Then & Now: Remembering Tom Nestor

TOM NESTOR was born in the spring of 1936 in Kilquane, Coolcappa, one of ten in a family and from a farming background. He was educated in Coolcappa National School and St Flannan's College Ennis from 1950 to 1954. He began his working career in 1955, first with Shannon Sales and Catering Service and later with an American company in Ennis where he lived with his wife May O'Carroll who he married in 1964, and family.

He was part of the Brendan O'Regan development of Duty Free Shopping at Shannon Airport. His pay was four pounds per week, three free meals per day, subsidised transport and a free suit of clothes once a year. He maintained Brendan never got the credit he deserved for the work he did in building up the Shannon region.

Tom later became self-employed and ran a training and consultancy programme for middle managers until his retirement in 2004. Tom and May moved house from Ennis to Riverstown outside Birr in County Offaly in 2000. It was a return home for May who came from that part of the country. They were closer to their children Aileen, Sinead and Loughlin and their grandchildren who they spent a lot of time with. In retirement Tom played a little golf, restored antique furniture and continued his passion for the written word.

Tom began his writing career in 1964 with two articles about rural Ireland and the travelling way of life which were published in the Manchester Guardian. He began to write short stories, and many were published in the esteemed Blackwood magazine. His published works include three radio plays broadcast by BBC and RTE. Thirty short stories published in Scotland, USA, and Australia. Three novels The Keeper of Absolom's Island in (1999), The Blue Pool (2002), and Talking to Kate (2009). He was a prize winner in the St James short story competition in 1993.

From 1964 to 1998 Tom contributed a weekly column My Life and Times to the Limerick Leader, describing his time growing up on their farm. He shared a page with John B Keane and Mannix Joyce (An Mangaire Sugach) during this time. His interesting reflection gained a wide readership who looked forward to his weekly presentation which covered a wide range of subjects. He donated his work to UL in 2011. He contributed a monthly column in Ireland's Own magazine since 2011. His last story 'The Days Before Christmas' was published on the day he died Friday December 22, 2023.

Tom always credited his mother Catherine for his interest in reading and writing as she would read anything that came into their home when he was growing up. When the evening meal was finished, she would pull the lamp down low from the ceiling and over the table and read until she fell asleep. He loved poetry also and with a poet’s eye he wrote about nature and the landscape. He had no interest in farming, and he was the first in the family and from his parish to attend St Flannan's College Ennis as a boarder. Their house, farm and characters around the locality was later to be his inspiration for his weekly column in the Limerick Leader. He had an uneasy relationship with his father, but in retrospect he credited him as being a great and lovely man, but he didn't have the wit to realise that at the time. In business Tom was a true professional that helped many people to achieve and indeed exceed their goals.

At a young age I started reading Tom Nestor's interesting column as he was from my locality and I from a farming background. I had the pleasure of meeting him on a few occasions at his book launches. He was a very engaging person whose fame rested quietly on his broad shoulders. He put life in Kilquane, which was his Brigadoon (a place that is idyllic, unaffected by time, or remote from reality), out into the wider world. His articles recalled West Limerick Goody, Days of a Shirt a Week, The Sounds of Summer, Tosheen of Lozenges, Holy Water, Rationing, Little Christmas, Pattern Day, Days of Deception, The Eve of May, Mannix's Folly, The Death of Summer, Mysterious McCool, The multi-purpose Ash plant etc.

Tom was a proud Limerick man who loved hurling and their success in recent years gave him enormous joy. He was an exceptional writer and an incredible character who wove into words a world that is only now recalled in his writings and our age group memories. Thanks for the memories and rest in peace.

Green and White
THE latest issue of the Green and White magazine covers the Autumn of 2023 and contains 64 pages. The joint editors are Ciarán Crowe, and Joe Lyons, and it was first published in 1996. This is issue no79 and Cian Lynch and Declan Hannon raising the MacCarthy Cup and Roisín Ambrose are pictured on the front page. The back page features Limerick primary game players in action. A brief look at the contents follows. In the news section Aaron Gillane is shown with his All-Star and Hurler of the Year trophies. The new stand at Mick Neville Park Rathkeale is now open and four new GAA books relating to Limerick are shown. 50 Bliain ag Fás was written by Ciarán Crowe and Joe Lyons, and it celebrates 50 years of Cumann na mBunscol. 1973 - Keeping the Dream Alive book features over four pages.

Róisín Ambrose from the Old Mill club and Limerick ladies captain is featured inside in the question-and-answer file page. It is a very interesting page about one of the top football and camogie players in the county.

Munster wheelchair hurling/camogie club won the All-Ireland again this year to make it three-in-a-row of titles. Joanne Sheehy outlines their achievement, and a photo of the victorious team is shown. Stephen O'Byrnes' article which he read on the Sunday Miscellany programme on Radio 1 on July 23,2023 (morning of the All-Ireland) is published.

PICTURES: Fixer-upper cottage in Limerick comes with big surprise for just €60k

'Charming' roadside property has 'plenty of potential' with cheap price tag

The Lundon Eye recalls the 2023 All-Ireland Hurling Final between Limerick and Kilkenny and includes the team line-outs from the programme. What a Year includes details from Limerick's three trophies won during 2023, the Munster and All-Ireland and National Hurling League. All the statistics from the All-Ireland and league are included. The Fanzone recalls six great moments from Limerick All-Star players and jerseys down the years. Joe Delaney includes an interesting article about the 1996 All-Ireland hurling final.

The current issue is another fine publication, with lots of interesting news, great school photos, puzzles, cartoons, crossword and in of the post to satisfy all readers. The magazine is distributed to all the local primary schools and is also available in certain shops in the city. Continued success to the Green and White magazine, and Ciarán and Joe, with their future publications.