All at the Limerick City & County Library are very saddened to hear of the recent passing of Tom Toomey. Tom was an extraordinary historian, and his name will forever be associated with his monumental and definitive History of the War of Independence in Limerick. He was also author of several further history, biography and local studies books, and was the first person thought of if any activity relating to history was being planned in the library service. In our experience, when Tom was in the library, if anyone else happened to be there conducting research, Tom would immediately offer assistance to that person, generously sharing even his own current research at times. As an historian he was scrupulously fair in his judgement, eschewing attachment to his own personal political leanings in favour of an honest assessment of events, based on the available evidence. We think it is fair to say that Tom was the pre-eminent figure in history circles in Limerick City and County. But, more than for his undoubted expertise, Tom will be missed for his generous nature, his affable personality, his gratefulness for any assistance offered. A great historian but, above all, he was a gentleman and a great friend.
