Tommy McLoughlin’s 50th anniversary as Leeds Irish Centre Manager

Local TV

We caught up with Tommy McLoughlin at The Tuesday Club as he reflects on 50 years of being the manager of the Leeds Irish Centre.

Transcript

00:00I can just say it in three words, it's my life.

00:03I have an awful lot of memories and both good and bad, obviously.

00:08You know, everybody knows the hospitality businesses can be up and can be down.

00:13We were very lucky.

00:15When I came first, I thought I'd did the biggest mistake of my life.

00:18But Christy, the assistant manager at the time,

00:22myself and himself sat down and said,

00:24you know what, let's roll up our sleeves and let's get on with it.

00:28Tommy McLaughlin reflecting on getting on with it at the Leeds Irish Centre.

00:32And he's been getting on with it now as manager for a milestone 50 years.

00:37We caught up with him at the Tuesday Club,

00:39which he co-founded at the start of the millennium.

00:42I was a member of the old Irish National, which was down in Brigitte.

00:45And in those times, I used to do a little bit of singing, you know,

00:49and that type of thing, so entertaining.

00:52So when it was first built, my name was put forward as an MC.

00:57And the manager, Peter Newman, said to me, Tom, we really need you.

01:01I stayed for about 15 months and then I left because it wasn't fair to Helen, my wife.

01:07She was at home with three kids.

01:09And it was strange.

01:10I came back within a couple of years as the manager in 75.

01:14I've known Tommy, obviously, from day one.

01:17I've grown up with the Irish Centre.

01:19Mum was a big part and mum was in a play with Tommy, what was called Scurriac.

01:26And she was actually married to Tommy in the play.

01:29So we've had great laughs over the years about this caption of,

01:34he was married to my mum kind of thing.

01:36Tommy does so much for the Irish Centre and especially for charity.

01:40He's very kind with people and makes them feel welcome and makes them feel special and important.

01:48He's very good at that, yeah.

01:50And he's a very hardworking man and we have very hardworking staff, honest as well.

01:55So it's a great success.

01:57I've stood many times downstairs welcoming parties in and, you know, I say to people, you know, I knew your parents.

02:07And this might be people getting married.

02:09I knew their parents.

02:10I knew their grandparents.

02:12And five generations, obviously, you've known.

02:15Christy, young Tom, Julie, Tommy, they all do so much for it.

02:19And obviously, to keep it going, such a big establishment with private parties, bands, everything.

02:27It's just a fantastic place to have.

02:29And we've got this in Leeds and we want it to carry on.

02:32I wasn't the favourite because there was a guy that was given the job on the first interview.

02:39And whatever happened, I didn't know, but something happened.

02:42And they called me back and said, you know, would you consider?

02:47And as I said, I said I would.

02:49And that's history, as they say.

02:52Without the lack of Christy and Helen, my wife and my family, there to support me, I couldn't have done it.

02:59No way.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended