Wexford hurling legend Tom Neville was a devoted family man
HURLING followers throughout County Wexford were greatly saddened to learn of the death on Friday, October 19, of Tom Neville, who helped his county to All Ireland glory in the 1960s.
Late of Oak Park, Carlow, Tom, aged 79, passed away peacefully at Aut Even Hospital, Kilkenny, following a year-long battle with illness.
Tom was one of the county’s hurling golden generation, winning two All Irelands, five Leinster medals and one National Hurling League medal.
A native of John’s Hill, Fethard-on-Sea, Tom was only son of Pat and Kitty (née Egan) Neville. He attended Fethard National School where his father was principal. His secondary schooling was in St Peter’s College, Wexford.
Tom quickly came to the attention of the Wexford senior hurling selectors and established himself as an outstanding corner back. As a 21-year-old in 1960 he won the first of five Leinster senior hurling championship medals. In the All-Ireland final of that year Wexford shocked red-hot fa- vourites Tipperary, winning by a convincing 2-15 to 0-11. That year Tom was left corner back and part of a formidable full back line with Nick O’Donnell at full back and John Mitchell in the right corner.
Tipp gained their revenge in 1962 and again defeated the Model County in the final of 1965 when Tom had the distinction of captaining Wexford. He played at right corner back when Wexford came from significant half-time arrears to defeat Tipperary in 1968 and Tom’s final All-Ireland was in 1970 when Wexford fell to Cork.
He won a National Hurling League medal in 1966-1967 when Wexford defeated great Leinster rivals Kilkenny in the final and was holder of three Railway Cup hurling medals with Leinster.
Tom married Annie Dunne from Clonaslee, County Laois, on September 15, 1968, just weeks after he had won his second All-Ireland hurling medal with Wexford. The couple lived in Monacurragh, Blackbog Road, Carlow, until 1978 before moving to Oak Park.
After his playing days Tom continued his involvement with the GAA by going into club and inter-county coaching.
He enjoyed wonderful success with Oulart-The Ballagh, managing them to Wexford SHC success in 1994, 1995 and 1997. And during the same era he brought the purple and gold to two All-Ireland senior hurling finals in 1976 and 1977, when the Cork three-in-a-row team prevailed on both occasions.
There was also coaching of the Barntown and Ferns St Aiden’s clubs in his native Wex- ford. In the GAA’s Centenary Year, Tom coached St Martin’s, the combination of Ballyfoyle, Muckalee and Coon, to their lone Kilkenny senior hurling championship title. Martin’s went to win the All-Ireland Club title of 1985. Tom will be remembered as a modest man about his sporting achievements and as a thorough gentleman who played hard but fair in an era when hurling did not afford the level of protection of the modern game. Saying that Tom was one of the first high-profile inter-county hurlers to adopt the wearing of the protective helmet.
Over the years he graced Croke Park on many occasions and his last visit to ‘Croker’ was on the eve of this year’s All-Ireland football final when the county football and hurling teams, who had won championships ending in eight, were honoured. Tom attended with his great friend Bobby Quinn, a native of Ballykeerogue, near Fethard, another Wexford man long domiciled in Carlow.
Tom greatly enjoyed the occasion and met up with some of the Down football team which defeated Kerry in the All-Ireland football final of 1968.
Tom’s leaves behind countless happy memories.
He reposed at his home in Oak Park which was packed with mourners. Many former hurlers, both friend and foe, called to offer their condolences to the family. Tom’s long-time Wexford corner back colleague arrived on two crutches and was deeply affected by the passing of his former club and county teammate.
Fr Brian Maguire, CC, Carlow received the remains into The Cathedral of the Assumption on Monday morning, where he celebrated Tom’s funeral Mass.
A hurley and a Wexford flag were the sporting symbols of the Fethard man’s life brought forward to the altar, together with a plant, symbolising his working career with Teagasc, from where he retired at the age of 67, while there was also a CD of Andre Rieu, the Dutch violinist and conductor.
Tom was a music-lover, being a keen fan of the ballad era and a particular devotee of The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.
Fr Maguire was assisted in the celebration of Tom’s funeral mass by Monsignor Brendan Byrne, a neighbour and family friend of the Neville family.
The readings, Prayers of the Faithful and bringing forward of the Offertory gifts was by undertaken by family members and friends while the wonderful singing of hymns during Mass was by Louise Delaney with Aoife Kavanagh on violin and Ollie Hennessy on keyboards.
His daughter Mary expressed thanks at the end of Mass to people for their kindness, care and concern towards the family at a time of great loss. She thanked all those who cared for Tom in his final days in Aut Even.
Tom’s brother-in-law Liam Wallace told the congregation: ‘Tom was a dedicated family man, a loving husband and caring father. He cared greatly for all family members and gave generously of his time to family and neigbours whenever required.
He was a highly principled an both as a hurler on the field and in his working life. These human qualities surely counted when he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Teagasc as the workers representative.’
Tom’s remains were borne from the Cathedral to a wonderful violin rendition of Boolavogue. Members of St Martin’s GAA Club, Kilkenny, formed a guard of honour at the receival of the remains were, following Mass, former Wexford hurlers of the 1960 and 1968 All-Ireland successes provided an honour guard.
These included Dan Quigley, captain in 1968, Pat Nolan, Eddie Kelly, Vinny Staples, Jimmy O’Brien. Also present were Ned Wheeler and Ted Morrissey from the 1956 Wexford All-Ireland victory over Cork.
Eddie Keher of Kilkenny and Tipperary’s Michael ‘Babs’ Keating and Len Gaynor were among the crowd in attendance. Eddie and Tom were joint managers of an Irish shinty team in Inverness, Scotland.
Following Mass burial took place in St Manman’s cemetery, Clonaslee, with Fr Tom O’Reilly, PP, St Manman’s being joined by Fr Francis McNamara, PE, Mountmellick in reciting the final prayers at the graveside. Tom is mourned by his wife, Annie; daughter Mary; sisters Stáis Neville, and Kathleen Wallace; brothers-in-law Liam Wallace, John, Tom and Michael Dunne; sisters-in-law Mary Kennedy; Peggy Dowling, Breda Flynn and Cáit Brett; by his nieces; nephews; grandnieces; grandnephews; extended family; neighbours; GAA and former Teagasc work colleagues; kind neighbours and many friends.
May he rest in peace.