The Late Tommy Feeney The death has taken place of Tommy Feeney in Hawaii, a well-known former Gaelic footballer with the Wolfe Tones Club, Galway and with his native Ballintubber. For the popular Ballintubber man, the long and interesting journey life began in the village of Cortoon, situated close to the Ballintubber-Partry road. He played football with the local Ballintubber football team for a number of years before moving to Galway where he worked for seven years with McCambridge Merchants. Gaelic football was dear to Tommy's heart, as he continued to play club football with the Galway Club, The Wolfe Tones. At one stage in his football career he graduated to play for a short time with the Galway senior team. As a young man, that enjoyed keeping fit, he often cycled from Galway to his native Ballintubber at weekends. Like many young men at that time, he had an ambition to travel far beyond the horizon to many faraway and interesting places. On that long and fascinating journey through life his first stop was England, where he trained as a plumber. Soon the Ballintubber man was to climb the ladder of success as he enhanced his skills in the plumbing business. In England, he married Ballintubber native, Mary Jennings. However the bright lights of faraway place were beckoning and Tommy followed his dream as he embarked on the long journey to New Zealand to make his new home. The strong link with home was kept alive when his daughter, Cathy married Ballintubber native, Padraic Geraghty, son of Peter and Mary Kate Geraghty and they made their home in Hawaii. Following the death of his wife, Tommy bid farewell to his adopted country of New Zealand and went to live with his daughter, Cathy and her husband, Padraic Geraghty in Hawaii. Just before Christmas 2002, at the age of 90 years Tommy, accompanied by his daughter and son in law, boarded a long haul flight from Hawaii to Ireland. Once home in his native place, he was delighted to meet his brother, Eddie Feeney, Castlebar for the first time in 64 years and all of his nephews and nieces and many friends in the Ballinatubber locality. His visit to Ballintubber was a nostalgic one as he walked along the roads he frequented as a child growing up and talked to the sons and daughters of the men and women he grew up with. He was delighted to see all the men and women he grew up with. He was delighted to see all of the newly built homes and the improved stretches of roads leading into the Patrician village. During his visit to his native place the sprightly Ballintubber man enjoyed a long evening walk from Cortoon to Partry. For the Ballintubber man who left his native place in the 1930s, life had changed. The circle was complete, as Tommy returned to sunny Hawaii bringing with his memories of a warm welcome to his native place. Now Tommy has crossed the threshold of life into eternal life, he has left behind many cherished memories for those who knew him. Memories of him lining out with his native Ballintubber team, of his reunion after 64 years with his brother, Eddie in December 2002 and as a great family who loved his native parish of Ballintubber. To his daughter, son-in-law, brother and his many other relatives and friends both here and at home, sincerest sympathies. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Courtesy of the Mayo News 14th January 2005 Tweet

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