OBITUARY TOM GAVIGAN On October 10, we sadly lost one of our
men discussed over the afternoon but we hear that David Beckham got
longest-serving members, Tom Gavigan,
an insider’s track on Meath Gaelic Football!
who died peacefully at home, aged 86,
Tom loved his sport and played on many championship-winning teams.
surrounded by his family.
He loved National Hunt racing, and together with old school friend and
Tom
Irish
trainer Paddy Osborne, had many successes. He was passionate about
Auctioneers and Valuers Institute (IAVI)
was
President
of
the
Meath football and was proud to have attended all seven All-Ireland wins
in 1985. For 60 years he ran T&J Gavigan
from 1949 to 1999. He also loved supporting Irish rugby.
Auctioneers, which was founded by his
On his first day working in Navan, he met Pat Fitzsimons, who had been
father Tom and uncle John in 1940. He had
a comrade of his father’s in the War of Independence. This resulted in a
an innate business sense, loved dealing
completely unexpected surprise for Tom. He fell for Pat’s daughter,
with people, and had many loyal colleagues in both the property
Marie, who was to be his lifelong love and wife of 61 years.
business and the horse racing world.
Family was everything to Tom. He was a wonderful father to his six
Tom held dear his time on many committees in the IAVI. He was forever
children Tom, Grainne, Orla, Michael, Cara and Eimer. He enjoyed
grateful for the support he received from the team at the time, namely
nothing more than spending time with his 16 grandchildren and two
Joe Healy, Cliodhna O’Donoghue, Julie Creedon and Valerie Bourke.
great-grandchildren.
Through his work, Tom and his wife Marie travelled abroad to many
An expression Tom often used was “help if you can” and he was involved
conferences. On one such trip to Barcelona, Tom spent a pleasant
in many community organisations including Navan Lions Club and Kells
afternoon at a poolside lounge with probably the most famous footballer
Chamber of Commerce.
in the world at the time, David Beckham. It remains a secret what both
May he rest in peace.
SURVEYORS JOURNAL Volume 10, Issue 4, Winter 2020
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