Sad passing of Shannon RFC clubman Vincent McMahon

SADLIY, there is an inevitability about where life leads us all — whether it is a life cut cruelly short or one well lived, full of meaning and fulfilment.
Unfortunately, we again are forced to reflect on the life of a great clubman, where we recognise that his life journey held much of the latter, though touched, too, by a sense of the former.
Vincent McMahon passed away on Sunday, 21st June 2026, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy and a lasting imprint of selfless dedication and good work within our club.
There are many ways to describe someone who has been a mainstay of a club, but for Vinny, his influence went far beyond Shannon RFC for many of us.
For those above a certain age in Shannon RFC, Vinny will always be synonymous with the Office Bar. It was the epicentre of the club through celebrations and defeats in the nineties and early 2000s, with Vinny at its core.
That is where many of us first came across him, as young members finding our way into the club’s social scene. Little did we know that Vinny would become an almost constant presence in so many of our lives.
There were some immense nights on Carr Street, but while the big occasions were epic, it was often the quieter nights that became the most memorable. Thefamed lock-ins were rarely planned and, without Vinny’s imprimatur, would never have happened. Many a “quick” visit ended with the car parked safely in the yard and a lengthy session unfolding.
Vinny’s association with Shannon stretches back decades, but it was probably during the nineties, as the All-Ireland juggernaut gathered pace, that his hugecontribution to the club truly blossomed. He ran the gates when thousands packed into AIL games and recruited many of us to man the turnstiles, usually with the promise of a couple of pints afterwards.
Vinny was also a generous supporter of women’s rugby within the club, both on and off the pitch. He was instrumental in creating fundraising opportunities inthe Office and sponsored buses for away fixtures on the understanding that the return journey would end back at the Office on a Sunday, where he didn’t encourage but turned a blind eye to singing, dancing, and general raucous behaviour that became part of those trips.
While his contribution to Shannon was always driven by selflessness, it was a source of immense pride that his son Colm became one of the club’s greatestplayers. Vinny followed Colm’s progress through to Munster, and when the travelling Red Army was in its infancy, he was almost always amongst it. Many brilliant sessions were had in his company, whether on the boat or in airports across Europe.
It would also be fair to say that Vinny was never afraid to speak his mind – it was simply who he was. He called things as he saw them, and those who knew him best recognised the warmth, loyalty and sincerity that always lay beneath, they were words we would value and cherishHis passion for the club never waned. He served on the executive committee in many capacities, most notably as Chair of Finance and Chair of Coonagh, but itwas often outside of the committee room that his greatest contribution was made. He was at the heart of Shannon’s successes, not only through his work but also as a generous sponsor, usually without fanfare.
His election as President in 2013 was a moment of great pride. He embraced the role with passion, dedication and a deep sense of honour, and it remained source of immense pride.
As travelling support for AIL games dwindled, Vinny remained an almost constant presence. Alongside fellow die-hard legends such as Tadgh Crowe, JohnLeahy, Sonny Kiley and Tim O’Donoghue, he travelled the length and breadth of the country. Like a scouting party, they travelled to the northern games together the night before matches and reserved seats on the team bus home. The stories could fill a book.
We hope people will look back and remember the impact Vinny had on our lives, whether it was answering the late-night knock on the Office door or being there when it really mattered. He was there for everyone.
It’s hard to believe we won’t have Vinny’s company next season—or that he will no longer be part of our lives. For many of us, he was a constant in some way from the beginning of our twenties well into middle age: a facilitator of craic, a mentor in so many ways, but above all, a great friend to chat with.
Vinny, you will be missed greatly by all who had the pleasure of knowing you. Our club will be the poorer for your passing.
To his wide and loving family and vast circle of friends, we extend our deepest sympathies.
We won’t see his likes again.
May Vinny rest in peace.
“Sound.”
Thanks to Andrew NcNamara for the tribute – Arrangements can be found on this link.
Kind Regards,
Katie McCloskey
Shannon RFC PRO

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