KILDARE: Funeral hears the late Tommy Tougher was a pioneering businessman who was a guiding light to his family

The funeral of late businessman Tommy Tougher on November 3 last heard that he was a pioneering businessman who was also a guiding light to his family.
The Newbridge-born tycoon passed away peacefully at Naas Hospital on Friday last surrounded by his loving family.
Tommy, who was aged in his 70s, had been business for over 50 years and employed thousands of local people during that period.
During his long career, he built up business interests in fuel stations, oil distribution, restaurants and property development.
The Tougher brand is synonymous with the former Tougher Business Park between Naas and Newbridge - now Naas Enterprise Park - as well as the adjacent Toughers Restaurant and the now vacant Red House Hotel.
The congregation at St Conleth's Church in Newbridge heard that Tommy was larger than life and was a blessing in the lives of his family and so many others in Newbridge.
The congregation heard that thousands of people were given employment over the years by Tommy.
The late businessman also gave generously to local charities and community organisations.
Gifts brought up to the altar included a comb as it was said that Tommy was always well groomed.
Other symbols included socks and a spanner to mark his original trade as a mechanic,
Other gifts were a packet of sweets and a model helicopter and a model airplane to reflect this skills as a pilot.
Tommy’s daughter Dervilia said her father served his apprenticeships as a mechanic at Loughmans garage in Athy, McLoughlins in Newbridge and Smiths in Naas.
She said he went to fit engines and fix clutches on lorries on the roads at all hours of the day and night.
Tommy and his wife Geraldine met at a dance in 1963 - they were 18 and 16 years old respectively.
Dervilia said: “My mum described him when she first met him in the early as very sincere, caring, kind, far-sighted.
“He could always see the possibilities that other wouldn't see.
“He was always an eternal optimist, always looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.
“I asked my dad once how he did it all, and he said: ‘Your mum believed in me and never stopped believing in me’.
Dervilia continued: “If my dad had the choice of working in an office or in the middle of a building site, he would choose the building site and loved buying and selling something and trying to get the best price for the job.
“He was way ahead of his time. His brain never stopped thinking. Sometimes he couldn’t keep up with himself!
“Newbridge was his town and there was nowhere like it. He used to say: ‘If you can't make it in Newbridge, you won't make it anywhere else.’
“If he was ever asked how he was, he would reply: ‘I’m never better!’ He never complained no matter what life had thrown at him.
“At the back of it all, he was a simple man who liked the simple things in life.”
Dervilia added: “My dad was somebody with a big heart who was a fierce, protective guiding light to us all, who will be sadly missed but never forgotten.”
Tommy is predeceased by his parents Johnny and Kathleen, his brother Seán, and niece Dolores Walsh (née Tougher).
He is sadly missed by his loving wife Geraldine, daughters Geraldine, Yvonne and Dervilia and brothers and sisters Liam, Seamus, Maureen, Barbara and P.J.
He is also mourned by his brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, extended family, relatives, work colleagues, and a wide circle of friends.
Tommy’s remains reposed at Anderson & Leahy’s Funeral Home in Newbridge. Burial took place in St Conleth’s Cemetery. Thursday.