Prestigious Leeds Award presented to the ‘father of the Irish community’

The Leeds Award, which formally recognises the achievements of people who have made an outstanding and lasting contribution to the city, was yesterday presented to Tom by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Dan Cohen.

Above: The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Dan Cohen, with Tom McLoughlin MBE in front of the newly inscribed Civic Hall antechamber wall bearing the Leeds Award winners' names. (Photo: Leeds City Council)

The award is presented in recognition of over fifty years of dedicated service to the Leeds Irish Centre, as well as his outstanding contributions to numerous charities and communities across Leeds. Tom’s commitment, generosity, and lifelong support have had a lasting impact throughout the city and beyond.

Tom’s name will now be proudly displayed on the wall of the Leeds Civic Hall antechamber along with other Leeds Award winners such as Windrush pioneer, Alford Gardner, and D-Day veteran, Jack Mortimer.

Above: The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Dan Cohen, presents Tom McLoughlin MBE with the Leeds Award. (Photo: Leeds City Council)

Born in 1941 to Thomas and Winifred McLoughlin (nee Brennan), both from County Mayo in the Irish Republic, Tom moved to Leeds as a child, where he was steeped in the traditions of the Irish community from a young age. His parents ran two pubs in Hunslet and Beeston, and on an evening, young Tom could be found collecting glasses and singing Irish songs to the migrant diaspora.

While his parents were running a third pub in the city, Tom’s dad suddenly died. Tom was just seventeen years old at the time and left school to support his widowed mother. Initially, he worked in an office before moving on to become a building site labourer.  

It was Tom’s singing talents that ensured he was invited in June 1970 to be the MC for the official opening night of the Leeds Irish Centre, the first purpose-built institution of its type in the UK. 

Although a regular patron of the Irish Centre from its opening, it was not until October 1975 that Tom became full-time manager. Tom, along with his loyal deputy manager of fifty years, Christy Power, set the values and ethos of the centre, which stand firm to this day - that whatever your creed or ethnicity, you would receive a true Gaelic welcome once you set foot inside.

The values Tom set out for the centre were ones he lived personally, taking the time to help thousands of people, from a wide range of backgrounds and communities, over his five-decade tenure.

In those five decades, Tom, together with the Irish Centre’s staff and patrons, has helped raise over £5 million for charity, supporting causes near and far. Charities that have benefited from Tom’s tireless fundraising include the Cardiomyopathy Association, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, The Smily Bus, the Take Heart Appeal, The Head and Heart Appeal at LGI, the Brain Injury Trust, the Noddy Appeal, St James’ Bexley Wing Cancer Unit, Food for Kids at Christmas, Martin House, Simon on the Streets, Foodbank, and The Street Angels Club.

One nominator of Tom for the Leeds Award explained: “Tom is not just a fundraiser. He is the father of the Irish community and the community of Leeds. His care, empathy and diligence have made him a leader of the people of Leeds. He is respected and known the world over. We call him the unofficial ambassador for the Yorkshire-Irish diaspora.

“Tommy has helped thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds have better lives. He hates any publicity for his countless good deeds, but everyone - staff and patrons - at the centre believes Leeds should be proud to have Tommy as one of its citizens. He is a brilliant ambassador for the city.”

Above: The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Dan Cohen, shows Tom McLoughlin MBE his newly inscribed name on the Civic Hall antechamber wall, which bears the names of Leeds Award winners. (Photo: Leeds City Council)

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Dan Cohen, said: “It was a great honour to be able to present such an inspirational person as Tom McLoughlin with the Leeds Award. 

“Tom has been and continues to be a fantastic ambassador for the Irish community, and his selfless acts of charity, humility and community representation are an example and inspiration to us all.

“This Leeds Award is richly deserved, and we are proud to honour Tom and celebrate the contribution he has made to Leeds, while also ensuring that his story continues to be an inspiration for generations to come.”

Above: Tom McLoughlin MBE with his wife, Helen. (Photo: Leeds City Council)

Tom McLoughlin said: “It’s a great honour to be presented with the Leeds Award.

“However, I could not have achieved anything without the love and support of my wife of 54 years, Helen, my daughters Ailish and Sinead, sons-in-laws Martyn and Gary, and my dear grandchildren, Aisling, Kieran and Alannah, along with the encouragement of my very close friends Michael and May Mulligan and, of course, the true loyal members of the Leeds Irish Centre.

“To me, the centre is the beating heart of our Leeds Irish community. I am proud to have been a part of it.”

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