Casey, Tom
December 20, 2013Tom, of Shelmaliere Commons, Wexford and formally Lisnagan, Newtowncashel, passed to his eternal reward on Monday, November 18 following a brave battle against illness. Born on July 27, 1930, Tom was one of seven children born to local farmer Joe Casey and Mary E O'Shaughnessy, Principal Newtowncashel Girls NS. He married general nurse and midwife Dympna McDermott (from Lisnagroagh, Manorhamilton) on August 6, 1953.
From 1950 to '59, Tom was a teacher at Ballymahon boys NS and he served as Principal from '59 to '63. He then went on to work in Naas before returning to Longford and from 1974 to '76 he was Guidance Counsellor at Moyne Community School. He occupied a similar role with Wexford VEC from 1976 to '78 before opening a private consultancy in careers and training and he worked at this up until 1999.
An avid sportsman, he had the honour of captaining St Mel's College to their first Senior All Ireland Senior Colleges senior football title in 1948, capturing the Hogan Cup.
In 1952, Tom was co-founder and secretary of Ballymahon Lawn Tennis Club. The following year he was secretary of Ballymahon GAA club and in 1959, he was the co-founder of Co Longford Primary Schools Athletics Championship under the aegis of INTO. He was the co-founder and secretary of Ballymahon GAA Club and in 1959 he was the co-founder of Co Longford Primary Schools Athletics Championship under the aegis of INTO. He was the co-founder and secretary of Ballymahon Bridge Club and in 1958 he was secretary of the 'Leo Casey Society'. He was also involved as a committee member with the 'Oliver Goldsmith Society.'
Scouts, debating, schools association and marriage counselling were among his many other interests. He was no spectator of life. He threw himself in full tilt, to his interests, his friends and those that he just met along the way.
Beekeeping and wine making would not distract him from discussing those subjects of gravitas, such as politics or religion, but also musing on Irish music or recitations.
People reflect on his warmth of character, his open house, and sometimes garden, to hitchhikers. But around all his interests, at the centre of it all, he wanted to be surrounded by his family and friends.
He had a thirst for knowledge which he loved to share, in all aspects of his life. Despite his failing health, he was driven to document the development of Guidance & Counselling, in his recent book - "The Genesis of Professional Guidance Counselling in Ireland', jointly with his lifelong friend and colleague Tommy Murray. It was his sixth professional publication.
Tom was a very skilful communicator, whether his audience was parents, teachers or teenagers he was capable of grasping the fundamentals of his address and building on these at a pace that held all those present spellbound.
He was highly respected for his honest and sympathetic approach to problem solving in counselling sessions. Among his passions were recitations, music, poetry and literature. He was a life-long lover of nature; he loved to tell stories of the wild animals and birds that visited the environs of his home to feast on the food he provided.
His favourite relaxation was to sit with his family and friends late into the night while he recalled hearing the 'dawn chorus' at sunrise on the summer mornings having slept his 'private' cabin.
Tom was laid to rest in Cashel cemetery, Newtowncashel on Thursday, November 21. Pre deceased by his wife Dympna, sympathy is extended to his sons and daughters Mary, Colette, Bernard, Anna, Paula, Joe, John and Paloma, their partners, Brendan, Jackqueling, Moni, Mark, Amanda and Mauro; his sister Clare, brothers Frank and Joe, his sisters-in-law, his grandchildren, Odhran, Aoife, Jake, Fionn, Daniel, Ailbhe, Rachel and Nicole; his nieces and nephews and all his relatives and friends.
Longford Leader, 20th December 2013 Tweet
