Legendary Kilkenny barman Tom McGrath's passing was confirmed on Monday morning, leaving the entire community in mourning.  SEE BELOW ARTICLE FROM THE KILKENNY PEOPLE, FEBRUARY 2024  When messages start to come in from all over the world to wish you well on your retirement you know you’ve done something right in your working life. That’s the accolade for not one, but two dedicated Kilkenny barmen who bid farewell to their counter and glasses, last weekend. Speedy (Eamonn) and Tom McGrath have been part of the team at the helm of Syd Harkin’s pub on Rose Inn Street for a combined 72 years! As they sat down to reminisce about those years, just before a grand party send-off, it wasn’t surprising to be interrupted by a customer, wishing them well. Decades behind the bar mean the two brothers are not just service providers, they’ve become friends, to some as close as family. “I worked here before Syd arrived, when the Manahans owned the pub,” Speedy was proud to say. In fact, so essential was he to the smooth running of the pub, even then, that when the premises changed hands the new owner was strongly advised to keep the Thomastown man on. That was in 1982, and Speedy went on to work behind the bar for Harkins for another 40 years! He celebrated his 67th birthday last November. It was a twist of fate that he ended up working at the pub. When another barman broke a leg playing rugby, Liam Manahan asked him to cover for about 10 weeks. Then the pub got busy and “he couldn’t let me go!” Tom, also known as Tomser, is 66 and has now dedicated almost half his life to the team at Harkins. He was working part time in another pub when Syd needed a barman and asked Speedy if he could work with his brother. Tom pulled on the Syd Harkin’s shirt for the first time in April 1992 and he was a fixture behind the bar until last Saturday. “We had great years in a great job,” Speedy said, and, Tom added, “good clientele, lovely customers.”They’ve seen some changes over the years, not least whenplaceholder image
Legendary Kilkenny barman Tom McGrath's passing was confirmed on Monday morning, leaving the entire community in mourning.  SEE BELOW ARTICLE FROM THE KILKENNY PEOPLE, FEBRUARY 2024  When messages start to come in from all over the world to wish you well on your retirement you know you’ve done something right in your working life. That’s the accolade for not one, but two dedicated Kilkenny barmen who bid farewell to their counter and glasses, last weekend. Speedy (Eamonn) and Tom McGrath have been part of the team at the helm of Syd Harkin’s pub on Rose Inn Street for a combined 72 years! As they sat down to reminisce about those years, just before a grand party send-off, it wasn’t surprising to be interrupted by a customer, wishing them well. Decades behind the bar mean the two brothers are not just service providers, they’ve become friends, to some as close as family. “I worked here before Syd arrived, when the Manahans owned the pub,” Speedy was proud to say. In fact, so essential was he to the smooth running of the pub, even then, that when the premises changed hands the new owner was strongly advised to keep the Thomastown man on. That was in 1982, and Speedy went on to work behind the bar for Harkins for another 40 years! He celebrated his 67th birthday last November. It was a twist of fate that he ended up working at the pub. When another barman broke a leg playing rugby, Liam Manahan asked him to cover for about 10 weeks. Then the pub got busy and “he couldn’t let me go!” Tom, also known as Tomser, is 66 and has now dedicated almost half his life to the team at Harkins. He was working part time in another pub when Syd needed a barman and asked Speedy if he could work with his brother. Tom pulled on the Syd Harkin’s shirt for the first time in April 1992 and he was a fixture behind the bar until last Saturday. “We had great years in a great job,” Speedy said, and, Tom added, “good clientele, lovely customers.”They’ve seen some changes over the years, not least when

Remembering Tom McGrath: Speedy and Tom bid farewell to Syd Harkin’s pub - Kilkenny Live 2024

Sian Moloughney
By Sian Moloughney

Reporter

Published 24th Feb 2025, 22:33 GMT
Updated 24th Feb 2025, 22:33 GMT

Kilkenny people are remembering Tom McGrath fondly following his sad passing on Monday

David Harkin has worked with the brothers all his life. It’s a family pub and Speedy and Tom ‘are a big part of our family. We’ll be completely lost without them’.Originally from Kilfane, Thomastown, the brothers are from a family of nine boys and three girls, and came into the city for work. Speedy now lives in Loughboy with his wife Catherine and has been easing into retirement over the last year by working on their house.Tom lives in the city, on College Road, but in his retirement he hopes to venture further. He wants to see the counties of Ireland he hasn’t yet visited, with the northern counties top of the list. He said he would also like to see America. The brothers are also looking forward to celebrating a family wedding in April.Speedy said he visited Australia 24 years ago and that was enjoyable but there won’t be any travel during the hurling season! The brothers are both ‘massive hurling fans’.“Our team is the Bennettsbridge hurling club. The whole team comes in here, now and again,” Speedy said. “They’re a nice bunch of lads,” Tom agreed.“We had great years, this was a great pub to work in and a brilliant family to work for,” Speedy said. “That we’re here over 70 years tells its own story.”Tom said it’s 72 years between the two of them, and the secret to their success was ‘we all worked as a team’.FAREWELLThat team hosted a farewell do for the brothers, paced with family, friends and customers, last Sunday night in Syd Harkin’s.Being a barman is in the blood for the brothers. Tom said he will miss being in the pub, but is ready to come back any time they need a hand.Speedy has stepped back in the last year and he says he ‘does and he doesn’t’ miss it. He will still give a hand if needed and even when he’s out himself he can’t pass a table with empty glasses without picking them up and bringing them to the bar! “You’re never finished work when you’re a barman,” he says.

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David Harkin has worked with the brothers all his life. It’s a family pub and Speedy and Tom ‘are a big part of our family. We’ll be completely lost without them’.Originally from Kilfane, Thomastown, the brothers are from a family of nine boys and three girls, and came into the city for work. Speedy now lives in Loughboy with his wife Catherine and has been easing into retirement over the last year by working on their house.Tom lives in the city, on College Road, but in his retirement he hopes to venture further. He wants to see the counties of Ireland he hasn’t yet visited, with the northern counties top of the list. He said he would also like to see America. The brothers are also looking forward to celebrating a family wedding in April.Speedy said he visited Australia 24 years ago and that was enjoyable but there won’t be any travel during the hurling season! The brothers are both ‘massive hurling fans’.“Our team is the Bennettsbridge hurling club. The whole team comes in here, now and again,” Speedy said. “They’re a nice bunch of lads,” Tom agreed.“We had great years, this was a great pub to work in and a brilliant family to work for,” Speedy said. “That we’re here over 70 years tells its own story.”Tom said it’s 72 years between the two of them, and the secret to their success was ‘we all worked as a team’.FAREWELLThat team hosted a farewell do for the brothers, paced with family, friends and customers, last Sunday night in Syd Harkin’s.Being a barman is in the blood for the brothers. Tom said he will miss being in the pub, but is ready to come back any time they need a hand.Speedy has stepped back in the last year and he says he ‘does and he doesn’t’ miss it. He will still give a hand if needed and even when he’s out himself he can’t pass a table with empty glasses without picking them up and bringing them to the bar! “You’re never finished work when you’re a barman,” he says.

Eamonn and Tom McGrath with their sister, Elizabeth Ruth

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Eamonn and Tom McGrath with their sister, Elizabeth Ruth

Brothers Tom and Eamonn McGrath with friends.PICTURE: HARRY REID

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Brothers Tom and Eamonn McGrath with friends.PICTURE: HARRY REID

Derek Dooley with Brother Ignatius and Gerry McGrath.PICTURE: HARRY REID

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Derek Dooley with Brother Ignatius and Gerry McGrath.PICTURE: HARRY REID

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