Published: Wednesday, 23rd December, 2009 5:00pm

Mr. Tom Hopkins

A loyal and generous member of the community

Mr. Tom (TP) Hopkins died on November 28 in Cavan General Hospital. He was a retired garda sergeant last stationed in Bailieboro and well known and popular in the Cavan/Monaghan Garda Division as well as in his own locality. Tom was from Foxford, Co. Mayo and his first posting as a garda was to Bailieboro, in the late 1950s. He was subsequently posted to Swanlinbar then Kingscourt, from where he was promoted to sergeant and headed to the village of Kerrykeel on the shores of Mulroy Bay, Co. Donegal. Following his service there he came back to Cavan and was stationed in Mullagh. His final move was to Bailieboro once more, from where he retired in 1985.

Tom was a diligent, conscientious and well respected member of An Garda Síochána. He was devoted to his job and to doing it to the utmost of his ability; it was something he enjoyed immensely. He was a great sporting person. He participated in handball while stationed in Kingscourt and was a dedicated follower and supporter of the GAA teams and athletic club.

Greyhound racing and horse racing were other passions at one time in his life. He was a regular attendee at the weekly whist games in Bailieboro and Kingscourt and travelled to other venues to support various charity games. He was a lifelong Pioneer and blood donor, both of which awarded him gold pins of distinction.

He had a keen interest in music and in his youth could play every instrument in the Foxford Brass and Reed band. His favourite instrument was the violin. He was involved in the St. Vincent de Paul, Red Cross and Community Daycare and was saddened that, due to ill health, he was unable to continue helping in the community.

While Tom had been ill for some time, his death was still unexpected and a shock to his family and the community. As a family man, he only wanted the best for his six children and made many sacrifices to ensure all had the opportunities to achieve their goals in life. He was proud of his children's achievements and looked forward to their regular visits home, some from far flung corners of the world. He particularly loved and enjoyed the company of his five grandchildren, who gave him many enjoyable and entertaining moments.

Attendance at his funeral was testimony to his popularity. It was an occasion he would have been proud to be a part of, from the retired garda and St. Vincent de Paul guard of honour at the removal, to the serving garda escort of the funeral cortege from the church to the cemetery. His family deeply appreciate the involvement of the gardaí, as it was a part of his life that was dear to him.

He is survived by his wife Bernadette and children Noel, Mary, Bernie, Tom, Goretti and Ann; grandchildren Rhona, Conrad, Sarah, Paddy and Jack; four sons-in-law and two daughters-in-law; his sister Sr. Kathleen of the Irish Sisters of Charity in Dublin; and nieces Majella and Carmel in Co. Mayo.

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