How does one begin to pay tribute to Tom Sheridan? An almost impossible task given the stature of the man.

Tom Sheridan, a giant of moral integrity, a man who, from the time he woke up each morning to going to bed at night, every thought and action motivated by his Christian values, was a man totally incapable of any wrongdoing.

His sole purpose in life was to live, in so far as he could, in accordance with his unswerving Christian faith. His ultimate aim, which we now believe he has achieved, was a union with God in Heaven.

Tom’s life of 74 years included so many notable events, it would be impossible to include them all here. Tom had a lifelong association with the church and clergy of St Patrick’s, Ringsend and the CYMS, now CMWS. Tom was so deeply involved in the CYMS that he once jokingly said in his early years he firmly believed there was no salvation outside the CYMS!

During his earlier years with the CYMS, Tom served in every capacity: Secretary, Propagandist, Vice President and President. Also, Tom was a very capable and much-respected Secretary of the Irish National Executive Council of the CYMS, a post he had to relinquish due to ill-health.

Being a man of foresight, Tom recognised a decline in the national membership of the organisation and he became the prime mover in changing the name from Catholic Young Men’s Society to Catholic Men and Women’s Society. Although not enthusiastically welcomed by all, it was nevertheless generally accepted by a majority that including women members would give the society a new lease of life. Tom would have been happy to see the new signage on the building.

Within the CYMS, apart from his work for the Church, Tom was instrumental in organising many charitable events including his ‘Let the Children Live’ campaign set up in the UK branch to support Colombian street children. Tom and his team raised over €50,000 through church gate collections. This was only one of the charities to which Tom and his team gave support.

Tom had a very active intellect. His favourite relaxation when he had time was listening to classical music, although he was very tolerant of modern music enjoyed by younger people, with whom he always had a great affinity.

In his younger days, Tom won the John McCormack gold medal for essay composition, a very prestigious and sought after award. In recent years, he was awarded the Bene Merenti Medal for long and exceptional service to the Catholic Church. The medal was presented to him by the Papal Nuncio at a ceremony in the Pro-Cathedral. Tom was especially chuffed to receive that!

Over his lifetime, Tom’s main priority was the church. He did trojan work for St Patrick’s, Ringsend and was always at the forefront of everything that was happening. However, Tom’s spirituality was not entirely confined to the church; he took it out onto the street and lived it there too. He had a total conviction that good would ultimately triumph over evil.

But there was something else that made Tom Sheridan special and unique. Not everybody knew that against the background of Tom’s tireless work, he had been plagued by continuous and terrible bouts of depression for 50 years. These had intensified coming up to his death. Although Tom battled bravely against this insidious illness for practically his whole life, he never did manage to overcome it.

It is difficult to accept that Tom has gone but accept it we must. The man who could do no wrong, who could not say ‘no’ is no longer with us. But even in death Tom has left us all a precious legacy. He has left us a blueprint for living, for living the life for which we were created; a life of hope, forgiveness and love of our Christian faith as personified by Tom himself.

Tom Sheridan, you may be gone from us now but your legacy to us remains. With God’s help, may we accept it, value it and try to do it justice during our own lifetimes. May you Rest in Peace.