Cody, Tom
August 05, 2005
The Late Tom Cody
Tom Cody, my good friend from Earlsgrove died recently, May he rest in peace.
In our lives we are sometimes lucky enough to encounter people whom we feel it is a privilege and an honour to know and to call our friend. For me, Tom was certainly one of those.
I feel that I always, knew the Cody's of Earlsgrove. My late father always said that we were related through my great grandmother the celebrated Polly Cody. Be that as it may I would certainly be very happy to be related to the Cody family. As a child I remember that Tom's father the late Michael (Mickel) Cody always made us very welcome to shoot on his lands in Earlsgrove. There was only one stipulation - you could not shoot a hare. Ned Cody kept greyhounds.!
So I knew all the Codys- Tom, Ned, Dick, Christy and Maureen, but Tom was the one I especially knew. As a youngester in the forties I remember him as a hurler of note with Grennan Rovers. He usually played at full forward and I have one very clear memory of him scoring a great goal at the Castle end down in Grennan.
To us young lads, these men were giants and Tom in particular always made time to talk to us and have a laugh. He was a real hero of ours. Tom's love of hurling continued right up to the end. He loved to chat about the exploits of the local teams and of course Kilkenny. He looked forward to visits from Henry so much and he was never let down.
Tom was also a great athlete. He wore the blue singlet of Thomastown A.C. with distinction for many years and he won many trophies. Among his club mates at the time was his near neighbour Tom Byrne and rising young stars such as Willie and Paddy O'Keeffe.
Tom was a very social man. He loved to dance and was a regular patron of the local popular 'Dance Boards' of that time in Ballyhale, Knocktopher and Sheepstown.
In 1962 he married Margaret 'Peg' Doyle of Bawnskeha. They had four children- Michael, Larry, Mary and Tommy. They are four lovely people which is only to be expected being the children of Tom and Peg Cody. When the children started school I got to know Tom and Peg even better. They were great parents who gave the school wonderful support.
For years I met Tom, and sometimes ned on the road almost every morning as he turned his cows out to grass after milking. I'd roll down the window and we'd share a joke or a bit of news. They were good times and Tom invariably shook his stick at me as I moved away. He once told me a story of another driver he shook his stick at but more of that later.
Tom unfortunately was to suffer great loss in his life. His beloved wife, Ped, died at an early age and his brother Ned died unexpectedly. Tom never really recovered from these two terrible blows although he always tried to be his usual good humoured jovial self.
Tom farmed for many years at Earlsgrove. He was well known and respected in farming circles. he was especially involved in the dairy industry and for many years he was a member of Ballyhale Co-Operative Society Committee.
In later years, Tom was to suffer a great dal of illhealth. But, again typical of the man, he faced this with fortitude and dignity and was an inspiration to all. At this time I still met him regularly at the Day Care Centre in Thomastown.
At some stage of the poetry session we would always seek each other out for a chat. I was moved to write the enclosed poem about this wonderful man and have added the last verse since his death.
This then was the Tom Cody I knew, a great neighbour, a loyal friend, a loving father, a devoted husband, a lovely person, a true Christian.
His remains were removed from his home to Earlsgrove to the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Knocktopher where the members of the Ballyhale Co-Operative Society formed a guard of honour. The following morning Mass was celebrated by Fr Peter Kehoe, O. Carm. PP, Ballyhale.
Also present was Most Rev Dr Laurence Foristal, Bishop of Ossory, Msgr Paul Fitzgerald PP Thomastown and Msgr James Brennan, Ballyhale. Interment took place in Knocktopher Abbey Graveyard. There was a huge attendance on both days.
Tom is survived by his sons Michael, Larry and Tommy daughter Mary; son-in-law Pat, daughters-in-law Alison, Helena and Patricia; grandchildren; brothers Dick and Christy; sister Maureen; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law and extended family.
In the following poem the little story of the passing motorist was related to me by Tom. So it must be true. I know you liked the poem Tom.
Tom
For forty years I cycled or drove
Along the road by Earlsgrove
And as I went my merry way
I met Tom almost every day
Each morning then as I would pass
Tom's cows were heading out to grass
In discarry along the road
While close behind their master strode.
To Tom in jest, I'd let a shout
"Will you get your bloomin finger out
I cannot sit here like a fool
Those cows will keep me late for school"
Tom then would smile and so would Ned
He'd raise his stick above his head
And this is what I hear him say
"Howya Master? Lovely Day!"
But once a tourist passing by
Gazed at Tom with angry eye
'Move those cattle - that's the chappie
Jump to it man- make it snappy"
"By God said Tom "I looked at him
He had two chances - none and slim
I raised the stick above me head
He thought that I would strick him dead"
This stranger who had thought to meddle
Applied his foot to the gas pedal
And as he fled with mighty thrust
Tom Cody's sides were fit to burst
The stranger he could not have known
The though he used a testy tone
He'd met a man of temper mild
Who would not think to harm a child
We've left that road now, Tom and I
No longer wave as we pass by
But as the centre I can relate
We meet each Thursday and 'twas great.
God rest you, Tom, your race is run
Famed Earlsgrove's most famous son
Now you are joined with Peg and Ned
In heaven where God prepared your bed
Ar dhis laimh De go raibh d'anam uasal, Tom a chara.
Courtesy of the Kilkenny People
5th August 2005
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