'Limerick has lost a treasure beyond price' in Tom Moran, mourners are told

PIONEERING Limerick businessman Tom Moran was a "treasure beyond price", mourners at his funeral this Thursday afternoon have heard.

A man who is synonymous with the landmark Red Cow Moran Hotel in Dublin, and a one-time sponsor of the Limerick GAA teams, has been remembered as "brave, intelligent, generous and a great friend".

Mourners came from all over the country - and further afield - to the Church of the Annunciation in Rathfarnham, Dublin, to share their memories of a man who created what was described as a "home away from home" for Limerick people in his hotel at the end of the N7.

The Mass was led by the Very Rev Tony Mullins, the Parish Priest of Abbeyfeale and Athea, who said: "I think we all have a sense of personal loss in our lives. We've lost someone very close to us. But the light of Tom's love, goodness and his inspiring life will live on in you, his family especially, and with all the inspiring memories he leaves us."

Something that has come up a lot in recollections of Tom's life since his sad passing over the weekend was how he never forgot where he was from - despite his business empire stretching cross-channel where he became the youngest licensee in London - and saw him mixing in high circles.

His son, Tommy Jr, who ran the Cricklewood Moran hotel in north-west London, said: "He came to mix with presidents and Taoisigh of Ireland - he counted well-known figures in the world of entertainment, sport and his friends. But he never forgot friends of old. He stayed connected with the people he grew up with. He made time when he came to London to search them out and make sure they were doing OK. Whether someone was at the top of a tree or sitting in a ditch, he had time for them."

Some of his 20 grandchildren - all of whom he treasured dearly - brought symbols of his life to the altar.

Trudy, Noah and Oscar brought a Limerick jersey and a hurley, while Erik brought a small red cow toy - something which of course, needs no explanation!

Ellie brought his car keys - Tom loved driving but his stroke in 2016 forced him off the road.

Meghan presented a pair of runners he wore during his 2012 Tomathon attempt - which saw the businessman walk from Athea to Dublin's Red Cow and raise money for suicide prevention charity Pieta.

A bottle of whiskey was placed by Max, as his granddad loved a tipple now and again.

Beth and Kamen presented photographs of Tom's grandchildren and his beloved wife of over 50 years, Sheila.

Before speaking, Tommy Jr placed a picture of his father below the altar.

He said: "Tom, Tommy, Mr Moran, boss. How you referred to the man we are here to celebrate had a lot to do with when and where you first met him. Was it in Toureen, Athea, Carrigkerry, Tulse Hill, Cricklewood, Limerick or Dublin, the Gaelic Grounds or Croke Park? Was he a carpenter, or a publican, a shopkeeper or a postmaster? He was all these things, and more. My favourite names for him are hubby, Dad, granddad, uncle Tommy, my friend."

Rev Mullins said: "He was a proud Athea man, and the people of Athea take great pride in Tom."

He told mourners how a pall of sadness hangs over the village's national school following his sad passing.

Tom opened the new wing of the school in 2009, and he attended its centenary in 2021 with wife Sheila.

"On one of his more recent visits, he distributed hurleys to each pupil encouraging the game of hurling that meant so much to him. He was eager to ensure the good standard of hurling we had in Limerick would be maintained into future generations. On his last visit to the school in November, he encouraged the sixth class students to never limit their ambitions, and make the best of the opportunities which came their way. It was his philosophy. It's how he lived his life," the priest added.

Indeed, this week in his memory, pupils in the school have held a pyjama party fundraiser, with all the money collected going to Pieta, who Tom had long-supported.

In the last few years, Limerick supporters have mostly left Croke Park with the sweet sense of victory.

But it was not always this way.

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Back in 2007, when Limerick faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final, Rev Mullins recalled how a group of men from West Limerick had stopped off at the Red Cow Moran hotel for lunch and pints ahead of throw-in.

One of them had decided to remain at the Red Cow - as "he felt the Guinness was better there then it would be in Croke Park."

Rev Mullins explained how he asked to be picked up en-route home from GAA headquarters.

"It was a bad old day for Limerick - we lost. The lads who were to bring this chap back were so disappointed, they forgot to collect him at the Red Cow. They were in Portlaoise when they thought of him. They phoned him, and the language he used wouldn't be appropriate for this gathering," he recalled.

However, the man left behind was confident that "Tommy will look after me".

And that's how it was.

"He gave him a bed for the night, and took him to Heuston Station the following morning to put him on a train to Limerick. That's Tom Moran - the ordinary man looking out for everyone," the parish priest concluded.

Fittingly, his funeral Mass ended with a rendition of 'Limerick, You're a Lady'.

May Tom rest in heavenly peace.