Obituary: Remembering Waterford's Tomás Walsh (25) of Carriglea and Cheekpoint
The late Tomás Walsh.
The death occurred of 25-year-old Tomás Walsh, Carriglea, Cheekpoint on July 21, 2025, in France after a tragic accident which has touched not alone the entire Cheekpoint, Passage East and Crooke communities and surrounding areas, but Waterford City and beyond it too, and in Irish cycling circles due to him being a member of Comeragh Cycling Club in the city.
His remains arrived home from France on Friday morning, August 8, and they reposed at Russian Side, Cheekpoint that evening. His Requiem Mass took place on Saturday, August 9, in St. Nicholas Church, Faithlegg, in the presence of a huge congregation, with the celebrant being Rev Fr P.J. Breen P.P. assisted by Rev Fr Ned Hassett P.P. Abbeyside/ Ballinroad/Garranbane, a friend of the family.
A guard of honour from Passage Hurling Club and Comeragh Cycling Club were provided as the coffin was brought to the church.
Readings were given by his cousins Jilly and Nell. Prayers of the Faithful were read by Mary, Tómas' Godmother and his cousins Paige, Sarah, Adam, Paul and Adam's wife Laura.
Offertory gifts were brought to the altar by Tomas's dear and lifelong friend Jennifer Connolly.
Sister Geri, a lifelong friend of Tomas' mother Bernie, read the Communion Reflection "Only a whisper away".
Sarah Jane Lavery sang the hymns accompanied by Mark Robinson.
Symbols of his life were brought to his graveside by his great friends Brandon, who brought his cycling jersey and helmet, David brought the grass wheel and Arron brought the collage of boarding passes from Tómás' travels.
The Zach Bryan song "Something in the Orange" was played at the graveside.
Before mass started eulogies were given by Tomás' sister Brona, accompanied by her sister Caoimhe and also his uncle Derek Walsh.
Brona spoke about their early years together as he was the youngest of the three and said from an early age he was a great talker, and when he went to Faithlegg School he made many friends and like all boys got into little pieces of "divilment".
He had chickens and ducks and quails etc in his younger days.
One of his Faithlegg school pals Charlie Dawson and himself sold such things as eggs, kindling and daffodils to passers by. In secondary school in Gaelscoil Phort Lairge he was proud to be an Irish speaker, again making many friends in that school.
Tomás as a child loved his visits to Benvoy Beach, Graiguenamanagh, St Mullins, the Comeraghs, the Hook and Ardmore. He joined Comeragh Cycling Club when 14 years of age and was quite competitive and enjoyed every minute of it, going to races all over Ireland and travelling abroad with his companions.
She said he had a deep faith and three years ago with his father and David Jordan he brought the same drive into farming as he did in cycling. He brought new ideas into farming, sometimes causing consternation to his father at times, but he was a born farmer like his grandfather was, the late Tom Wash.
She said he loved life and his family and his many friends, and that even though he was gone now he would always be remembered by his family until they meet again.
Derek, his uncle, spoke on behalf of his brother Frank and told of his trips to a large farm in West Waterford to learn about AI but not artificial information, stating ask any farmer sitting next to you today and they will tell you what it is.
His visits to West Waterford had its problems because Tomás thought that his father and David Jordan couldn't keep the farm on the road without him. Then before the AI season began here he thought about heading to New Zealand to see how they handled it there and came up with an idea of having a type of electronic device in the cow's belly called a bolus and his herd of cows the only ones in this country to have one but he was fundamentally wrong as all the cows already had one hanging around their necks.
The end result was Tomás became a real AI man and Derek on behalf of his father Frank thanked all who had helped him along the way to become the exceptional man and farmer he was.
In his Homily Fr Breen spoke about Tomás and his days going to school at Faithlegg National School and his classmates electing him in one year as "Student of the Year" with his fun and great gift of mixing with all.
He said his deep faith was exemplified by his great dedication to the Blessed Mother whose Miraculous medal he had on all his cycling bicycles when competing or training, and never leaving home before blessing himself with Holy Water.
He said some will ask and understandably so where was God in France in his time of need and he said God was by his side and guiding him on his way to Heaven as our faith tells us.
He spoke of his trips abroad, mentioning Tasmania in particular where he made many friends, and having a great interest in science and using it on his farm with new ideas from other countries.
He spoke of the fragility of life when unexpected deaths occur, especially of a son or daughter.
He pointed out that since taking up helping his father Frank three years ago to run the farm he brought the same drive that made him a keen cyclist and his great business head so necessary nowadays.
Fr Breen said all he has heard since his untimely death was of his very positive nature, his great social attributes from all who knew him, his trips to the gym and how he was a very reliable man, and that our faith helps us to remember Tomás forever.
With these attributes he said that the good life that he lived and the man that he was, he was well prepared to meet his maker with the help of course of the prayers of his family and friends.
Predeceased by his grandparents Edward and Tom and his aunt Margaret, Tomás is survived by his heartbroken parents Frank and Bernie and his sisters Caoimhe and Bróna, his grandparents Chrissie and Joan, his niece Molly, Caoimhe's partner Paul, his aunts, uncles, cousins and his very many friends, especially those in the Comeragh Cycling Club and all the neighbours in Cheekpoint and Carriglea.
Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
