O'Riordain, Tomas
January 12, 2008
The Late Tomás O Riordáin
Hurlers, footballers, a former Taoiseach a Bishop and hundreds of friends turned out to say a final farewell to a Kilmallock man, Tomás O Riordáin three days before Christmas in St Pius Church, Terenure, Dublin. But this was no ordinary Limerick man. In his 79 years, Tomás "Tommy" Ó Riordáin had touched the lives of countless numbers in practically every county in Ireland. Tommy was a passionate GAA man and excelled as a player, referee, administrator and coach. A great man to tell a story or sing a song.
Chairman of the Limerick GAA Supporters Club in Dublin, Eamonn Rea said "although Tommy spent more than 60 years outside of his native county- he never lost his roots and the cause of Limerick was always dear to his heart. I am delighted that the Supporters Club in Dublin was able to honour him last March for his services to the GAA."
He was the son of Sean T. Ó Riordáin an activist (First Galtee Battalion) in the War of Independence who spent time in jail in Warmwood Scrubs, Parkhurst and other English prisons in the lead up to the Truce in 1922. His mother was Josephine. One of his proudest possessions at his home in Templeogue in Dublin was his father's prison cap. One of a family of six, Tom had two brothers John (who predeceased him) and Eamonn, they donned the colours of the Kilmallock club. And on one year - 1945 - Tom played minor, junior and senior (in goals) for the club all at the age of 16. He wore the green and white as a minor hurler in 1946 and as a junior player the following year. On completion of his Leaving Certificate in 1947, he secured a job as a Post Office clerk and took up employment in Boyle, Co. Roscommon, the first of the "3Bs" as he used to say- Boyle, Ballina and Ballinasloe.
In 1948, he was part of the Galway squad that took on Waterford in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Semi Final. He also won a Connacht Junior hurling medal that year before loosing to Limerick in the All-Ireland Semi Final. Life wasn't all about the GAA as in 1951, he married Lily, a Leitrim native and camogie player. Together they had 11 children, all born in Leitrim. His five sons all played with Leitrim. Tommy was among the early coaching pioneers in the GAA and was a member of the GAA's Coaching Council, along with Donie Nealon, Fr. Tommy Maher, Des "Snitchie" Ferguson.
Courtesy of the Limerick Leader
12/1/2008
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