Limerick sporting and business legend Tom Moran passes away

PIONEERING hotelier and former Limerick GAA sponsor Tom Moran has sadly passed away this Sunday morning.

Mr Moran, a native of Athea and synonymous with the landmark Red Cow Moran Hotel in Dublin, leaves a proud legacy in business and sporting circles. 

Club Limerick Dublin, who shared the sad news on social media, said they were sad to report the passing of a great Limerickman.

"Tom was a very successful businessman and a regular sponsor of Limerick GAA. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Sheila and family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé," they said.

The father-of-seven famously started his career by becoming the youngest licensee in London at just 19 years-of-age. He worked as a pub manager for 10 years before returning to Ireland where he bought two pubs in Limerick. Over time he diversified into the hotel business and Moran Hotels became a household name.

The chain of hotels sponsored the Limerick GAA teams between 1998 and 2003, during which time the U21 hurling team won three consecutive All-Ireland titles.

Due to its Limerick links, the Red Cow Hotel became synonymous with Limerick GAA and is a regular meeting point for supporters before and after games in Croke Park. 

Limerick always remained close to his heart. At one of many awards ceremonies to honour his achievements, Mr Moran said: "I am proud of my continued connection and involvement with the place of my birth, and even though the city has transformed itself since I lived there, the core values of strength, character, respect for hard work, family and community mean as much in the Limerick of today as they did when they formed my own approach to work and to life in the Limerick in which I grew up."

In 2016, Mr Moran was placed in an induced coma after falling in Puerto Banus, Spain. However, he survived in and three years later he abseiled from the top of a nine-storey building to to raise money for St James' Hospital in Dublin, which helped him recover from a near-fatal brain injury.

No funeral arrangements have been announced at this time.

May he rest in peace.

More to follow...