Brother Thomas Casey was born in
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| Tom Casey OP |
After school he joined the Cistercian Order in Roscrea where he made profession in 1960. Thomas was one of the first Cistercians to move to the new foundation at Bolton Abbey at Moone in County Kildare in 1965. Moone became independent of Roscrea in 1977 and the young Tom Casey stayed in Moone.
Thomas spent approximately 30 years with the Cistercians before joining the Dominican Order in 1992.
He spent most of his Dominican life at the retreat house in Montenotte in Ennismore in Cork. When that closed in 2022, Tom moved the few short kilometres to the Dominican Priory in Pope’s Quay on the north side of Cork city.
Although he had been a Cistercian he still had to do a noviciate with the Dominicans and he did that period of acclimatisation in Montenotte. His novice master and prior was Fr Ben Moran. On one occasion he told Ben he was the best novice master he ever had.
Tom greatly admired fellow Dominicans, the late Damian Lynch and Christopher O’Flaherty. Damian had a great way with people and Tom learned a lot from Christy’s gardening and farming skills.
On hearing of his death Fr Ben said: “I really liked that man. He was well suited to the Dominicans. He spoke and preached about God through his love for nature. He and I organised creation retreats, which were conducted in the garden in Ennismore, which involved celebrating Mass outdoors.”
He loved the freedom of the Dominicans, which allowed him to have a large number of acquaintances and friends. He was a good story teller, and Fr Joe Ralph explains how he found that space with the Dominicans.
In the years he spent in Montenotte he turned the grounds into an oasis of calm. It was his passion. Before he arrived in Monetenotte the two/three acre garden was a wilderness and Tom brought it to life.
He dedicated his life to the garden and he shared that love and passion with those who came on retreat to Montenotte. While not a professional or qualified gardner he knew about every tree and plant. He told retreatants about the ginkgo and the redwood tree in the garden. If a plant or flower was not developing as it should he would move it to a different place where it would thrive. He had a great sensitivity towards trees and plants.
On acquiring a drive-on lawnmower he invited his then prior, Fr Joe Ralph to come out and have a look at it. “Tom asked me did I recognise the registration number; it was JN20 - V15". Those familiar with St John’s Gospel chapter 20, verse 15 should spot the reference. Tom had a wiley sense of humour and a great smile too.
He saw the presence of God in nature and through that he was attracted to the works of Patrick Kavanagh, often reciting Kavanagh’s ‘Advent’ poem.
Fr Joe Ralph got to know Tom when he was in Bolton Abbey. Joe would bring young people from the inner city to nearby Dollardstown.
“Tom would show the children around the farm and introduce them to the animals. This was all new for the young people and they were thrilled with the experience, yes, fascinated,” Joe recalls.
Fr Ben remarked how Tom had a great love of the Psalms; he saw how the Psalms were intrinsically connected with nature.
Besides his gardening skills he was also a keen photographer and every year produced a calendar depicting scenes from nature.
He was a keen snooker player and while he was with the Cistercians in Moone it was known for him to sneak out the back door, dressed in civvies to head off to play a game or two of snooker in Carlow, indeed, it is believed he even made it to Dublin to pot the black.
Tom closely followed his native Kerry senior football team and relished in the magic of their footballing skills.
No doubt he was particularly proud of the current Kenmare duo Seán O’Shea and Stephen O’Brien.
May he rest in peace.
Funeral arrangements to follow.
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