Kelly, Tommy
September 25, 2009
In memory of Tommy Kelly
He travelled to Croke Park every year for the Big Match. Those who knew and loved him surely felt his spiritual presence there for the four-in-a-row - a victory that evoked many memories for all his family.
Tommy Kelly was a quiet, gentle and unassuming family man, and so one would think that there would be little or nothing to be said about him. But nothing could be farther from the truth.
Though born in Ferrybank, Tommy was a Thomastown man to the core. He loved sport of all kind, but especially hurling, fishing and swimming, and excelled at all three. It was fitting that he should start his hurling career at Thomastown Boys School, where in 1949 he played on the winning team of the Primary Schools County Final.
As a young lad, Tommy with his brothers and neighbours, one of whom was Ollie Walsh, hurled tin cans up and down Mill Street wearing anything that vaguely resembled hurling jerseys.
He left school at 14, hoping to become an apprentice carpenter to his father, Tommy Snr; but at the time, he was offered a job in Comerford's bakery. He started learning his trade there ad baker and confectioner, though he said the money wasn't as good as his father had to offer.
He emigrated to Manchester in 1954. Having served with the local branch of the FCA and spent two weeks at summer camp, he secured his fare to Manchester from the wages of £23. Twenty-two other young Thomastown men also took the boat. Those 22 young men never forgot that one of them, 19-year-old Tommy Spillane from the Mall, was killed in a fall on a building site in his first week in Manchester. He was an only child.
Tommy Kelly went on to secure a job as a baker and confectioner. Having organised his priorities, he then joined the Harps and Shamrocks GAA Club in Manchester. There were nine Kilkenny men on the team, and a Clare man named Tommy Scully, who later returned to open a shoe repair shop in Kilkenny. Tommy Kelly played centre field and won 38 championship medals during his long hurling career. We are told that he played in his last hurling match at the age of 50, due to the level of his fitness, if not his enthusiasm!
Above all, Tommy was a family man, and ran a successful family business with his wife Alice. He loved life and became part of the scene wherever he happened to be. He served as chairman, vice chairman and president of the Kilkenny Association in Manchester and was a committee member up to the time of his sudden death. He travelled to Croke Park every year for the Big Match. Those who knew and loved him surely felt his spiritual presence there for the four-in-a-row - a victory that evoked many memories for all his family.
His remains were removed to English Martyrs RC Church, with requiem Mass the following day. The huge attendance on both occasions was evidence of the esteem in which Tommy was held. His old team-mates from the Harps and Shamrocks formed a guard of honour while his many friends in the Kilkenny Association were there in full strength to pay their last respects and honour a man who played a key role in keeping the Kilkenny flag flying. His ashes will be taken to Jerpoint Abbey and laid to rest in the family grave.
Sympathy is extended to his wife Alice, who supported him in everything he did; to Tess, Tommy jnr, Philip, Mairead, Debbie, Jackie and grandchildren; to brothers Philip (Thomastown), Paschal (Manchester), Dick (Yorkshire), sister and brother-in-law Moira and Ray Hughes (Thomastown); nieces, nephews, friends and colleagues.
In the words of James Joyce; "He didn't leave Ireland, he took it with him." So, for a man who lived and loved his language and culture, an Irish prayer: May the Heavens be your bed, Tommy agus go dteigh tu slan.
Courtesy of Kilkenny People
September 25th, 2009
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