YOU CAN add the names of Limerick’s Tom and Paschal to the list of renowned comedic duos like Laurel and Hardy, The Two Ronnies, and Morecambe and Wise. Tom and Paschal have been reunited in the afterlife following the sad passing of Paschal O’Grady, who brought joy and laughter to the world throughout his 93 years. Paschal, wife Marie and other volunteers of the entertainment group at Milford Care Centre have been cheering up residents for over 20 years. Paschal was still bringing smiles to faces in Milford up to a few weeks ago. The phrase, “Thanks for the laughter” is included in his death notice. Click 'Next' to see a wonderful selection of photos of Tom and Paschal from the Limerick Leader's archives. READ MORE: From Frank McCourt to Mike Finn - works that shaped Limerick's identity Tom O’Donnell and Paschal met in the Scouts in 1945 and forged a friendship through their mutual lust for life and laughter. They first performed their by-now legendary Christmas Crackers show in the Mechanics Institute in 1959 before being booked by Jack Bourke for his City Theatre - a run that would later bring them to stages around the world and national fame. There are countless career highlights - two appearances in Carnegie Hall, one in the Royal Albert Hall in London, a show for four thousand people in Dublin’s Theatre Royal in 1962, an appearance on the first night of Teilifis Eireann in 1961, the longest running comedy show in in Country and Western show, Jamboree, on the station, and a sell-out run for 63,000 people in the City Theatre over six weeks in 1963. Tom and Paschal shared the stage with stars like Val Doonican, Chubby Checker and Buddy Holly. Paschal told the Limerick Leader in an interview in 2013: “They were great times. If we had been even three or four years earlier or later, we might not have gotten in, because it was just that changeover and we were caught between traditional and new showbusiness and had to adapt to that.” Their style of slapstick humour and sketches captured the
'Thanks for the laughter': Paschal of famed Limerick comic duo Tom and Paschal passes away aged 93
