Limerick historian laid to rest on anniversary of ambush he researched

HISTORIAN Tom Toomey was laid to rest in Bunratty cemetery this Wednesday after his funeral Mass in Monaleen church following his unexpected passing over the weekend.

A gravestone will be erected in time but a monument to Mr Toomey already exists - his book The War of Independence in Limerick, 1912-1921. Fittingly, the great historian went to his final resting place on the 103rd anniversary of the Shraharla Ambush which Tom had researched at length. Eight men died in the space of 24 hours on May 1, 1921.

Tom Holmes, president of Murroe Historical Society, said Mr Toomey, who was aged in his 70s, is a massive loss to his family and a massive loss to his historical family.

Mr Holmes said Mr Toomey, of Castletroy and formerly of Cappoquin, Co Waterford, was a perfectionist.

“His work was extremely well-researched - he went to all the sites, met all the older people who had information, he never assumed anything, he had to get to the very source or else he didn't even consider worth writing it.

“He was a great friend to us. He gave us several great talks, and anything we ever asked him to do, he was more than willing and obliging,” said Mr Holmes, who described him as a good listener. 

“Good listeners always make good writers,” said Mr Holmes, who was one of the men digging Mr Toomey’s grave when he was contacted by Limerick Live.

He said Mr Toomey was a humble man who was very encouraging to those interested in history.

“We were all his  students, as they say, or something,” said Mr Holmes.

Another Tom who knew Mr Toomey very well is fellow distinguished historian, Tom Donovan, editor of the Old Limerick Journal. They were currently working on a book together on old fairs in Limerick and had a lot of research done on it.

“I was only talking to him on Friday night about the match (Limerick v Tipperary). It was an awful shock. We often spoke two / three times a day. I’m going to miss the phone calls,” said Mr Donovan, who is originally from Glin and living in Clarina.

He proofread Mr Toomey’s acclaimed book on the War of Independence.

“I was in an antique book shop in Dublin and there was a copy of it there. I said to my wife, ‘Look, what I've got’. The shop owner stood up and said, ‘That’s how a history book should be written’. I told Tom and he was chuffed.

“He had interviewed people on the war 30/40 years ago and kept it. That is history that would never have been preserved only for Tom,” said Mr Donovan.

He said that he got a phone call out of the blue on Saturday morning from a PHD student asking about something in Mr Toomey’s tome.

“He was shocked when I told him Tom had passed away but that will tell you how important his book. His legacy lives on,” said Mr Donovan, who also spoke of Mr Toomey’s passion for sport. He had actually been giving out about Peter Casey being named on the substitutes bench on Friday night in their last phone call.

Cllr John Egan went to school with Mr Toomey in CBS Sexton Street.

“I knew him very well. He was a brilliant historian who was very balanced on the Civil War. He was a very mild-mannered man and a thorough gentleman,” said Cllr Egan.

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Many tributes have been paid to Mr Toomey on social media, including from South Liberties who he had lined out with in his youth.

“Tom always remained a great friend of our club and his field of expertise ranged from all things GAA, to his lifelong dedication to researching the revolutionary period in the Limerick area.

“Among his many works are his masterpiece The War of Independence in Limerick (1912-1921), along with Forgotten Dreams (the biography of Major Ged O’Dwyer) and An antique and Storied Land (a history of the parish of Donoughmore co-written with the late Harry Greensmyth).

“Tom was also a central figure in Limerick GAA’s centenary commemoration of Limerick's 1921 All-Ireland championship win and the curfew murders of Mayors Clancy and O'Callaghan. Our sincerest condolences to his wife, family and numerous friends,” reads the post.

Mr Toomey is mourned by his beloved wife Kathleen, dearly loved children Eimear, Michael and Elaine, cherished granddaughter Cara, sons-in-law Andrew and Conor, daughter-in-law Jennifer, sisters Elizabeth and Mary, nieces Susan and Mary Ellen, grandnephew Dylan, relatives and friends.

His family have kindly asked for donations, if desired, to the Irish Heart Foundation.

May he rest in peace.