Tony Herbert R.I.P.
March 07, 2014
Tony Herbert (seen right) with Eamonn Rea and Tommy Cooke on a visit to Croke Park organised by the Limerick Supporters Club in Dublin in 2006.
Article written by Gerry O'Sullivan on the occasion of Tony's 90th birthday in 2010 and published in the Limerick Leader
"He smoked about 100 cigarettes that day". That was the reaction of legendary Limerick and Dublin hurler Tony Herbert when his daughter Carole broke the news that they were throwing a party to celebrate his 90th birthday.
Next to row in behind the idea was Adare's Charlie Chawke who provided the venue at the famous Goat in Goatstown in South Dublin and with the likes of Effin duo Eamonn Rea and Timmy Gilbert in tow, the idea just grew and grew.
Born in Lisnagry in 1920, Tony Herbert is older than the Irish state. Within four months of his birth, as his nephew Turlough told the overflow attendance, the family pub in Sallymount "was burnt to the ground by the Black and Tans".
No surprise then that for most of his life, Tony has had a deep involvement in the GAA and in politics serving as a Fianna Fáil member of Seanad Éireann from 1977 to 1981.
With his beloved Ahane, he won 9 senior championship medals (5 hurling and 4 football) and in 1940, he lined out beside fellow clubman Mick Mackey in Limerick's All-Ireland hurling victory. But following a move to Dublin in 1942 to take up a job with New Ireland Assurance, he joined the famous Faughs club and has remained a member to this day.
He donned the Dub colours for over a decade reaching two unsuccessful All-Ireland finals in 1948 and 1952. However he did manage to win an Oireachtas medal in '48 to go with the one he collected with Limerick in 1939. As a Railway cup hurler with Leinster, he found himself on more than one occasion in the awkward position of playing against his brother Sean who lined out for Munster.
On Saturday last, the Goat Pub was bedecked with the Limerick and Dublin colours and giant photos from Tony's playing days. Among those enjoying the celebrations were Dublin football and hurling legend Kevin Heffernan, current Dublin GAA President Jimmy Gray, former Limerick hurler John Bresnan and All-Ireland winner 1973 Eamonn Rea. The name of Tommy Moore (the Charlie Chawke of his day according to Eamonn Rea!) is synonymous with Faughs having served the club as Chairman for 40 years. Now commemorated on the All-Ireland Club hurling cup, he was well represented by sons Shem and Joe and daughters Maura and Eileen.
Eamonn Rea revealed that before the famous Munster final of 1973 Tony advised him to "raise plenty of dust in the Tipperary square!".
It wasn't only GAA folk who graced the occasion. The game of rugby was represented by Maurice Mortell, capped 9 times for Ireland in 1953-54. Maurice's forebears hail from Effin and he is very proud of the fact that he "won a Munster Senior Cup medal with Bohemians in1958".
Memories were traded with men like Joe Doherty, formerly of Ennis now living in Bray, renewing an acquaintance with Tony after a gap of 50 years.
Naturally Tony's family was there in numbers - including sons Paddy, Fergal and Ciaran as well as daughters Carole and Bríd. Tony's other daughter Maura lives in California. Also in attendance were Tony's sisters-in-law Maureen and Bríd who travelled from Limerick as well as nephews Sean Óg and his wife Marie, Turlough (who gave a great rendition of "Where the Mulcair flows"), Gearóid, Diarmuid, Fr. Tadhg and niece Mary and many more family members.
Charlie Chawke's "aide de camp" Johnny Quilty didn't spare "There is an Isle". Johnny recently sang the same song after the funeral of Tony's great friend Paddy Hickey who was buried in Murroe just two weeks ago. "Limerick you're a Lady" got an airing from Goat staffer Kathryn O'Connell and Athlacca was well represented by Tom Lynch.
Tony's sideboard will be well tested with presents - Paul Stapleton (Oola) made a presentation on behalf of the Limerick Supporters Club; P J Newman made a presentation from Faughs who are celebrating their 125 anniversary this year. The Faughs Chairman remarked that Tony has been part of that club for nearly 70 of those years; Charlie Chawke dug out a vintage bottle of Midleton whiskey and on behalf of Ahane, his nephew Sean Óg handed over a superb portrait of Tony painted by Claire Hartigan.
There was a touching moment when another long-serving Chair of Faughs Mick Clayton told people of Tony's kindness when he presented his wife with one of his cherished medals a number of years ago.
The "birthday boy" took it all in his stride. "It's been a wonderful night and I would like to thank all my friends and family in Dublin and Limerick." said Tony. Tweet
