By Eamon Duffy
The recent sad passing of Tom Carolan evoked memories of the many features of his amazing life in which he was famously known for organising and providing all spheres of entertainment and music for over sixty years.
During this time, he teamed up with another Drogheda legend, Eamon Duffy, in the entertainment scene in Drogheda, before Eamon went on to take up a positions with the NCBI (now Vision Ireland) for which he was famous for his fundraising “Blazing Saddles” cycling trips which took participants all over the world. During all of these ventures he was accompanied by his great friend, Tom Carolan, to whom he pays the following tribute:
I first befriended Tom Carolan in 1980 and he became the most honest and trustworthy friend I had throughout my life!
He was the most innovative, creative, and multi-talented genius of a lifetime, absolutely!
I could write a book on my friend, however, now is not the time, as we come to terms with his very sad and untimely passing recently.
Indeed, Tom, I’m sure, would have found me difficult to work with and vice versa, but that’s life, this was overcome by the great respect and close friendship we had for each other and always kept us on the same path like ‘two peas in a pod’.
I first got to meet Tom Carolan through a very close friend of ours, Seamie Briscoe, when they both worked together in W&C Mc Donnell’s, we hit it off straight away.
‘The Weavers’ opened in 1980 to much acclaim and Tom Carolan brought his unbounded musical talent and Big Screen Video expertise (never seen before) to its audience and clientele for over 10 years.
Not alone did he do it every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday night to packed houses for all those years! He was also a very important part of our fantastic annual Festivals and big occasions like ‘Band Aid’ and ‘Live Aid’ and many other Charity projects we ran during those times. Tom Carolan was ‘THE MAN’ who brought all of these events ‘live’ to The Weavers.
He was an expert and knew and loved his music, from The Beatles to his beloved Chris Rea, he had unlimited knowledge & his legacy will forever remain through his videos & manuscript of 70 years of rock & pop music.
Tom Carolan was responsible as much as my wife Alma and I, for the huge, long success of our days in The Weavers. There are many, who still, up to the present time, reminisce on those glory years in the 80’s in West St. with the people barriers, and queues right back down Shop Street to St Peter’s church waiting to gain admission!
Tom Carolan’s greatest memory of those heady days was; having a cup of tea upstairs and chatting at length with our guest, the great soccer hero of the day, George Best!
When I was approached by NCBI (now Vision Ireland) to become their Director of Fundraising, I signed up to a one year contract which lasted for 25 years.
Part of my conditions were, that I worked with my close colleague and great friend, Tom Carolan, who would be a key member of the team going forward and so began the most amazing stage of our lives.
Tom Carolan and I now continued our work and Adventures on a Global scale!
We travelled the World together with myself as the ‘Blazing Saddles’ tour organiser and, Tom Carolan, right there with me, recording every moment on film, his production and post edits were magnificent. We did it all in style and in the process, raised millions through our “Blazing Saddles” charity cycles the Terracotta Ramblers, ‘Hickers’ and The 2FM Blind Austrian Ski Challenge as part of The RTE Gerry Ryan Radio Show!
It was an never ending adventure that went on and on with Tom Carolan filming up ‘Kala Patar’ above the ‘Everest Base Camp’ in Nepal, he was following the footsteps and filming a young blind Irish lad, Robert Dowdall, and his guide, Tony Maguire, all the way while carrying solo heavy film equipment plus a ten battery pack successfully to Everest Base Camp in 1997!
I hope his dear beloved wife, Brenda, children & grandchildren whom he loved dearly, will now see that he was more than a great loving, quiet and kind human being but a true adventurer & Champion fundraiser who was devoted to his family, community in all aspects of his fulfilled life.
What a pleasure it was to share such wonderful times with Tom Carolan’s amazing life.
And finally, my favourite time in later years, was when he was on his ‘Brenda’s Bakery’ round, he would pop into see me and have a cup of tea with the magnificent Brenda’s Apple Tart!
This is my very sincere tribute to my friend, the great Tom Carolan, who gave so much enjoyment to so many during his wonderful life.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.
Tom’s funeral Mass will take place in the church of the Immaculate Conception, Tenure on Tuesday Morning @ 11am.
