Tom Lang was a highly respected member of the An Garda Siochana for thirty-six years, serving with distinction in a number of areas throughout the region. He was also a noted Gaelic footballer who played at intercounty level with Sligo, Roscommon and Meath.
Born in Ballivor, County Meath in November 1938, Tom attended Kilmessan National School, Meath before his late father, Michael, a Sligo native, also a member of An Garda Siochana, moved to Leitrim in 1949 and he finished his national school education in Drumshanbo. He attended secondary school in Carrick-on-Shannon. His father them moved to Sligo in 1954, serving briefly in Aclare before retiring to live in Doorly Park, Sligo town, later Circular Road.
Tom Lang entered the Gardai as a twenty year old in the Dublin Phoenix Park depot in August 1959 and secured some of the highest marks in the country in his entrance examination. He passed out in 1960, again receiving top marks and being highly commended in his final examinations. First stationed in Boyle, County Roscommon, he later moved to Keadue and took his Sergeant's examination while based there. He became Sergeant in Ballinafad, County Sligo in 1967 before making the relatively short journey to Ballyfarnon in 1970. Tom married Kathleen in 1971 and he spent a short time on duty in Kiltyclogher. In early 1973 he transferred to Castlebar and remained there until July 1977. He then moved to Dromahair Garda Station until he retired in 1995 and the family moved to Caltragh, Sligo Town in 1997.
In later years, he secured a Bachelor of Business Studies at the I.T. Sligo, gaining first place in each of his four years and also received first class honours in his dissertation on the L.L.M. in Public Law at NUI Galway. He had been accepted for a Doctorate but illness ultimately prevented him pursuing this path.
Tom always retained a great love of the GAA, both Gaelic football and hurling. In 1956 he and his later brother Michael featured on the Sligo minor team which played Leitrim in the Connacht semi-final. Leitrim was tipped by many to go all the way to the All-Ireland title, but a determined Sligo side held them to a draw on a 2-4 to 0-10 scoreline, with a story told that one of the Leitrim players shook Tom Lang's hand at the final whistle in the Markievicz Park and declared "ye won by a point". However, officials thought otherwise and an excellent Leitrim team won the replay on home ground, going to lose unfortunately against Dublin in the All-Ireland final.
Tom also featured on a Sligo junior team which reached the Connacht final and he made his senior debut in 1958 against Meath in Ballymote. During his inter-county playing career he played in a number of positions, being versatile enough to play in the full-back line for Sligo and in the full-forward line for Roscommon as their free taker.
However his favourite position was left-half back, where he played for Sligo and Roscommon, and he was renowned for his speed, high fielding, and ability to kick well with both feet. At club level he also turned out at midfield and played for Craobh Rua (Sligo), St. Ronan's (Ballyfarnon/ Keadue), and was a founder member of Muire Naofa, now St. Mary's, Sligo.
In the era, before collective intercounty training, he regularly trained in the old football field at Circular Road (now the site of Crozon Park) in the eminent company of outstanding footballers from Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Cavan, Donegal and other counties, many of them All-Ireland or Railway Cup medallist. At the latter end of his playing career, Tom also played for Castlebar Mitchells and while in Dromahair he enjoyed a number of notable successes as a coach. In 1986 he guided St. Patrick's Dromahair, to the under-12 and under-14 Leitrim county titles and between 1984 and 1988 juvenile teams from Dromahair contested seven county finals, including three under-14 finals in a row. Also in 1986, the centenary year of football in Killenummery parish (the first GAA club founded in Co. Leitrim), Tom persuaded the Ard-Stiurthéoir of the GAA to allow the young footballers of Dromahair and Drumkeerin to play a challenge match in Croke Park. Tom was well known in Leitrim GAA circles, having served as an officer of Bord na nÓg.
Away from the Gaelic football fields, Tom was a keen badminton player and he started up clubs in Keadue and later in Dromahair. He also participated in athletics, where he competed in running, shot putt and puc fada in the annual Garda Sports events. Tom loved the outdoors and spent a lot of his time gardening and landscaping.
If a machine couldn't do the work, he would do it himself with the same diligence he brought to anything he turned his hands to. His removals and funeral were testimony to the esteem in which he was held and County Board Chairman, Cyril Feehily, attended to pay tribute and respect on behalf of Sligo GAA.
Mr. Lang passed away peacefully at St. James' Hospital, Dublin on February 12th, aged 72 years. He is survived by his wife Kathleen; sons, Michael, Andrew, Vincent and Anthony; daughters, Angela and Yvonne; sister, Moira Hunt (Tubbercurry); brothers, Vincent (Cloonacool) and Andrew (Grange); daughters-in-law, Evelyn and Hazel; his very special grandson, Tomás; relatives, neighbours, many, many friends and former colleagues in An Garda Siochana. Tom was predeceased by his brothers,Michael and Anthony.
His months mind Mass takes place on Saturday March 19th in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo at 10.30am
May he rest in peace.

Courtesy of the Sligo Champion
March 16 2011 Tweet

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