regret that we announce the death of that great Mullinahone Gael John Vaughan. John was in his 88th year and had been unwell for some time. He was best known as the Mullinahone delegate to County Board where his sayings were legendary. He once said that in his time he had seen off 8 Tipperary Chairmen. He was never afraid to be a minority and proved this when speaking to the Tipperary convention on the proposed opening of Croke Park to foreign games more than 10 years ago. John was in favour of the motion. After his first visit to the redeveloped Croke Park, he likened being up in the upper Cusack stand to ‘being up in a crow’s nest.’ John had the ability to reduce a well ordered meeting to a shambles with one sentence.
John came from a famous Mullinahone football family. His father, Vincent was a member of the 1920 Tipperary senior football team which won the All-Ireland. The team had previously done a month’s collective training in Mullinahone, quartered on Vaughan’s farm. John always had a soft spot for the underdog as witnessed by his support for Offaly hurlers. To his wife, Kathleen and his sons and daughters we extend our sympathy. May the soul of John Vaughan rest in peace. His removal takes places from his home to St. Michaels Church on tomorrow, Monday evening and burial will be in Mullinahone after his funeral mass on Tuesday at 12 noon.
By Jonathan Cullen Sun 7th Jun
