Tom Dunne

Republicans in Laois were saddened at the passing of Tom Dunne, who died recently in his 88th year.

The respect in which Tom was held was reflected in the numbers that attended his funeral. A large republican guard of honour met the cortege and his Tricolour draped coffin was accompanied from the church in Stradbally and to the cemetery at his native Kilrory for burial.

An oration by Sinn Féin Councillor Brian Stanley covered Tom's lifelong commitment to every aspect of the republican struggle. Brian said that Tom was central to republicanism in the Midlands since the early 1940s, when, already an IRA activist, he was involved in reforming Sinn Féin and the IRA after the difficult hunger strikes, internment and executions of IRA men.

Tom was a practical man who used every opportunity to move the struggle forward, through the border campaign of the '50s and again when help was needed at the end of the 1970s.

Tom was involved in the re-organisation of Sinn Féin in Laois through the 1980s, serving as Treasurer of the Fintan Lalor Cumann.

Tom was an intellectual and well read man who was likely to quote from any revolutionary thinker to drive home an argument. He was an honest, consistent, reliable and diligent man who always used his experience in moving things forward.

He will be missed not only in his community but also by his comrades in the Republican Movement. For Tom, no task was too big or too small.

I measc Laochra na nGael a raibh a hanam uasal.