The late Tom Clandillon Tom Clandillon from Arklow, who died at the age of 71 years, gave outstanding service to his adopted town as a politician and community activists throughout his lifetime. His professionalism and leadership skills were recognised by the many local organisations and bodies that he served with distinction and he was a Town Councillor for 20 years and also a member of Arklow Harbour Commissioners. In latter years, Tom was almost housebound, the pain he must have suffered at times was always borne with great dignity and fortitude, he never complained, and yet through it all he continued to serve many community based organisations in the role of publicity officer. A native of Laois, he engrossed himself in the life of the town of Arklow and indeed County Wicklow from the time he arrived and with his devoted wife Eileen and three daughters Fiona, Deirdre and Niamh, was a highly respected member of the local community. This week Mr Jimmy Tyrrell, a colleague of Tom Clandillon on the Harbour Board for many years, described Tom as a 'family man, a big man in every sense, a man with a big heart.' Mr Tyrrell delivered a very moving eulogy to Tom Clandillon at the removal of his remains to Arklow Parish Church which was packed with mourners. In the early 1960s Tom Clandillon went to work in London where his sister Joan, a nurse, was working with an Arklow girl, Eileen Tancred, a member of an Arklow seafaring family. Tom was introduced to Eileen and for over 40 years they have been a devoted and happy couple. Tom Clandillon was blessed with a fine singing voice, which made him a very welcome guest indeed at any party occasion - renowned for his yodelling - and in fact they spent their honeymoon in Dublin with the Gaelic League Choir who were singing in The Mansion House. Returning to Arklow from London, Tom Clandillon worked on the construction of the NET fertiliser factory with Irish Enco before finding his true employment home with the ESB. He worked on Turlough Hill Power Station and then with the ESB at the Pigeon House in Dublin until his retirement. Tom Clandillon served some two decades as a Town Councillor in Arklow, including being elected Chairman a number of times. He served 25 years as a member of Arklow Harbour Board and had been chairman and vice-chairman during that time. His counsel and contributions to debate on both public bodies and was deeply valued by his peers. Members of both the Harbour Commissioners and the Town Council paid their heartfelt tributes to their former colleague Tom at meetings since he died suddenly. Local councillors and Harbour Commissioners, national politicians, members of his party Fianna fail, representatives of Arklow Music Festival and Arklow Geraldines provided the guard of honour at his funeral, mirroring in a small way his huge involvement in the life of the town. He was Chairman of many organisations including MERTO, Wicklow VEC and Tidy Towns and President of Arklow Chamber of Commerce and Arklow Lions Club and the AMAI. As the Council's representative, he succeeded in getting the AMAI conference to Arklow, not once but twice, which provided a welcome financial and tourism boost to the town at the back end of the season. As chairman of Merto he was the driving force behind the establishment of a Tourist office at Parade Ground. With the Chamber he was involved in the setting up of the Business Centre now under construction at Kilbride. He acted as PRO to Arklow Music Festival and the St Patricks Day Parade and he was also involved with the Twinning Association and Ballyraine complex for people with special needs. Tom Clandillon had a great passion and love of all sports, especially the GAA. He played football in London as well as this country, was a good commentator on GAA affairs. He was a referee and even officiated at matches in Croke Park. Jimmy Tyrrell observed: 'Some of the 'clashes of the ash' were mild compared to some of the political battles he was to encounter in life.' In rugby, he was a winner of a Provincial Towns Cup medal. He was captain and President of Arklow Golf Club. Tom would not have been able to achieve so much in public life without the support of his wife Eileen and family. During the past four years after his serious operation, he enjoyed the huge caring support of his family, the two nurses in the family doing a remarkable job indeed. In return, Tom Clandillon was devoted to Eileen and his family throughout his life and in latter years he especially enjoyed the company of his grandchildren. His remains were interred in Arklow Cemetary after Requiem Mass. The death of Tom Clandillon has left a huge void in all our lives but he is especially missed by his wife Eileen; daughters Fiona Cottam, Kent, England, Deirdre Breslin and Niamh Mills, both Arklow; brother Seamus, Dublin; sisters Joan (Doncaster), Maureen (Athy) and Margaret (Dublin); sons-in-law John Cottam, Tony Breslin and Joe Mills; sister-in-law Mrs Mary Tancred and Sheila Tancred and Niamh Clandillon; brothers-in-law Mick Murphy, Mick Ryan, Eddie Hearns; and six grandchildren Ashleigh, Stewart, Conor, Sean Caoimhe and Daragh. Courtesy of the Wicklow People June 2004 Tweet

Most Read Stories