Mayo football was a passion for Tom Byrne, Knock and Sligo

THE book of Ecclesiastes tells us there is ‘a season for all things’. The famous Bible verse has been spoken millions of times over the years. And in the case of this tribute to Tom Byrne, proud son of Knock and his adopted community in Sligo, it is fitting that this should appear in the week that Mayo will contest another All-Ireland football final.

I had hoped to get around to doing a tribute to Tom (pictured) some weeks ago after his passing but something I can’t explain kept saying ‘hold this for the week of the All-Ireland’. Tom was such a passionate Mayo supporter and travelled the country to league and championship games. It was always a joy to meet up with the man from Knock, just over three miles from my home village in Cloonmore. The stamp of Mayo was grafted on his heart.

The Byrne family have been at the heart of the community life of Knock for many decades. Tom’s father and mother, John Joe and Julia, and the Byrne family, pioneered so much of what Knock has provided to the millions of visitors and pilgrims to the village down through the years.

They have known the mountains and valleys of this lovely Mayo village that has an international outreach as one of the best known Marian Shrines in Ireland and Europe. Their shops have welcomed so many people all down the years with the hospitality that is at the heart of the spirit of Mayo.

They also had to cope with the tragedy that befell the parish of Knock on July 7, 1980, when 28 year old Garda Henry Byrne (brother of Tom) and his neighbour, Detective Garda John Morley from Faughill, Knock, were gunned down at Shannon’s Cross near Loughglynn, by raiders trying to escape after a robbery at the Bank of Ireland in Ballaghaderreen.

Tom attended St Jarlath’s College in Tuam where he made lifelong friends and later graduated as a teacher, taking up an appointment in Summerhill College in Sligo, where he endeared himself to so many students.

Tom and his wife Ann ran the Dun Maeve Hotel in Ballisodare for several years and it was very much at the heart of the local community. Those were also the days of the famous Ballisodare Folk Festival that attracted throngs to the area and had a very loyal promotion man in Tommy Gorman of the Western Journal and Sligo Journal with whom I had the privilege of working with for two years before he left for RTÉ.

Many lovely tributes were paid to Tom Byrne in the aftermath of his passing. Adrian Leddy, Leitrim, said he learned of Tom’s passing with great sadness. “He was a most enjoyable, obliging, generous and kind person. I got to know Tom very well when we had the Sligo IFA meetings in the Dun Maeve Hotel and many were the long nights we spent chatting after a meeting.

“I always loved meeting his late brother Dominick and himself at Mayo games all over the country and we had some fun.”

Brian and Eithne Curran, Ballincar, Sligo, remembered Tom as a respected and valued teaching colleague in Summerhill College.

Caroline Flynn Keaney, Ballisodare and Manorhamilton, commented: “I worked for Tom in the 1990's in The Dun Maeve. It was the hub of the community and it was a pleasure to work for Tom, a gentleman, an educator and a character. Great memories shared in Ballisodare where he was one of the locals among us. I will never forget his kindness and his sense of humour.”

Fearghal O’Boyle (Bridge Ireland) reflected on Tom’s great fondness for the game of Bridge: “His bridge family from all over the country has fond memories of his jovial and friendly personality. He always had a good tale to tell. When Covid struck, Tom took to online Bridge like a duck to water and made even more friends, rarely missing a nightly game. We will miss him.”

Tom’s Requiem Mass was celebrated in Sligo Cathedral with interment afterwards in St Patrick’s cemetery, Scarden.

Tom, who was predeceased by his brothers Dominick, Henry and Eamon, and baby granddaughter Carla, will be greatly missed by his wife Ann (née Hopper) and their family, Thomas, Caroline, Ann-Marie, Jacqueline and Irene, his brothers Bernie and John, sisters Noreen and Margaret, daughter-in-law Anna Faye, sons-in-law Peter Mullan, Gary Burns, Kevin Mellett and John Fleming, grandchildren Ronan, Elena, Brian, Art, Olive, Ethan, Leila, Noah, Bonnie, Bria and Frank, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

“Now boys pull together in all kinds of weather

Don’t show the white feather wherever you go

Be like a brother and help one another

Like true hearted men from the County Mayo”