Memories of Thomas James McGrath "Tommy Mac"

One year on.......

Sami McGrath (May 17, 2008)

It's been 12 long months Grandad since you were taken from us. We talk about you all the time, Grandad this Grandad that... you're in our thoughts every single day. The pain hasn't gotten any easier, but we pull together and stay strong. It's just like Nan says, Sundays will never be the same.....

On the wind at Gougane Barra

Patsy (Aug 22, 2007)

On Tuesday 14th August 2007, 6 members of the family went to Gougane Barra, a beautiful remote place in the mountains of Cork in Ireland. We spent some time remembering Dad, and scattered some of his ashes in the wind onto the lake. It is a powerful and peaceful place, and a perfect location for Dad to explore

78 Trombones - Dad's birthday today 22 August

Patsy (Aug 22, 2007)

Today would have been Dad's 78th birthday. Last year, he said he was "77 Sunset Strip" and next he would be "78 trombones"......
Every birthday we would have a tea party at home, and Dad would create his fantasy menu for mum to prepare....the house would be so crowded with family members that we usually would spend most of the day in the garden, eating and joking and telling stories. Dad would always get some novelty gifts, such as funny teeth, false moustaches, glasses with eyes on springs, curly straws etc, and he would keep the kids in the family amused for hours..... We'll all miss him especially today.....

"Loving you is easy, we do it every day. Missing you's a heartache that will not go away..."

"His Chair"

craig mcgrath (Aug 11, 2007)

Grandad loved his chair and had everything he could possibly need arranged around it, it was probably the most comfortable chair in the house because he had enormous cushions on it. When we were kids me lindsay and sam (and later jacob and robyn) would dive into his chair the minute he left the room, when he saw us on the way back he pretend to be a monster to chase us away, as we got bigger and less scared of the monster he would have to pick us up and carry us away

Paddling with Jacob

Patsy (Aug 3, 2007)

Tom was a great swimmer, and when his kids were young he used to take us to the Harold Davies pool, and also swimming in the sea. In later years he enjoyed the paddling pool in the garden with Jacob, as shown here, and would tease us all by pretending to wear a knotted hanky for the full seaside feel...

Baby Seamus

Patsy (Aug 1, 2007)

Seamus Thomas was born just a few weeks before Tom passed away. He was the third great-grand-child, and his namesake in Irish....When he heard of his birth he was so proud, and was very tearful...

Do I look baldy on this?

Patsy (Aug 1, 2007)

Tom had a seriously thick head of hair throughout his life....this was his last passport photo, which he didn't like at all, as he thought it made him look bald!!

Cuddling with Keira

Patsy (Aug 1, 2007)

Great-Grand-Child number 2, Keira, getting a cuddle in May 2007

Rene and Tom, 50 yrs married...

Patsy (Aug 1, 2007)

A full house on 8.10.2005, when they were celebrating their 50 anniversary at home with all of the family in Liverpool

Tom and Robyn eating Sunday Trifle

Patsy (Aug 1, 2007)

Robyn is the first great-grand-child. She would pull up her babychair to the table to eat with him, and have a race to see who could finish first...

Mum and Dad in Rhyl in the 1950s

Patsy (Aug 1, 2007)

A good looking pair...very fashion conscious ;0)
We later used this photo on a cake to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary

Daddy, Maddy and the Medal

Patsy (Aug 1, 2007)

Maddy had just completed a 10km run in Liverpool, and visited Dad in the Marie Curie Centre to show him the medal. He was so proud of her, and this is the last photo we have of Dad before he passed away....

Share your own memory now

To leave a memory, fill in the fields below

 *
 *
Icon

Choose an icon from the set