Death of musician and former Meath footballer, Tom Duff

County GAA also mourns passing of Jim Curtis

Meath GAA is this weekend mourning two legendary Gaelic football figures in the county, with the news that former Meath footballer, Tom Duff, passed away peacefully at home last night (Saturday).

His death comes days after the passing on Wednesday last of Meath GAA honorary president, Jim Curtis of Ardee, who was also associated with the Syddan club.

Tom was father of well-known country singer, Mary Duff, who announced his death today (Sunday) on her social media. He had celebrated his 91st birthday earlier this month. He was also a well-known musician with the Tara Ceili Band.

Borrn on 3rd April 1934 to Fred and Brigid Duff (nee Califf of Rathbran) in Creevagh, Tom played at juvenile level with Syddan and in 1946 won a juvenile championship beating De La Salles of Navan, and later at minor level in 1952, with Dee Rangers-Syddan. He got a call-up to the Meath senior side in 1953, and was a member of the All-Ireland winning set-up of 1954, although he broke his leg in the Leinster final against Offaly, and missed out on the final. Mary has worn his medal on her music tours around the world. Tom played with the Meath senior team until the mid-1960s.

On the club front, he played for Syddan in the senior final in 1952. Syddan were crowned Meath champions again in 1956 against Skyrne, when he scored a goal in the first minute with his fist. He played club football until he was 47.

As an accordion player, Tom first played for a group called The Shamrock, and then The Tara Ceili band, popular nationally and in the UK. He also toured Ireland and England with his daughter Mary, and Anthony Price, with The Moonshiners, which was the beginning of Mary's career.

Aged 90, Rathkenny native Jim Curtis, of Dowdstown, Ardee, was elected honorary president of Coiste na Mí CLG at the 2020 Annual Convention, and had also been honoured two years previously when he was the guest of honour at the 2018 Senior Football Championship Final between St Peter’s Dunboyne and Summerhill at which he performed the ceremonial throw in.

Winning championship honours with Syddan in 1946, he went on the play at minor level with Dee Rangers and subsequently caught the eye of the Meath selectors. He was on the county minor side in 1952 and 1953, but they lost out to Dublin in both years. By this stage he had graduated to adult football, but these were lean years in Rathkenny, and several players were linking up with neighbouring clubs. Jim was one of a group who switched to Castletown, and he also lined out for the North Meath team. He later played for a year or two with Kilberry.

In 1959, Jim married Mary Mulroy, and they settled in Louth, where he joined the St Fechin’s club and he helped them win a Division 2 Championship.

He trained the Syddan team in 1980 that contested the final of the 1980 SFC and he was subsequently chosen as a selector with the Meath senior team. He was a selector along with Sean Boylan when the Centenary Cup was won in 1984 and later filled the same role with the junior team that won Leinster titles in 1986 and 1988 as well as the All-Ireland title in the latter season.

Jim also served at County Board level, both on the executive and the disciplinary committee. One of his treasured involvements was as chairman of the Sean Gael Committee on which he served with Brian Smyth. This committee gave great recognition to many of the older generation of volunteers who had provided great service to the GAA. Jim also served for many years as a ‘Gateman’ in Páirc Tailteann and was attending games up until very recently.

Predeceased by his wife Mary, and son, Seamus, Jim is survived by sons Denis, Derek and Martin, daughters Jeannette, Noeline and Anne-Marie, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family.

Removal is on Easter Monday morning arriving to The Church of the Nativity of Our Lady, Ardee, for 10am Funeral Mass. Burial afterwards in Ballapousta Cemetery.