By John McIlwaine

St Mary’s Church in Cushendall was full to capacity on Thursday for the Requiem Mass of our good friend Tommy Campbell. Hundreds were gathered outside, who could not gain entry, soaking up the pleasant late March sunshine and reminiscing about Tommy’s life. Everyone had a story to tell about days they spent with Tommy, for Tommy was a man of many parts. As someone quipped, ‘He was in everything but the crib’. Maybe it is better counting back through his years of his association with different organisations. At the time of his death he was vice-chairman of Antrim GAA, a position he only took up in December last, but he was involved in his own club Ruairi Og for many years as a committee member, team mentor and player and actually played hurling for a season for Glenariffe Oisins many years ago. He played Gaelic Football for Con Magees Glenravel in the late seventies / early eighties, featuring on the Senior Reserve team with his fellow Cushendall man and brother in law, Andy McAlister. Maybe not the most talented duo to wear the green and white of the Con Magees but always solid and dependable. His widow Joan summed it up pretty well for me at the wake. “Tommy wasn’t a great player but our Andrew was even worse”

Tommy was also a valued playing member of Armoy Rugby Club, a second row forward in the early eighties who made many great friend through his love of rugby and is was great to see his old friend and team-mate Tom Christie (Mr Armoy Rugby) there in the church to say his farewells. He was a lifelong member of Cushendall Golf Club and had the honour of being club captain in 2004 and it was fitting that he was buried in his captain’s blazer. He was also a leading member of the Lurig Drama group as well as the Glens Choir with whom he performed for many years and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when they sang ‘The Green Glens of Antrim’ as his coffin was carried from the church. The Ruairi Og players formed a guard of honour outside and after he was laid to rest the Glens Choir finished it all off as the sang the chorus of his favourite song ‘The Dutchman’ which brought a round of spontaneous applause from the mourners.

Tommy was a teacher by profession and spent many years in St Mary’s Limivady and it was a fitting tribute to the high esteem he was held in by the number of teachers and pupils from the school who were in attendance yesterday.

Tommy Campbell had no end of interests, which made him many friends over the years. He had many great qualities but most of all he was a really good man who touched the lives of so many people. The courageous way he faced his fatal illness over the past two months astounded us all.

Any of us who knew him will mourn Tommy Campbell’s passing but his family are the ones who will feel the pain most of all. To his wife Joan, daughters Aine and Ciara, son Eoghan, his brothers Joey and Philip, sisters Mandy, Paula, Rosemary and Sara, plus his dear mother Rosie, (who has now suffered the unspeakable heartbreak of burying a husband and two sons), we offer our sincere condolences.

May the sandy soil of his native Cushendall rest lightly on a good and decent man.