Teacher Tom was talented hurler in his younger days
LARGE NUMBERS of mourners gathered in St Clement's Church, Cloughbawn, last Thursday to bid a fond farewell to the late Tom Walsh.
Tom sadly passed away last Tuesday, January 26, at his home in Clonleigh, aged 57 years, following a long illness, which he bore with great courage and dignity.
Born and reared in Tominearly, Clonroche, Tom was the son of Kathleen and the late Mikie Walsh, the second eldest of seven boys. He attended Clonroche National School, where he won a Rackard League medal in 1965, alongside his brother Pat.
After secondary school in Enniscorthy CBS, Tom studied Arts in UCD and won a Fitzgibbon Cup Medal with them in 1975. Following this win, he became a member of the Wexford Senior hurling panel. He won a Leinster hurling medal in 1976 and was on the All-Ireland panel that same year.
Tom was a prominent member of the winning Cloughbawn team that won the Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland seven-a-side in 1977 and won an Oireachtas medal with Wexford in 1978. Following in his father's footsteps, he won a County Senior hurling medal with Cloughbawn in 1993.
He was a naturally talented sports person, who also played soccer, squash, handball, racquetball and golf. He was an esteemed member of Cloughbawn GAA Club and worked extremely hard, securing funds for club development, organising handball and squash tournaments and training local hurling and camogie teams.
Tom commenced teaching in Good Counsel College in September 1976 and over the years taught Geography, Maths and Technical Drawing. His love of sport ensured he became a valuable member of the school's PE staff. He trained both junior and senior hurling teams, achieving success at county, provincial and national level and also coached handball. Most popular and well respected among pupils and staff, Tom was a dedicated teacher, giving a lot of his free time to school life and was a consistent friend to all in GCC.
Tom's other interests were gardening and travel and over the years he travelled extensively.
In Enniscorthy, Tom will be remembered for his work in Chivers during the summer months.
Although he never performed on stage, Tom was heavily involved in the local Tops of the Town, being Stage Manager for the shows.
Tom will be remembered by family and friends for his gentle nature, kindness, generosity and loyalty.
The esteem in which Tom was held was reflected in the attendance at his funeral.
His funeral mass was celebrated by Fr John Hennebry, Principal, Good Counsel College, assisted by Fr. Richard Hayes, PP, Cloughbawn, Fr. Robert Maguire CC, Poulpeasty and many other priests.
Guards of honour were formed by Cloughbawn AFC, Cloughbawn GAA club, Cloughbawn Camogie club and the pupils, teachers and staff of Good Counsel College. The Church entrances were fittingly bedecked with the green and white of Cloughbawn and the purple and gold of Wexford.
Tom will be sadly missed by Denise, his mother Kathleen, his six brothers Pat, James, Liam, Michael, Nickey and Martin, relatives and many friends.
May he rest in peace.
