The late Thomas Dowling Tommy Dowling of Killeen, Mountmellick who died September 23 in his ninetieth year was a larger than life character with few equals. The huge gathering of mourners and friends who attended his funeral paid respect to his memory by exchanging story and tales about Tommy's life and times, one as colourful as the next. With modern political comment enslaved to monotonous and carefully scripted political correctness laid down by spindoctors and media gurus, the passing of any colourful character is a loss. The passing of Tommy Dowling is a great loss ant the people of Laois and beyond will miss his highly vocal and always provocative contribution and commentary on the affairs of the nation. Thomas Dowling was born on Good Friday in April of 1913 during the tumultuous events of the Dublin lock-out led by Big Jim Larkin. He was one of eight children in the family of John and Anne Dowling (nee Kelly) of Derrydavy, Mountmellick. Farmer, insurance rep., beet agent, much travelled raconteur he once announced to a large gathering at a public meeting in Mountmellick that "Ireland was the best place on earth to live." He knew this; be thundered from the back of a truck in the square because he had seen "both sides of life, the up and the down" during his travels across Canada as a younger man where he worked as a freight operator for Canadian railways. Tommy, a keen sportsman, raconteur, politician, hunter, commentator was a man of firm views and strong opinions. Stories regarding his exploits and adventures are legion. All bear a common thread of colour, conviction and a steadfastness of view instilling immediate fear in those with whom he disagreed. He was a naturally gifted speaker and storyteller, a true con-conformist with an ever vivacious personality and constitution. He was never known to have lost an argument always enjoying the first word and never missing the last. Verbal jousting with a clever turn of phrase and sharp wit was one of his favourite pursuits over the eight decades. His sporting exploits unusually extended well beyond his native parish. In 1930 he helped Emo to a minor football title. In 1934 he was very much to the fore in forming the Derrydavy club and played a big role as captain when they won the Junior hurling championship at the first attempt. The following year Derrydavy reached the Intermediate final only to be beaten by Portlaoise. In 1939 Tommy Dowling helped Mountmellick Junior Footballers qualify for the County final where they were narrowly beaten by Mountrath having overcome The Heath, Portlaoise and Clonad. Two years later in 1941 he created a record in the Mountmellick club by winning both Junior Football and Hurling titles.The hurlers beat Clonaslee, Raheen, and Ballinakill in the final while the footballers with Tommy Dowling as captain overcame The Heath, Portlaoise, Ballyroan, Kellyville and Ballyfin. They also won the Feis Shield and medals in 1942. The following year saw Tommy Dowling at his notorious best. His Mountmellick club reached the Intermediate football final at O'Moore Park which was played in March 1944. Tommy had spent some time away in England and was not considered as sharp as in former years. Arriving at the dressingroom, boots in hands, hungry for action, he was told that he'd have to settle for a place on the sub's bench. Tommy Dowling was shocked and angry and all hell broke loose. The Heath team had taken to the field and after a few minutes' play he was invited to play for the Heath. Tommy Dowling, the hero of so many games for Mountmellick ran on to the pitch sporting the Black and Amber hoops of the Heath and in a blaze of glory led the Heath to a famous victory over his former team. That same year he won a Senior Hurling medal with Portlaoise. Over the years he played Minor and Senior for Laois, winning fourteen county titles in all. In the early 30's whilst studying in the Southern capital he won a Cork Senior Hurling championship medal with the famous Blackrock club, an honour achieved by very few Laoismen. An active and vocal farmer, he was always to the fore speaking passionately in defence of agriculture and the rural way of life. Leading Laois farmers to march in Dublin Tommy Dowling was in the vanguard at the celebrated farm demonstrations of the 1960's. He had a passion for politics and was a founder member of the Fine Gael party in Laois/Offaly and life president of the Tinnahinch District stretching from Mountmellick to Camross and over the Slieve Blooms to Clonaslee. He rarely missed a Fine Gael meeting either in Mountmellick or nationally and was very much at home addressing a packed Ard Fheis in the Mansion House, Dublin where he advised Dick Mulcahy, James Dillon, Liam Cosgrave and Garret Fitzgerald on how best to run the affairs of the nation. Probably his last public appearance was the Ard Fheis in 2002 in City West. Tommy arrived at the conference in the style of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan waving at the crowd from the comfort of a power operated golf buggy ably assisted by Jim Blanc of St. Vincent's Mountmellick. Inside the conference hall he laughed, joked and posed for photographs with delegates and issued instructions to all and sundry on how to propel the fortunes of the party he cherished and loved. Although clearly in poor health he revelled in the atmosphere of the occasion and was treated to a warm round of applause when Michael Noonan, T.D. personally welcomed Tommy Dowling in the course of the leader's address. To his six sons, John Joe, Tom, Jim, Fran, Kevin and Brian his passing will be the greatest loss. They have lost a proud and devoted father. Laois however has lost on of its best known and colourful characters. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam. Courtesy of the Leinster Express Tweet

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