The Late Tom
Haughney
Thomas (Tom) Haughney, Governey Square, Graiguecullen Bridge,
Carlow who died at St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny at the age of 87 on
Tuesday August 19, 2003, was an outstanding footballer in his younger
days and captained his native Laois in the Leinster SFC Final of 1943.
Known affectionately as “Busyman’, because of the fact that he was
a man who was always active and busy, Tom Haughney had four primary
aspects to his life - Family, Business, Football and Fishing.
Winner of six Laois SFC medals during the 1930s and 1940s with his
native Graiguecullen, Tom played in two Leinster finals with Laois - in
1940 when The O’Moore County lost 2-7 to 1-7 to Meath in the provincial
final and again in ’43 when as captain he played at corner-forward on
the team which lost to Louth.
Tom won a total of six Laois SFC title with Graiguecullen,
skippering the team of 1942 - the full title of the team was
Graiguecullen Young Ireland’s.
Those county championships were won in 1935, ’38, ’39, ’42, ’44
and ’45.
Tom had gone straight from minor into senior ranks with
Graiguecullen and played at centre forward in the Graigue team of that
golden era when there was a plethora of outstanding footballers within
the club such as Tommy Murphy, Jim Sleator, Mick ’Cutchie’ Haughney, a
cousin of Tom’s who captained Laois to Leinster final victory over
Kildare in 1946, and Des Connolly.
Tom Haughney was noted for his fine fielding and ability to kick
off either foot.
He was born on December 12, 1915 in Church Street, Graiguecullen
and after his school days joined the Volunteers in the early 1930s when,
among his colleagues in ’Dev’s Army’ of that era were Seán Prendergast,
Cox’s Lane and the late Tom Nolan of Bagenalstown who went on to become
a government minister.
He served in the army during that era of peacetime and was
stationed at Kilworth Camp in Co. Cork. He played football with the army
team of the time.
After a brief sojourn in England, Tom set up his own
wholesaling
business, operating from his Graiguecullen home. That was in 1938 and
during the war years, Tom was to provide a lifeline of vital supplies to
many people in counties Carlow, Laois, Kildare, Kilkenny and Wexford. As
a wholesaler, Tom was in a position to obtain supplies of some items
rationed by war such as tobacco, cigarettes, tea and chocolate.
Tom bought his first van from Michael Hennessy of Castledermot and
had a gas producer on the vehicle which allowed him travel during
wartime rationing to Dublin in order to obtain his supply of goods.
People came by train from many areas of surrounding counties, some
bringing suitcases, to accommodate whatever items Tom could give them.
One thing was certain nobody went home empty handed from Tom Haughney.
In this way, he proved a vital service to the small shopkeepers of
Carlow Town and built up a very good relationship with the retail trade
in that way a relationship also based on Tom’s absolute honesty and
integrity.
As time went on, the Haughney wholesale business expanded by dint
of Tom’s hard work and industry. In 1944, the demands of the business
meant he needed a bigger premises so Tom purchased 23 Governey Square
from Ritchie Hearns.
Tom was the first man to introduce bananas to the Carlow area. On
one occasion, he obtained a consignment of dates at the docks in
Waterford only to discover a live snake was an unwanted part of the
delivery. He dealt in sweets, chocolate, fruit and toys supplying a
variety of Christmas toys to shops in his area.
Having worked for some 25 years on his own in the business, Tom
then received help in running the wholesale enterprise from family
members and today his son, Tony is in charge.
Fishing was a life long hobby of Tom’s. He fished the rivers
Barrow, Nore and Slaney for salmon and was considered one of Carlow’s
best salmon fisherman.
His main priority, though always lay with the welfare of his wife,
Clare and their large family. Tom had married Clare Cowley from
Killeshin on September 24, 1943, in St Clare’s Church, Graiguecullen.
Tom’s death came just a month short of their 60th wedding anniversary.
A man of strong Christian values, and a daily Mass goer, Tom had
collected at first Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow, for
many years.
His death marks the passing of a good kind and considerate man.
The remains were removed on Thursday from Carpenters Funeral Home,
Barrack Street, to St Clare’s Church where were received by Fr John
Fingleton CC Graiguecullen- Killeshin.
Fr Fingleton was chief celebrant of the requiem Mass on Friday
morning. In a homily during Mass, Fr Fingleton spoke of Tom as a family
man, businessman and sportsman. The other cleargy present were Holy
Ghost Fathers Aengus and Jack Finucane, who were related to Tom through
the marraige of his daughter Sally.
The Graiguecullen jersey was placed on the coffin, with the Laois
colours sewen onto the jersey.
Burial took place to St Mary’s cemetery, Carlow, with members of
Graiguecullen GFC providing a guard of honour.
Tom is survived by his wife, Clare, family Mary-Clare Fennell (
Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath), Rosemay Haughney (Carlow), Norman
(Graiguecullen), Tony (Governey Square) Sally Finucane (Dublin ),
Jacinta Haughney (Carlow), Paul (United States), John (United States)
and Raymond (United States). He was predeceased by two sons Francis and
Frankie.
Tom is also survived by his brothers, Ned (Pollerton Road, Carlow)
and Charlie ( St Fiaac’s Terrace, Graiguecullen) and sisters Peg Dempsey
(New York) and Nacy O’Rourke (Graiguecullen) as well as by his 10
grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law,
sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives, friends, including many
fellow Gaels.
Courtesy of The Nationalist - September 5th 2003
Source: Hogan-Stand: http://www.hoganstand.com/HomePage.aspx
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