Keen eye for a deal lets Tommy strike gold

Date Published: 15-Nov-2012

You could say that Tommy Holohan has been a collector since he was a child when he had an impressive coin collection but it was inheriting his grandmother’s belongings that sealed that pastime.

A son of the Claddagh, an area he is immensely proud of, Tommy, a house painter by trade, has in recent years developed that hobby to operate a weekly stall at the Claregalway Indoor Market every Sunday.

He admits he gets a thrill out of buying and selling anything collectable. He enjoys selling a piece to a collector, like himself, as much as he does when he acquires a new item to add to his collection.

He particularly likes rare books, especially first editions and more especially if they have a historical significance.

“I grew up listening to stories told by my grandmother, Annie O’Toole, a strong woman who had six daughters and who delivered me,” says Tommy.

Annie was, like many women at that time in the Claddagh, a fish seller, who kept the whole family together with hard work, a strong faith and a great pride in her heritage.

“I’m only sorry I didn’t listen more, or ask more questions or find out more about our ancestors when I had the chance but you never do at the time and then it’s too late,” he says regretfully.

Annie died in her own bed at home and in early adulthood, Tommy became the guardian of that iron bed, all her furniture, her rosary beads and her cooking utensils.

In fact, Tommy has intended for a long time to put these items and others he has since collected on show at the Galway City Museum. It is certainly on the cards and is just waiting a slot in the museum’s busy schedule.

He is very sorry that the City Council didn’t save a few of the old thatched cottages in the Claddagh that could today showcase how life was in that unique part of the city.

“There was such rich history and heritage there and if it was in any other part of the world, it would have been saved and shown off to visitors.

“I know there were sanitary issues in the area and the Claddagh had to be modernised but it’s an awful shame a part of it wasn’t kept so we could remember it and our children could see how people lived.

“I still think there is an opportunity to provide a heritage museum in the area. I go to museums wherever I go – look at what Mayo has done with the Turlough Museum, where people can see how people lived at the turn of the 19th century.”

Tommy is amazed at what people throw out and he is forever trawling through charity and thrift shops anywhere he goes.

He says on one such excursion he found an original painting by a well-known Galway based artist and paid a mere €15 for it! Tommy has by now developed a keen eye for what is and what is not of value.

He says it is a shame that very few children nowadays collect stamps or coins. He himself has a penchant for English porcelain china, rare books and military paraphernalia.

Being in the business, albeit on a part-time basis and more for passion than profit, Tommy loves sourcing collectables.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.