TOM Ronan, 94, of Rocklow, Fethard, Co Tipperary, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 25th at South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel. His life was celebrated at the Holy Trinity Parish Church in Fethard, where people from all walks of Irish equestrian life were represented, with members of the bloodstock, hunting and eventing communities turning out in force.

Born in 1923 in Kildorrery, Co Cork, Tom started his working life in the National Bank in Cork. In those days a job in the bank was a job for life, so there was considerable surprise when Tom decided to leave at the age of 23 and move to South Tipperary and set up a very successful farming operation and agri-business with his brother Louis.

Horses were a constant passion throughout his life, despite his father complaining that “one horse consumed as much grass as five bullocks”. However, Tom became hooked on hunting from an early age, and this was to become a lifelong passion which he shared with his family and has passed down to subsequent generations.

Shortly after moving to Tipperary he met his wife Dorothy, to whom he remained devoted for 63 years. Hunting quickly became a shared passion and as a couple they were renowned for their ability to cross country. From an early age, his children Paul, Pamela, Rosemary, Dorothy and Thomas joined them on the hunting field and quickly learned the necessary skills required in order to keep up with their parents.

Although regularly spotted out with neighbouring packs like the Scarteens, Limericks, Kilmogannys and Waterfords, it was with his local pack ‘The Tipps’ that Tom’s influence was truly felt. A member for over 50 years, he knew every bank, field and farm in Tipperary and was always well received by the landowners.

During the nineties, he took on the role of Master alongside his close friend Tim Hyde, after which he handed the mantle of mastership over to his son Paul. He hunted up to his 84th year at which point he reluctantly retired.

Tom also established a successful bloodstock breeding operation at his home in Fethard. He took particular pride in the success of the dam line he established through his foundation broodmare Persian Union, who went on to produce among others Golden Horus, winner of the Gimcrack Stakes and the first stallion to stand in Coolmore. In his early years, he raced a number of fillies in France when it was quite exotic to do so.

In later years Tom was regularly spotted on the Irish eventing circuit, initially following the career of his daughter Dot and then his granddaughters, all of whom competed to international level.

Routinely described by many as ‘a true gentleman’, Tom was hugely respected for his loyalty and fairness, and will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him.

P.R.