MILITARY FUNERAL FOR WELL-KNOWN NAAS PERSONALITY
Nationalist & Leinster Times 22 March 1968
Death of Mr. Thomas Callaghan
Military funeral for well-known Naas personality
We deeply regret to announce the death of Mr. Thomas (Tony) Callaghan of North Main St., Naas, which has occurred at the Co. Hospital. For a number of years Tony penned the district notes for “The Nationalist & Leinster Times,” and was one of the town’s best-known residents. He had been in indifferent health for some time.
Tony was a member of a family which has had long association with the business and social life of the town, and one which in many spheres has contributed to its advancement. He and other members of the family have had an abiding love of their native place; one of then, Mr. Bill Callaghan, had been extremely active in public life at county and urban levels and has helped to keep Naas in the forefront.
Tony was for over twenty years a member of the Gardai in the Dublin metropolitan area, retiring before reaching the age limit, and in latter years was employed for a period as night-watchman at the factory of Premier Meats Ltd., Sallins.
He was, although then, a very young man, a member of the Naas Company, 1st Batt., Old I.R.A., and figured prominently in all activities in the area. Good-humoured and witty, he loved to recount incidents from the past, and could draw on a vast amount of lore about the town and its people.
Full military honours were accorded at the funeral on Sunday to St. Corban’s Cemetery, Naas, where Rev. Laurence Newman C.C., Naas officiated, assisted by Naas-born Rev. Fr. Cribbin.
The firing party, drawn from 3rd Batt., Curragh Camp, was under Sergt. Dick Rochford, and honours were rendered by army bugler, Pte. Martin Hynes, 3rd Batt. Among the attendance were former Old I.R.A. comrades, as well as representatives of all sections of the town’s business, social, and sporting organisations, members and officials of Kildare Co. Council and the U.D.C.
Present were Gda. Supt. Thos. Corbett and former Gda. Sergt J. Cronin, Naas; Deputy Terry Boylan; Dr. B. O’Donnell, Co. M.O.H. The coffin was draped in the Tri-colour.
The late Mr. Callaghan joined the Gardai in 1926, serving at Kevin St., and Dun Laoghaire. He was a good number of years a familiar figure on point duty at College Green and [O’] Connell St., Dublin.
Chief mourners: Brothers Anthony, St. Michael’s Tce.; William, Co.C., U.D.C., Our Lady’s Place; Kevin, Sarto Rd., Naas; sisters, Miss Brigid Callaghan, England; Miss Josephine Callaghan, Main St., Naas and Mrs. P. Brady, Dublin Road, Naas; Mrs. A. Callaghan, Mrs. W. Callaghan and Mrs. K. Callaghan (sisters-in-law); Mr. P. Brady (brother-in-law); nieces, nephews and relatives.
Councils Sympathy
Naas Urban Council, for the third time in a matter of weeks, adjourned the fortnightly meeting as a mark of respect on the death of a member’s brother.
Proposing the adjournment, chairman, extended sympathy to Cnclr. Bill Callaghan and the Callaghan family on the death of Mr. Tony Callaghan, Naas. He described the late Mr. Callaghan as a very active citizen of Naas, and a great figure about the town.
Mr. Thos. Whyte who seconded the vote, also paid tribute to Mr. Callaghan and the Town Clerk, Mr. J. P. Whyte was associated with the members.
Cnclrs. Gillece, Fitzsimons and Grehan spoke of Mr. Callaghan’s loss as a member of one of the town’s old and respected families, and of his service to his country in the Old I.R.A. and Gardai. Cnclrs. Merrins, Mrs. Healy and Ml. Mulvey were also associated with the condolences.
At Tuesday’s Estimates Meeting of the Kildare Co. Council, Mr. Ml. Cunningham tendered sympathy to Cnclr. Bill Callaghan and the Callaghan family on the death of Mr. Tony Callaghan.
Mr. Cunningham said the late Mr. Callaghan had served the nation very well for a long number of years as a member of the Old I.R.A., and subsequently as a member of the Gardai.
The members stood as a mark of respect and the Co. Manager, on behalf of the officials, was associated with the expression of sympathy.
