Johnston, Tom
July 11, 2012The late Tom Johnston
1957-2012
It was with profound sadness that Killorglin and neighbouring Mid Kerry communities learned of the untimely death of Tom Johnston on Saturday morning, June 30.
Tom, after a two year battle with cancer, which he bore with a positive attitude, great dignity, courage and endurance, sadly passed away peacefully at the young age of 54 at the Bons Secours Hospital, Cork surrounded by his loving family.
Tom was the eldest son in a family of five, born to parents Margaret and Cormac of Dungeel Lower. He was pre-deceased by his dad Cormac in 2006. He has two brothers Mick and Jim and two sisters Mary and Christine.
Tom's primary education began in Dungeel National School and the community of friends that he had made stayed with him through the years and provided great friendship and support during the difficult times of his illness. On completion of his secondary education in the Intermediate School, Killorglin Tom began his life's work as a farmer on the family farm at Dungeel.
Tom was a progressive dairy farmer and was well known and well respected across the farming community. He loved the outdoors and all it had to offer. He had great experience and knowledge and was an excellent judge of stock. He was always willing to share his experience and knowledge with neighbours and friends.
In the quieter months of the winters for many years Tom worked as a water-keeper for the Tralee Oyster Society in Fenit.
In 1985 Tom married his devoted wife Dolores and settling in Dungeel they were blessed with four beautiful children, Roisin, Cormac, Aoife and Meadhbh. Tom was a devoted family man enjoying nothing more than standing on the sideline watching Cormac and the girls playing football for Laune Rangers or spending his Sundays bringing them to show jumping competitions around the country.
Tom had a great passion for horses and ponies and was always a competent judge of a good animal. For many years he has been instrumental in ensuring that the Killorglin Pony Show took place on the Sunday before Puck every year.
Tom was a true sportsman both on and off the pitch. He played both soccer and football. As a player he is remembered best as a talented, skillful, strong, fearsome opponent who left the game on the pitch and enjoyed having the craic and "hopping ball" with the opposition afterwards.
He played soccer with Callinafercy FC and football with Laune Rangers. He achieved the highest honour of playing with his county in both sports. He won an All Ireland u21 medal in 1977 and played with Kerry Oscar Traynor team in the mid 80's. He had won numerous accolades, medals and trophies during his sporting career but the ones that were most memorable for him were winning the Soccer League and Cup final with Callinafercy FC in 1980 and winning a county championship medal with Laune Rangers in 1989.
On retiring from playing Tom became a selector with the Laune Rangers senior team and minor selector, mentor and trainer and enjoyed many successes with the teams.
Tom's popularity was not due to his many successes but because he was a true character, a man of quick wit, a man who loved to hop a ball for devilment and the craic, a man who loved to tell a story, a lovable good humoured rogue.
The large attendance at both the removal and the funeral mass and the guard of honour that was provided from both clubs bore testament to the great respect and affection and high esteem that he was held within the community and beyond.
Tom's family would like to sincerely thank his exceptionally supportive neighbours, friends and work colleagues of the family, Dr Valerie Collins, doctors and nursing staff of oncology unit Tralee General Hospital, CUH Cork, St James' Dublin, the team and staff of St Bernadette's ward of the Bons Secours Hospital Cork.
The Laune Rangers, Callinafercy Soccer Club and Killorglin Pony Show for providing guards of honour at the removal and the funeral mass, the local Gardai, Gerard and Mary Flynn and family, the Parish Priests Fr Fleming, Fr O'Brien for celebrating a beautiful mass and the participation of so many family members was a wonderful reflection of how much he was loved.
A beautiful and fitting eulogy that captured the essence of her dad was delivered by Roisin and a moving tribute captured in poetry was read by Aoife. The beautiful music at the mass and the graveside was provided by Noel McAuliffe and Leonard Casey who were ably assisted by his nephews Cathal and Fiachra Morrissey. Tom's Month's Mind mass will take place in St James's Church Killorglin on Sunday, July 29 at 9.00am.
He will be greatly missed by his loving wife Dolores, his devoted family, his mother Margaret, uncle Dermot and many great friends and neighbours and will leave a huge void in the lives of many.
A Thomais ni bheidh do leithead ann aris "Slan abhaile, slan go foill.."
Courtesy of The Kerryman, Wednesday, July 11th, 2012. Tweet
