Gavin, Tom
August 03, 2010There are some people in life who command instant respect.
One such man was a dairy farmer Tom Gavin from Oak Park, Carlow, who passed away on Tuesday, 27th July at Carlows Sacred Heart Hospital, following a long battle with Parkinsons disease.
Aged 81, Tom was a native of Springlawn, Mountbellew, Co.Galway. As a young man he became a member of the local Moylough branch of the National Farmers Association (NFA) - later the Irish Farmers Association (IFA).
In the early 1960s Tom became deeply involved with the co-op movement, being a founder member of the Mid-West Creamery and elected to its central management committee. He was also elected as an NFA member to the old Beet Growers Association (BGA) - later the Beet and vegetables Growers Association (BGA), and arm of NFA/ IFA.
On moving from the west to Carlow in 1969, Tom was approached by the late Denis McGrath, long-serving Carlow county secretary of NFA. He joined the Bennekerry / Tinryland branch and began attending county executive meetings in 1974. He was elected Carlow vice-chairman before occupying the county executive chair from '77-80'.
The loss of his wife, Bridget (Brid) at the age of 50 in early 1981, meant he was left to rear a large, young family. Brid, whose maiden was also Gavin, came from Trasternagh, Moylough.
It is generally accepted that but for family circumstances, Tom had the intellectual capacity to make a major contribution at national level within IFA. He served for two years as the IFA representative on the Carlow County Committee of Agriculture, where his contributions were always measured, accurate and positive. A progressive dairy farmer, Tom employed the most modern techniques on his Oak Park Dairy Holding. Twenty eight years ago, Tom was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease. But, as with his general approach to life, Tom displayed great stoicism. To him the glass was the glass was always half full, always taking a positive outlook on life and never one to complain. He was a man who enjoyed everyday of his 81 years of life.
As the Parkinsons progressed he was forced to retire from active farming. But as Fr John Cummins said at Toms funeral Mass on Thursday in the Cathedral of the Assumption, he lived a very full life, nothing his participation on a number of Carlow to Cork cycles in aid of the Irish Wheelchair Association.
A very articulate individual, Tom was able to converse on any level - from farming affairs, to the economy, to international affairs, to the fortunes of the Galway hurlers and footballers. He had the common touch.
Tom played football with his native Mountbellew, a club which gave the name the late, great Enda Colleran from the Galway three in a row era of 1964-66. The black and amber jersey of Mountbellew GAA club was laced on Toms coffin.
A proud Galwegian and Irishman, Tom had a great love for his native language, which were reflected in the singing at his funeral mass and the final prayers at the graveside, some of which conducted 'as gaeilge' by Fr Cummins. Tom was proud of his Gold Fainne. Remains were removed to The Cathedral on Wednesday where they were received by Fr Cummins. The attendance included Galway Fine Gael TD, Deputy Paul Connaughton, Shadow spokesman on Health with responsibility for Older People. Burial took place on Thursday after Requiem Mass, to St.Marys cemetery.
Tom is survived by his children Margaret Maddock (Oak Park), Thomas (Switzerland) Gerard ( Oak Park), Enda ( Canada), Edel Gavin ( Duleek, Co.Meath), Fiona Burke (Ballylinan, Co.Laois) and Keith (Palatine, Carlow). Third youngest of the family of eight he is survived by brothers John (Birmingham, England), and Michael (Wicklow), sisters, Maidie Moroney (Dublin), Eva Murphy ( Ballinasloe, Galway ), and Kathleen Thornton ( Galway).
Tom is also mourned by by his 20 grandchildren, one great grandchild, Sean Gavin, his sons-in-law, nephews, nieces, other relatives and his many friends in Carlow and Galway.
Courtesy of the Nationalist
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