The Chairman of Gorey Town Council, Cllr. Michael D’Arcy, on behalf of the townspeople, is leading  the tributes to Thomas Joseph (Tom) O’Connor, Coislinne, Gorey, who was a staff officer at Wexford County Council for 39 years and served as Town Clerk to Gorey Town Commissioners for 33 years until his well-earned retirement in 1986.

Predeceased by his wife, Elsie, Tom, who was 87 years old, sadly passed away at his residence last Wednesday, causing great loss to his family and large circle of friends.

“Tom O’Connor was a loyal servant to the town of Gorey and its people,” said Cllr. D’Arcy, who added, “He acted as Town Clerk for a long number of years and while I never served with him as a councillor I was constantly in contact with him as Chief Executive of Gorey.”

Cllr. D’Arcy said the people of Gorey have lost a most diligent and hardworking servant and extended his sincere sympathy to his family.

Tom O’Connor was born at Enniscorthy, where his family had a confectionery business in 1926.

In 1951, Tom was appointed the youngest officer in the Civil Defence, a position that he really enjoyed, and in 1953 he became Town Clerk for the Gorey Town Commissioners and also removed to take up residence in the North Wexford town.

He was also acting Town Clerk to Enniscorthy Urban District Council in 1955-’56.

He recalled meeting Senator Edward Kennedy at Gorey’s Market House; pride of place on the wall of his home showed him with President John F. Kennedy at New Ross in 1963, which he described as “a magic occasion”, and he was photographed with ex-US President Dwight D. Eisenhower when he came to Wexford on an exceptionally wet day to honour the memory of John Barry, father of the American Navy.

Deepest sympathy is extended to his sorrowing family. He will be laid to rest in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Gorey, on Saturday.

Full obituary in next week’s edition of THE GOREY ECHO.