Thomas Loftus
Encyclopedia
Tom Loftus was a former Chairman of the Leinster Provincial Council
of the Gaelic Athletic Association
(GAA).
town, Co. Roscommon in 1917. His grandmother ran a dispensary
and his father was a journalist with the Roscommon Herald. Tom moved to Dublin in 1937 and married Ann Mooney in 1951. For most of his life he worked at the Electricity Supply Board
(ESB) in the city.
from 1972–1974, was chairman of the Dublin County Board
and was a longstanding member of the organisation. He stood twice for the position of President of the GAA
, but was twice pipped at the post, once by his namesake Dr. Michael Loftus.
During his period as Dublin Chairman, the team won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
. In 1964, became the first chairman to bring his team to the USA, to raise awareness of the GAA in America.
In 1965, Loftus was a member of the first GAA committee to examine Rule 27, which prevented members from playing, attending or promoting other sports. The rule was originally passed in 1902 and was intended as a way of safeguarding the GAA from the influence of non-gaelic sports, but ultimately resulted in the untimely demise of several promising careers within the organisation. The rule read "Any member of the association who plays or encourages in any way rugby, football, hockey or any imported game which is calculated to injuriously affect our national pastimes, is suspended from the association." The first GAA committee failed to make any recommendations and it wasn't until 1971 that the ban was removed from the rulebooks.
Tom was also well known in Dublin for his weekly column in the Evening Press
which he wrote throughout the 1960s and 70s.
Tom retired from his post in the ESB in 1977 and quickly became an advocate of junior level GAA, organising and coaching teams in Co. Wicklow, particularly Bray Emmets and Kilmacud Crokes.
After his retirement, Tom received numerous awards and recognitions of his contribution to the organisation. Until his death in 2011, he was the oldest living former chairman in the Gaelic Athletic Association
against Galway
Team: P. Flynn, L. Hickey, L. Foley, W. Casey, D. McKane, P. Holden, M. Kissane, D. Foley, John Timmons, B. McDonald, M. Whelan, G. Davey, S. Behan, D. Ferguson, N. Fox. Sub: P. Downey.
• 1965 Dublin won the Leinster Senior Football Championship
against Longford
in a Division 2 National Football League game between Dublin and Roscommon, the ball landed on a gate and burst. Play was interrupted for 13 minutes.
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
of the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
(GAA).
Biography
Tom Loftus was born in RoscommonRoscommon
Roscommon is the county town of County Roscommon in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 5,017 . The town is located near the junctions of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.-History:...
town, Co. Roscommon in 1917. His grandmother ran a dispensary
Dispensary
A dispensary is an office in a school, hospital or other organization that dispenses medications and medical supplies. In a traditional dispensary set-up a pharmacist dispenses medication as per prescription or order form....
and his father was a journalist with the Roscommon Herald. Tom moved to Dublin in 1937 and married Ann Mooney in 1951. For most of his life he worked at the Electricity Supply Board
Electricity Supply Board
The Electricity Supply Board , is a semi-state electricity company in Ireland. While historically a monopoly, the ESB now operates as a commercial semi-state concern in a liberalised and competitive market...
(ESB) in the city.
Career
Loftus was chairman of The Leinster CouncilLeinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
from 1972–1974, was chairman of the Dublin County Board
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
and was a longstanding member of the organisation. He stood twice for the position of President of the GAA
Presidents of the Gaelic Athletic Association
The role of President of Gaelic Athletic Association has existed since the foundation of the GAA . The current president of the GAA is Christy Cooney. The role of President involves representing the GAA in Ireland and across the world...
, but was twice pipped at the post, once by his namesake Dr. Michael Loftus.
During his period as Dublin Chairman, the team won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
. In 1964, became the first chairman to bring his team to the USA, to raise awareness of the GAA in America.
In 1965, Loftus was a member of the first GAA committee to examine Rule 27, which prevented members from playing, attending or promoting other sports. The rule was originally passed in 1902 and was intended as a way of safeguarding the GAA from the influence of non-gaelic sports, but ultimately resulted in the untimely demise of several promising careers within the organisation. The rule read "Any member of the association who plays or encourages in any way rugby, football, hockey or any imported game which is calculated to injuriously affect our national pastimes, is suspended from the association." The first GAA committee failed to make any recommendations and it wasn't until 1971 that the ban was removed from the rulebooks.
Tom was also well known in Dublin for his weekly column in the Evening Press
Evening Press
The Evening Press was an Irish newspaper which was printed from 1954 until 1995. It was set up by Éamon de Valera's Irish Press group, and was originally edited by Douglas Gageby...
which he wrote throughout the 1960s and 70s.
Tom retired from his post in the ESB in 1977 and quickly became an advocate of junior level GAA, organising and coaching teams in Co. Wicklow, particularly Bray Emmets and Kilmacud Crokes.
After his retirement, Tom received numerous awards and recognitions of his contribution to the organisation. Until his death in 2011, he was the oldest living former chairman in the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
Successes
• 1963 Dublin won the All Ireland Football FinalAll-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
against Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
Team: P. Flynn, L. Hickey, L. Foley, W. Casey, D. McKane, P. Holden, M. Kissane, D. Foley, John Timmons, B. McDonald, M. Whelan, G. Davey, S. Behan, D. Ferguson, N. Fox. Sub: P. Downey.
• 1965 Dublin won the Leinster Senior Football Championship
Leinster Senior Football Championship
The GAA Leinster Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council and are played during the summer months. The competition involves the counties of...
against Longford
Longford GAA
The Longford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Longford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Longford...
Chairmanships
Trivia
Loftus was present at the only known occasion of a ball bursting during a gaelic football match. On Sunday, November 19, 1960 in KnockcrogheryKnockcroghery
Knockcroghery is a rural village in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located on the N61 road between Athlone and Roscommon town, near Lough Ree on the River Shannon.-Name:...
in a Division 2 National Football League game between Dublin and Roscommon, the ball landed on a gate and burst. Play was interrupted for 13 minutes.