Tommy O’Donovan remembered as a pillar of the community who left a lasting legacy of inclusion

DESCRIBED as an ‘extraordinary’ man who built community and inclusion wherever he went, the late Tommy O’Donovan gave everything for his beloved Clonakilty, his community and his loving family.

This was reflected through the large attendance at both his funeral mass in the Church of Immaculate Conception in Clonakilty on Monday and at his removal the previous night.

From setting up a rickshaw bike scheme for patients at the Bushmount Nursing Home to working with Clonakilty Men’s Shed, the 69-year-old devoted his life to improving the lives of others.

His sudden death last Wednesday, just a day after he and his sisters, twin Dena and Therese attended the town’s St Patrick’s Day parade as grand marshals, was a severe blow for his devoted family and everyone who knew him.

At his funeral mass, Fr Tony O’Riordan – a brother-in- law of Tommy – described the dad-of-four as a ‘counsellor, confessor and life coach all in one mediated through a tea pot, a cup of tea and some milk.’

‘O’Donovan’s Hotel is a well spring of nourishment and for many people it’s like a second home. Tom, Therese and Dena have built up much more than a business, they have built a place of warmth, welcome and Tom was integral in this vision and making this a reality,’ said Fr O’Riordan.

He said the impact of Tommy goes far beyond physical nourishment.

‘Tommy was an expert at building communities, inclusion and belonging. He had a gift that really can’t be taught and he knew instinctively how to create spaces of welcome, connection and inclusion. It was like it was woven through as part of his DNA.

‘He was an implementor. Tom rolled up his sleeves and got dirty and relished in getting dirty. He was not one for sitting back.’

He added that at Tom’s core was a man who was joyful, calm and peaceful.

‘Even when vulture funds and banks threatened his livelihood he never lost hope and remained resilient and held onto his belief that God is good. His most recent passion was Clonakilty Men’s Shed which was another space where communities could grow, where people could meet and talk.’

He said that long before recycling and sustainability became fashionable, Tom was collecting waste oil and turning it into biodiesel, and he also had a machine in the hotel which was turning food waste into compost.

Symbols of Tom’s life which were offered up included an O’Donovan’s Hotel teapot and mug which represented his love of a good ‘weak cup of tea’; his tools reflecting his craftsmanship; pen and paper as he was always writing his thoughts down; his Clonakilty Men’s Shed high-viz and street bunting which he was always willing to hang up for a festival or event in Clonakilty.

His two sons, Tom and Dan, said hospitality came naturally to their father and at the age of 23 he became the sixth generation to take the reins at O’Donovan’s Hotel.

They said he held his six sisters, including his twin, Dena, close to his heart.

‘Those who knew dad knew he was always on the go, a craftsman to the core, evident by the work he left behind.’

Staff from O’Donovan’s Hotel lined the street as the cortege passed providing a guard of honour, as did Clonakilty Tidy Towns, Clonakilty Men’s Shed and Women’s Shed, and the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland.

Tom is survived his wife Gobnait, four children Edel, Sara, Tom and Dan, and his sisters Dena, Therese, Val, Angela and Carol.