Did you ever encounter somebody in your life who, over time, ended up feeling more like family than some of those who actually are? There are many ways in which such bonds are formed and manifest themselves and there should be no need to justify how they came about to anybody.
Coming at the same issue from a different angle, if there genuinely is a connection, however tenuous, why not acknowledge it, embrace it and by proud of it? That’s exactly how it has always been for me with Joey Tormey and his family. Joey’s sister is my aunt Phyllis (Ciss), widow of ma’s recently deceased brother Pat. Or Uncle Zeb, as he always was and will be to us.
One day, many years ago, while in conversation with Joey’s daughter Caroline, it came up in conversation that Ciss and her dad were, of course, brother and sister. Whether I knew that already or not honestly cannot be recalled. However, even though the Tormey connection from our side was only through marriage, my thinking was ‘If your aunt is my aunt as well, it has to count for something’.
Nobody ever told me I was wrong or berated me for it either, so it stuck. For me at least. And if anything has got stronger as the years have gone on. Most notably from the time Caroline’s brother, Conor, was Chairman of Donaghmore/Ashbourne and later when he sought and was elected to the position of Meath Co Committee Chairman.
Thereafter, every phone call or WhatsApp – in either direction – begins with “Howya Cous”. Including on Tuesday last when I had occasion to ring him regarding a business matter. But immediately the call was answered I knew something was different. Sadly I knew what it was too. Joey had taken his seat in the stand far away.
Only eight weeks after his beloved wife Terry, having been also predeceased by his son Christy, sister Eithne, daughter-in-law Kathleen and brother-in-law Zeb. When I was writing the piece prior to Conor’s election, the point was made that, if he was to be elected it would continue a long and proud tradition of community service in the Tormey family.
Terry having given a lifetime of dedication to camogie at both club and county level. Before getting into the huge part of Joey’s life which sport was, with my fascination and/obsession with farming and machinery, mention must be made of Ashbourne Farm Services, the business which he ran with the late Christy for many years.
However, ultimately it was via sport that strongest bonds were forged. Conor’s rise through the ranks of GAA administration came after one term of office on Meath Co Council and before another which is currently ongoing.
Giving service to the county is certainly a case of like father, like son. Joey having been one of the seven selectors with Sean Boylan when Meath made a massive breakthrough winning the Centenary Cup in 1984.
I’ve absolutely no doubt his contributions at both club and county level far exceed the above, but best to stick to what is known for sure in this corner. Chief among which was the ongoing banter between us which would kick off from exactly where it left off when last our paths crossed. Whether it was a matter of Dunboyne and Donaghmore/Asbourne playing each other or the latter being a neutral venue for us.
In the latter scenario, the welcome received from the various branches of the Tormey family is particularly cherished and will eternally be so now. Mind you, when our two clubs did clash, the good humoured sparring would go up a few gears as I would gently remind the patriarch of the dynasty that he had, in fact, a boot in both camps as Caroline’s two lads – Michael and Darren Dunne – are key players for us in both hurling and football, while Caroline herself has been involved on committees in our club for years.
When Donaghmore/Ashbourne got to a couple of County Finals a few years ago, it was for people like Joey that it was genuinely hoped The ‘Moores would lift Tom Keegan. Especially because, as far as can be recalled, Andrew Tormey captained the green and whites in one of the deciders.
That said, you can imagine the gentle ribbing when Joey’s grandson Michael gathered a Keegan Cup gong with us in 2018. But then, that only served to underline the many unique chapters to what you might title The Joey Tormey Story. Some of which it will be admitted yours truly only learned from the beautiful moving homily at his funeral mass.
Jumping out of the said contribution was the fact that he had played at the highest level for both Dublin and Meath. Though that would explain – much to my amazement and confusion – Ciss having the blue and navy flag on the car rather than the green and gold. When Joey threw his lot in with Meath, and by extension Donaghmore (as it was then), it was all in and all consuming.
Winning a county title as a player in 1960 before going on to serve as a team mentor and club Chairman on three separate occasions. Yet you sensed it was the achievements of his own family and his grandchildren which gave him greatest satisfaction and pride. I would in no way attempt or pretend to know them all but that there were so many stands as testament to the love of sport that was infused into the bloodlines.
One area which I can delve into with a relative degree of certainty is the love of (or obsession with?) horse racing which both Terry and Joey shared. Even here, though, it must be admitted even that needed a correction in thinking on my part. I originally thought former jockey Glen Tormey – who once won the Topham Trophy – was another son of theirs but that’s actually not the case. However, the resemblance is too strong for there not to be some connection!
Where there could be no mistaking anything was his very talented jockey nephew, Andrew Lynch. Undoubtedly one of Ireland’s best but most underrated jockeys of the recent past. Having enjoyed some great days in the plate aboard luminaries of the turf such as Sizing Europe, Voller La Vadette, Sizing Australia and, unforgettably, Flemenstar.
After Andrew would have a big winner, whenever the proud grandad and I would cross paths again, the inquiry would be made “Did ya have a few bob on our fella?” And of course invariably there had been. Absolutely if was on either Europe or Flemenstar.
That the racing gene ran strong in the family could hardly be a shock given that not only was Joey well ‘into’ it, but the late Terry was also steeped in affairs of the turf. Being a member of the Skelly family who have horses in training with Jim Dreaper like Lar’s Lass and Shopping Around and Paul Stafford (Dubai Devils).
No guesses would be required as to what Joey’s favourite horse was. As the priest said when he made his final journey, “We all thought we owned a bit of Oscar Wells”. The brilliant but equally luckless gelding trained by Jessica Harrington took the Molley Malone Syndicate – in which the main man was his larger-than-life self – from winning in Navan on a snowy day just before Christmas 2014 all the way to the Cheltenham Festival.
Until the re-run of that year’s Neptune Novices Hurdle was watched in preparation for this production, it was always considered Harchibald was the unluckiest loser the one viewing organ here had observed. There’s now a dead heat, though, because how exactly Joey and the lads weren’t celebrating that day must be one of life’s great mysteries.
But then again it isn’t. “They’re there to be jumped” was the great man’s verdict on the calamity when the subject was broached months later. After Robbie Power’s mount had achieved the greatest equine version of the splits ever done with the race seemingly there for the taking. Thereafter, gentleman Joe opined “Sure wasn’t it great to have a runner there (Cheltenham) and we still have our horse” with all the positivity only he could muster.
We met at Pat Geoghegan’s funeral in the first week of January but I’m glad our final meeting, and light hearted sparring match, was at a game of football. Both himself and Terry being exactly where you’d expect them to be if there was a game of any sort in Ashbourne – there, taking it all in, getting and giving the lowdown on the action as it was ‘in running’.
Watching Meath fairly handily get by Wexford that wintry January evening, with what I think were the final words he ever spoke to me, he observed “Keep an eye on that No. 5 (Cathal Hickey), he has the makings of a right good one”.
Always the scouting eye, always thinking forward to what lay ahead. Rest easy up there Joey, reunited with loved ones gone before you and with a fair audience above to debate politics, farming and sport. I’ll give ya 4/1 the field!
Leave a Reply