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THE people at the Bon Secours can take a bow after organising a fantastic benefit event in the Fels Point Hotel on Friday night.
It was all to remember Tom Naughton, an employee at the hospital who died suddenly in April, leaving behind wife Joan and three children, Tom, Sean and Caoimhe.
The theme of the night, according to Chris Lynch, Tom’s colleague and friend, was “you met Tom as a stranger, but you left him as a friend.”
“We’re trying to show that in everything we’re doing tonight – with the raffle prizes, with the easel we have at the entrance to the door which we’re asking people to sign to be framed later and with the pictures of Tom we’ve put up all over the room here,” said Chris.
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“It’s a wonderful turnout and I’m delighted to see all the staff here,” said Manager of the Bon Secours Hospital, Donna Roche.
“The businesses around town have been very supportive. We all miss Tommy, but as much as we do, his family miss him so much more. He was a larger than life character. He was a wonderful husband, father and a great employee,” said Donna.
“We’re just giving back something and honouring a guy who gave so much of himself,” said Chris.
“Tom raised thousands of euros for charities in many different ways. We’re delighted that so many of friends and colleagues showed up tonight. It’s a great sign of solidarity with Joan and the kids,” he said.
“Tonight is a really a tribute to Tom. Racing was his thing – he was a great man for the horses. His horses rarely won but tonight they’re all winning as all the horses on the card are horses he would have picked. Except for the last race where the names of the horses were picked by his family,” continued Chris.
“They have names like ‘Tom Sean’ after his two sons, ‘The Peigmeister’ which was the pet name for his wife, ‘The Fridge’ as he was known, ‘Princess Caoimhe’ after his daughter, ‘The Minstrel Boy’ after the bar where he met his wife and ‘King Knocka’ because as a man and a character he was larger than life. He was the king,” said Chris.
Anyone who purchased a ticket for the race night secured a spot on the Race Card as the owner, trainer or jockey of a horse in any of the 10 races on the night.
There were also quality prizes for the Best Dressed Lady and Gentleman and the Giant Raffle.
All monies raised went towards the Naughton Family Trust Fund.
Scroll down for photos…
Helen McElligott, Susan Naughton, Elaine Hayes, Claire Walsh, Ann Walsh, Veronica O’Brien and Lisa O’Brien at the Tom Naughton memorial race night in the Fels Point Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Tim ‘Tiger’ Slattery and Chris Lynch at the Tom Naughton memorial race night in the Fels Point Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Kathleen Jordan, Donna Roche, Mairead Brennan, Deirdre Herlihy and Martina Fernane at the Tom Naughton memorial race night in the Fels Point Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Angela Fitzgerald, Derry Sheehan, Gerardine Galvin at the Tom Naughton memorial race night in the Fels Point Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Irene and Kim McCord at the Tom Naughton memorial race night in the Fels Point Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Eileen Kirby and Rosie O’Sullivan at the Tom Naughton memorial race night in the Fels Point Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Louise O’Connor, Paul Naughton and Deborah Naughton at the Tom Naughton memorial race night in the Fels Point Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Sheila O’Donoghue and Nora Teahon at the Tom Naughton memorial race night in the Fels Point Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Liam Heaslip, Michael Naugton and Bill Holmes at the Tom Naughton memorial race night in the Fels Point Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
Malachy McDaid and Philip Sicat at the Tom Naughton memorial race night in the Fels Point Hotel on Friday night. Photo by Dermot Crean
