FOLLOWERS of the East Galway Foxhounds were saddened to hear of the passing of Tom Fahy, chairman of the hunt for over 35 seasons. Tom was that symbol of stability that so many clubs would envy, as he was respected not alone in his club, but in the wider community. Tom was an exceptional person that allowed the hunt to function so effortlessly over his tenure as chairman. The amount of work that he did behind the scenes is immeasurable.

Being a well-known farmer and sheep dealer in East Galway, there wasn’t a farmer or a farm that he did not know. He was always sensitive to the ways of farming life as he knew first-hand the challenges that the farming community are faced with especially in extreme weather conditions. His enthusiasm for hunting extended to his sons and grandchildren as they are all accomplished riders.

He was one of the founding members of the Roscommon Harriers. It was a proud day for Tom to cut the ribbon of the new East Galway kennels in 2014 when senior master Joe Cavanagh, who designed and built the ultra-modern kennels, handed over the keys.

Tom got into hunting a little later in life. One day the hunt was coming down the road and Tom, who was with his brother Martin, was asked to hold a horse. Noticing that the owner was slow to reappear, Tom mounted the horse and took off hunting, and from that day he never looked back! Although he hunted other horses like George, his special horse was Monty now 27 years of age, that he hunted for 20 seasons much of that leading the followers as field-master.

He encouraged young people to hunt, and always had a kind word for them, and probably as a consequence there are so many top-class young riders in East Galway including National, European showjumping champions and a World Eventing Team silver medallist.

Tom has been described frequently as a gentleman, a spiritual man, loyal to his roots, caring, principled, honest, and personable.

Honorary treasurer Marie Dunne described Tom as: ‘The backbone of the hunt. He lived for it and it was not unusual to get a phone call any time day or night if he had an idea he wanted to explore. He was at the heart of everything, kept meetings tight and always had a prepared agenda. A teetotaller all his life, nothing gave him more pleasure than dancing away the night at the annual hunt ball. He loved planning the children’s meet, and had time for everybody especially children and visitors, and was never in a rush except when he was field-master, known for going from 0-90 in seconds. His catch phrase was ‘Go like Hell!’”

A natural leader

East Galway huntsman Liam McAlinden, who worked closely with Tom for 15 seasons, described Tom as: ‘A gentleman, a father figure and the most loyal man one could work for. He was always in front of me in managing the hunt country, and if problems arose Tom would personally deal with them.”

Senior master Joe Cavanagh, who spent most of his life in the corporate world, said that he had met many chairmen of sometimes very large corporations but remarked: “Tom Fahy was a natural chairman who led by example, and could hold his own at any level, a gentleman, always positive, and a shining example as to how to behave in one’s community and towards his fellow man.”

Tom’s funeral Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Ascension, Gortanumera. The cortege was led by Tom’s hunter Monty and huntsman Liam McAlinden and the East Galway hounds assisted by whippers-in Alan Briscoe and Neville Horsman to Kilcorban Cemetery where the huntsman blew ‘Gone Away’. The cemetery is close to Tom’s family farm and beside a good fox covert that always holds. He is survived by his wife Mary and his sons Tomas, Colm and daughter Elaine, his sister Carmel as well as nieces, nephews, grandchildren, relatives and a wide circle of friends. N.M.