Thomas Gay

It is likely that Collins' system of counterintelligence owes much in its inception to Gay. It was through his agency that Collins was first put in touch with friendly detectives working inside fhe G Division of the Dublin Metropolitan Police at Dublin Castle. Gay was the handler of Detective Sergeant Ned Broy and Detective Joe Kavanagh, both of whom were employed in the Castle to provide intelligence to Collins. According to Broy, the main liaison with Collins was supplied by Tommy Gay personally. Broy would meet Gay at the back of the Tivoli Theatre or at Webb's book shop on the Quays to pass on information. made him readily accessible, when required. His home at 8 Haddon Road, Clontarf was a regular, often weekly, meeting place for Collins, Broy, Kavanagh, David Neligan, James Mc Namara and on occasion Sean O'Duffy and Harry Boland. Neligan described Gay as "a staunch friend of Collins and so was his wife who was a noble woman". who informed Collins and the Government. The "Plot", which was intended to justify arresting all members of the newly formed Provisional Government by the British, was partially successful – despite the advance warning, due to failure of some Cabinet members to take the information seriously. == Participation in 1916 ==

Thomas Gay joined the Irish Volunteers on 20 September 1914, the night following Redmond's Speech at Woodenbridge. He was a member of "A" Company. Eluding capture, Gay was free to smuggle messages from prisoners and to pass on copies of the Gaelic American, a banned magazine, to them. == Other activities ==

1916 – 1921 Club He was a founder member of the 1916–1921 Club, that sought to bring together the two sides of the civil war, and its first Honorary Secretary until his death in 1953. Membership of Crokes Gaelic Club Gay was a member of Crokes Gaelic Club. The club was a recruiting ground for the Irish Volunteers. It is stated by Sean O'Duffy, also a Crokes member, that no fewer than 32 of the club's members were involved in 1916. Gay chaired a Special General Meeting of the club on 21 October 1916 at which the death during the Insurrection of two Club members was marked. They were Sean Owens and Philip Whelan. The meeting also noted the detention by the British Government of other Club members – Tomas Ua Ceallagh, D. O'Callaghan, Sean O'Brien, Gerald Fitzmaurice, E. Dennany, P. Mc Loughlin, Sean Farrer and others. Arrangements were made to send parcels of provisions to prisoners in Frongach, Wales. Sean O'Dubhthaigh spoke about the objectives of the Club which were non-political and nonsectarian. Club records show that Gay played hurling for both the Junior and Senior teams in 1905. He was on the team that won the Middle Hurling League and for which he was awarded a gold medal. He held the office of President in 1910, 1911, 1912, 1916 and 1917. At the time, as well as its main purpose of hurling and football, the club organised activities for members, including a Sunday night social, Tuesday night Irish classes, ceilís and lectures. Records show that Frank Sheehy Skeffington and Major Sean Mc Bride addressed the Club in 1912. before securing appointment as an Assistant Librarian with the City Corporation in September 1900. His starting pay was 12/- a week. In 1915, he was promoted to Head Librarian in Capel Street. He joined the Free State Army in 1922 and served as Staff Captain and then Colonel, retiring, on demobilisation of war time strength, on 20 December 1923. He then returned to the Library Service. == Personal details ==

Thomas Earnest Gay was born on 22 January 1884, the eldest child of Thomas Patrick Gay and Catherine Coleman. He lived much of his teenage years in a two-room tenement at Little Strand Street, Dublin with his parents and five siblings. and James Street, Christian Brothers School His wife predeceased him in 1924 when she died of a postpartum infection. After his wife's death, he returned to live with his siblings and his two older children at 11, Sandford Avenue, South Circular Road. He later lived at 15, Grantham Street, South Circular Road. == References ==