The Late Tom Quinn His many friends in Dublin and Ennis mourned the recent passing of Tom Quinn, 73, Whitetorn Rise, Dublin. Aged 61 years, his death took place in the Mater Hospital, Dublin on April 20th after a very brief illness. Many well deserved tributes were paid to him at his funeral mass in the Church of the Holy Child in the Larkhill-Whitehall parish in Dublin. Originally from Clonroad, Tom was the youngest son of the late Jim and Winifred Quinn. He was educated at Ennis CBS where his talents as a hurler and athlete came to the forefront. He represented his school in Munster colleges' hurling and afterwards while training to be a teacher in St Patrick's Training College in Dublin, he travelled home to play his part in Ennis Rovers winning the county minor hurling championship. It was a memorable final played in Tulla in a snowfall during the month of December in 1961 when the opposition was provided by a star studded Newmarket-on-Fergus team. He also played for the team representing St Patrick's College and an athlete. Tom was a valued member of Marian AC for whom he competed in sprint race and over hurdles. Many of his Sunday afternoons were spent in Croke Park but was always a special occasion when his beloved Clare were playing. He always looked forward to meeting and greeting his Clare pals for a pre-match drink in Kennedys or entertaining them in his home in Artane with his wife Geraldine. There was none prouder then Tom when Clare excelled with All-Ireland titles in 1995 and 1997. Horse racing was another interest and throughout his life he took a general interest in the most sports. On a mid-week afternoon in October 1978 he was present to cheer on Munster in their historic rugby win over the famous All Blacks. Always a great music lover, he was involved in the skiffle years in his home town in the late 50s when he was a member of The Drifters with three more school pals from Clonroad. Then followed the showband era of which he also carried many happy memories. In recent years he looked forward to National Concert Hall visits from the Chris Barbar Jazz And Blues Band. However, it was for his many years as a teacher and then principal of the Holy Child Boys National School in Larkhill that Tom will be best remembered by the parents and people of Artane, Beaumont and Larkhill-Whitehall parish. He joined the school staff in 1963 and was appointed principal in 1990. In the year 2000, after a distinguished career, he took early retirement with his wife Geraldine who was on the teaching staff of the same school. Between them they had given over 50 years service to Larkhill. During the teaching years and in retirement weekend trips to Ennis were always special to them. Tom's good sense of humour, sincerity, teaching talents, loyalty to his school and parish and his abilities as a hurler and athlete were referred to by Fr John Fitzpatrick, PP, chief celebrant of Tom's funeral mass in the Church of the Holy Child, Larkhill-Whitehall parish on Monday April 25. Tom's remains were removed from Lanigan's funeral home to Whitehall church on the previous Saturday evening. A hurley and a Clare jersey were among the gifts presented at mass. Pupils from Larkhill School provided the choir also formed a guard of honour in the church grounds as the funeral made its way to Dardistown cemetery near Dublin Airport. The big crowds on both days, while included many past pupils, former teaching colleagues from Clare and other counties as well as friends from the Ennis area, were testimony to Tom's popularity and his standing in the community. Tom is survived by his wife, the former Geraldine Mullery from Cavan town, daughter, Lisa, brother Patrick (Ennis) sisters, Ann (London) Mary (Ennis) and Una (Australia), nephews (especially Pat), nieces, father-in-law, Stan Mullery, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, relatives and many friends. Courtesy of the Clare Champion 6th May 2005 Tweet

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