Death of legendary circus director, Tom Duffy

RINGMASTER Expert horse rider was also trapeze artist

OBITUARY

The death has been announced today (Tuesday) of the legendary Irish circus director, Tom Duffy, of Bohermeen. He was aged 92.

Born in his mother’s caravan in Limavady in Derry, in 1929, whilst the family circus was performing there, he was one of seven brothers and a sister, and started performing in the circus ring at the age of five. He performed a double trapeze act with his brother, Arthur, and was known as ‘The Boy with the Iron Jaw,’ as he would hold his brother from a leather strap held between his teeth whilst suspended upside down from the trapeze 40 feet above the audience.

Tom was an expert horse rider as well as trapeze artist. Following the death of his mother, Lena and father, James, Tom ran the family circus with his six brothers. In 1979 he decided to put his own show on the road with his wife Gertie and their son, David, and so, on 5th April, Tom’s 50th birthday, ‘Tom Duffy’s Circus’ gave its first performance in Blessington, County Wicklow. Since then, his circus has built a reputation as one of the leading circuses in Europe.

Some 30 years ago, Tom had an operation for colon cancer and was given six months to live. He told his surgeon that he was ‘too busy to die’ and that he would get back to them when it was more convenient. In 2005 he had a kidney removed because of cancer and was back in his role as ringmaster five days later. As Tom stepped back from his role in the ring, he could always be seen during each performance sitting in his director’s chair at the front of the Big Top, keeping a wise eye on the show and not being slow in giving his sometimes-critical comments. Members of the audience would come up to him at the end of the performances to reminisce and have their photo taken with him.

Tom suffered a stroke some years ago and became a resident at Peamount Healthcare, County Dublin. Since living there, he suffered numerous heart attacks and recovered from Covid twice. Sharp minded and humorous until the end, he had a great relationship with the staff who cared for him there, regaling them with stories from his life. Over the last two years, Tom had become very concerned about the effect Covid-19 had on the family with the circus being closed for eighteen months but he was reassured once the circus began to tour again before he passed away.

David, said: "My dad was a legend. He dedicated his whole life to entertaining the Irish public. His legacy will live on. His name will always be up in lights inside the Big Top. To his family, he will always be ‘The Greatest Showman.’"

Tom is survived by his son, David; daughter-in-law, Stephanie; grandsons, Tom and Jamie; and his brother Freddy.