The following are the excerpts of the eulogy delivered by Brian Gordon at the grave-side of the late Teresa Bohan on Wednesday, October 8. Teresa Bohan, nee Mcgowan, was born in Mohill on June 4, 1921. Teresa was one of a family of six, daughter of William and Elizabeth McGowan and lived in Green Lane, Mohill. Lily is now the only surviving sibling. Growing up in Mohill as a young girl, Teresa had an early introduction to the GAA, as her Father was involved in the local club and her brother Billy was a stalwart defender with Mohill playing for over four decades. She had a recollection of attending games with her father, as a young girl and soon became accustomed tot he local banter and parish rivalry that existed . This early experience sowed the seeds to what seemed to be a life long love affair with the GAA in Mohill and Leitrim. As a teenager, Teresa worked in Ellis's Hotel, which is now Paul' newsagents and Fynn's Bar and Grocery, which was to become Early's Bar on Main Street. She eventually moved to employment in Ryan's Castle and worked there for several years. It was during her time there that she first met her husband to be, John Patrick Bohan. They would marry in 1958 and first lived in Augharush, beside Errew Lake. It was here, that there son Gerard was born. During their courting years, Teresa and John Patrick cycled the hyways and byways of Ireland, supporting their native Leitrim. They both had fond memories f cycling to places like Tuam, Roscommon and Cavan to mention a few. Of course she didn't always cycle to games. She took delight in telling the story of a trip to Grange in Cloone many months ago. Teresa and her sister Lily were on Shanks Mare and were running late for the game, when they came across some Jerusalem transport in the form of a donkey. having successfully boarded, the bould Neddie, he refused to move an inch. However, help arrived in the form of two local lads, who proceeded to kick start the transport. The donkey didnt't take too fondly to this, and promptly discarded the two passengers and scampered off with his heels in the air, towards Cloone. While parish rivalry is always rife in the GAA, games with Gortletteragh got Teresa's dander up more than anything else. The fact that she lived in the parish of Gortletteragh didn't help either. She was constantly reminded where her loyalties should lie, but she always replied "I might be living in Gortletteragh but i'm a Mohill woman through and through." Aidan Kellegher recalled the other night, a famous match which took place between Gortletteragh and Mohill in Foxes Field around 1964. For some reason, the appointed ref failed to show and after much deliberation, it was agreed that Peter Gordon from Mohill would take charge of the game. It wasn't long before Teresa became involved after a couple of heavy tackles by Fr Tom and J.J O Rourke on brother Billy. Some of Peter's decisions didn't help the situation either and all help broke loose when Teresa weighed in with the brolly. Many years later, the late Brendan Gallagher recalled the occasion, when he said it was the longest match in the history of GAA. It started at 3 o clock and finished at 7 o clock when Peter Gordon and Teresa Bohan ended up in the river which ran along side the pitch. He passion for Mohill knew no bounds. In the late 50's, emigration had taken a heavy toll on the club. In 1957, the Saturday night before the Junior Final, nine of the team emigrated to London. The following day, Mohill were due to play Manorhamilton in the JUnior Final. With Teresa's help and local knowledge, nine players were rounded up from Gortletteragh and history records that Mohill won the Junior Championship and fellas that never kicked a ball in Mohill became overnight stars. The following year, 1958, it appeared that the club would not be able to field a team, and one of the stars of that time, who worked in Dolphins Garage in Ballinamore, thinking that Mohill would not have a team declared for Ballinamore. However, the club scraped together a team and entered into the Junior Championship. However, his worst fears were realised when the unthinkable happened. Ballinamore were drawn to play Mohill in the first round in Mohill. How was he going to face his old friends and team-mates which included his uncle, John Joe Cassells. He though about going to England, getting injured, anything but playing Mohill. Anyway, the dreaded day arrived and he made his way to the park in Mohill. He me a few friends on the way, who wished him luck. Things weren't going too bad at all, or so he thought! However, on his way to the pitch from the dressing room, he recognised a female voice- "Go on you traitor"- which was followed by the belt of an umbrella. Gerry told me last night that he also had to deal wit John Joe when he got on the pitch and we all know, he took no prisoners. However, off the pitch, Christy and Teresa remained the best of friends. Teresa had one real ambition and that was to see Mohill win a Senior Championship. She had missed Mohill's victory in 1971, due to the death of her father-in-law William Bohan, and as the years passed by, she often wondered if she would ever see the realisation of her dream. However on October 8th, 2006, all that was to change. Even though in failing health, with the help of Therese Foy, her grand-niece, she managed to make it to Cloone and her dream was fulfiled when the Mohill lads brought her the cup that she had waited so long to get her hands on. She turned to me and said "I can die happy now." Off the pitch, Teresa Bohan was recognised as one of ' Leitrim's greatest supporters. Herself and her chauffeur, Maura Duignan, travelled all over the country supporting Mohill and Leitrim. Both of them were honoured by the Mohill Club, when appointed as Life Presidents in 1978. However, Teresa's greatest honour arrived, when in 2001, she was elected as President of Leitrim GAA at the County Convention in Drumkeerin, receiving a standing ovation as she took her place at the top table. Central Council delegate, on that day, Gerry Mahon, described her as the "People's President". It was the first time in the history of the GAA in Ireland that a woman had been elected President of the County Board. At club level, she never missed a meeting and was always actively involved in fundraising, park development or whatever was on the agenda at the time. Up until the last year or two, she was a regular at our lotto draws every Saturday night. Teresa was also a very thoughtful and caring person. I'm sure there isn't a family in Mohill or neighbouring parishes who haven't experienced her kindness. No matter what the occasion, Teresa's was always the first card to drop through the letter box of hers the first phone call. Apart from the football, Teresa enjoyed the simple things in life- tending her garden at her beautiful rose cottage in Lough Rynn, ceileing with friends and neighbours, shopping in MOhill, the odd game of bingo, looking after the two men in her life. While Gerard didn't play much football, Teresa was so proud of the work he carried on for years at underage level, along with their great friend Tom Lynch- and she affectionately christened them "The Tom and Gerry Show." Prouder still was she of Gerard's "Down Memory Lane" which appears in the sporting pages of the Leitrim Observer and is read the length and breadth of Ireland, England and America. I know she played a big part in helping Gerard complete that weekly column. Teresa Bohan was a legend in Leitrim- we will never see the likes of her again. Speaking to two Leitrim supporters last night who had travelled from Rossinver and Kinlough really summed up how well Teresa was respected in the GAA fraternity. When I thanked them for attending her removal, they replied "We would have travelled even to China to pay our last respects to Teresa Bohan." Finally, on behalf of all her friends, our Club and County Board, I would like to offer our condolences to her husband John Patrick, son Gerard, sister Lily, nieces, nephews, relatives and family friends. Leitrim Observer, 17/10/08 Tweet

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