ARCO regrets to inform its members of the death of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas V.A. (Tom) McGrath of Clontarf, Dublin on 20th August 2021 peacefully at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, surrounded by his loving wife Jo (Josephine), daughter Eavan and sons Jim, Oran, Fergal, Rowan and Thomas Jr. Predeceased by his brother Jim and sister Mary. Deeply missed by his dear sisters Nuala, Deirdre and Ann, daughters-in-law Geraldine, Carmel, Elaine, Miriam and Catherine, son-in-law Seamus and his adored and adoring Grandchildren Tom, Philip, Camille, Harry, Aoife, Millie, Fergal Óg, Cillian, Anna, Ava, Clara, Stella, Luke, Juliet, Audrey, and Rowan together with his extended family.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis
Thomas V.A. McGrath, known in the Defence Forces as Tom, joined the Defence Forces as a member of 26 Cadet Class on 4th December 1951 and was commissioned on 23rd November 1953. He served initially with 12 Infantry Battalion and later in a variety of Infantry and Military Police appointments in the Eastern Command. Overseas Tom served as a Lieutenant Platoon Commander with A Company, 1 Infantry Group in the Congo from May to November in 1961 where he fought in the defence of Kamina Air Base during Operation Morthor in September 1961. His parent unit at the time was 2 Garrison Military Police Company. From July 1964 to January 1965, he served as a Captain with the second unit in Cyprus, 3 Infantry Group as Military Police Officer. Tom commanded 53 Infantry Battalion in Lebanon from May to October 1983. He retired as Quartermaster, Eastern Command.
Tom’s family express their deepest thanks to the wonderful and caring staff at the Mater and Clontarf Hospitals to whom they will be eternally grateful. No flowers please, donations to www.materfoundation.ie or https://www.ioh.ie/
A private family funeral will take place on Tuesday, 24th August, at 10am and can be viewed by clicking on the following link: https://www.churchmedia.tv/camera/st-john-the-baptist-clontarf
Members may wish to leave personal messages in the ‘Condolences’ section of Tom’s death notice on rip.ie – https://rip.ie/death-notice/thomas-tommy-mcgrath-clontarf-dublin/467438#!photo
