Kennedy, Tom 'Gum'
October 05, 2010The death on August 13th of Tom Kennedy, saw another of the club's stalwart called home to the great playing field in the heavens.
'Gum' as he was affectionately known had been steeped in the best traditions of Erin's Own, as his father before him had also been a member of Erins Own. In the early fifties Tom played for Mt. Sion and had won minor and senior championship medals with the rival club. But as Erins Own began to leave the doldrums of the post '48 era behind , Tom returned to the club he truly held dear and he was an excellent addition to Erin's Own, as he was a forward of ability and skill. He played in the county senior Hurling finals of 1954,58,59,60 and 1961 without winning the medal he cherished so much.
When his club finally made the breakthrough in 1962 Tom had hung up his boots and his role was that of selector. He played many times for the Waterford Senior County team without ever commanding a regular place and he played in two very prestigious games in 1960, against the rest of Ireland in Walsh park and against Kilkenny in Wembley Stadium. So in 1963 when Tom with Jim Ware became a selector of the Waterford Senior Team he was well known to many of the players - unfortunately All-Ireland honours did not come Waterford's way that year. His playing days behind him Tom did not ride off into the sunset as many do but remained involved in club affairs as selector and a selector and a member of the club committee.
'Gum' was a plumber by trade and he worked for many years in the private and public sectors, before finally taking up a post as plumbing instructor with Fas in the local centre, though he hankered for the days working with the tools in preference to the class-room. It is not generally known that Tom Kennedy played a major part in having the club first dressing rooms etc. in Poleberry undertaken as a Fas project and he took great pride in the finished work.
On his retirement Tom undertook a major task in compiling a history of Erin's Own a period covering some 80 years and though published in CDRom form, and there is no doubt that with editing and some tweaking his labour of love would be a welcome addition to the many such club histories that have been published.
Tom was a man of culture as evidenced by his regular attendance in the Theatre Royal and his support of the Barrack Street Concert Band who attended his funeral.
Now that Tom has gone to join his beloved daughter Marian and his son-in-law Bart we express our deepest sympathy to his wife Tess, daughter Carol, son-in-law Eamon and his grandchildren on their grevious loss.
Slan Tom Solas na Flaithis Ort.
Courtesy of the Waterford News & Star 5/10/10 Tweet
