SUITCASE NUMBER SEVEN HOME | BUY BOOK | TESTIMONIALS AND REVIEWS | PICTURE GALLERY | SOUTH AFRICA | CONTACT THE AUTHOR | MULLINGAR ACCOMMODATION | |
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 | Reviews of Suitcase Number Seven Review in Rugby World, May 2006 Review in Sunday Independent, 11 December 2005 Review by Peter O'Reilly, Sunday Times, 6 November 2005 Review by Charlie Mulqueen, Irish Examiner Review by Charlie Mulqueen, www.Rugby.ie Review by Liam Heagney, Ireland on Sunday Pictures taken at launch (courtesy Colin Watters) Review by Liam Heagney, Ireland on Sunday, 2 October 2005 The caps didn’t fit Guy Easterby, the Ireland scrum-half with 21 of his 28 caps starting on the bench on which he has also remained unused in 29 other internationals, should take a peek at the beautifully written memoir on the life and times of fellow scrum-half Tom Cleary. The Carrick-on-Suir born Munster skipper starred for over a decade with Bohemians in Limerick until the early 1960s. However, an Irish cap proved all too elusive despite Cleary being a replacement on 17 occasions including the 1961 tour of South Africa. ‘It truly annoys me these days when I see subs trotting on to the pitch for the last minute of an international, knowing it will mean a cap for them,’ wrote Ursula Kane Cafferty in Suitcase Number Seven, the publication launched today commemorating her uncle’s mementoes found in a suitcase after his death in 1997. ‘Every time I see it, I think of you and the caps that never were.’
3 October 2005 Dear Ursula, I just could not allow this occasion to pass without expression of my honour and pride at being present at the wonderful inspiring occasion at Bloomfield House Hotel yesterday, thanks to your undeserved invitation. I really felt terribly exalted to be in such special company and the lovely manner in which everything was conducted. From the time of arrival to departure, everything went like clockwork, thanks to the organisational and most considerate arrangements that truly reflected the thoughtfulness and consideration of those responsible. Not having experienced such an occasion previously, it was all completely new to me. The light-hearted approach by the various speakers contributed to the great enjoyment of this very special occasion and really reflected on the character of the “unsung hero” R.I.P. whom we were commemorating. Justifiably, you must all be terribly proud and exalted at the wonderful success of this very important time. It is rather difficult for someone such as I to comprehend all the time, labour and organisation that this publication involves. Were it not for the information conveyed by some of the speakers I would be completely unaware of the work entailed. Personally I think this publication will earn the support it merits. With renewed thanks and sincerest wishes for your merited success. Yours sincerely Nicky Dalton (aged 82)
Letter from Charlie Mulqueen, Irish Examiner, read at launch of book in Mullingar on 2 October 2005 13 September 2005. Dear Ursula, It was with great delight that I received your correspondence this morning re your forthcoming book on Tom Cleary. Having perused the contents, I am already absolutely certain that this will be a wonderful read about a man whom I always believed was blessed with God given gifts, some of which he exploited, others which, well, less so. He was a different era from myself but I grew up in a Garryowen household that begrudgingly admitted that Mick English and Tom Cleary were the best half-back partnership in the country. When I was old enough to judge for myself, I realised that this was very much the case. Whereas Mick played, I think, 16 times for Ireland, Tom was left to play a subsidiary role, not because he wasn’t good enough but the opposition at scrum-half in those days was serious stuff and very often it was harder to get off an Irish team that to get on it! There were many consolations, though, not least the tour of South Africa (which in turn led to the brilliant and imaginative title of your book) and many great days with Bohs and Munster. Tom, in fact, is a legend in Bohemians with whom he picked up three coveted Munster Cup medals and helped to turn them from a Cinderella team into the finest in the land. I saw Tom Cleary turn-in countless great performances in the red jersey of both Bohs and Munster and had the pleasure and privilege of describing them in my then newspaper, the Limerick Leader. I used to also dabble in tennis in those days and saw at close quarters just what a beautiful player he was in that discipline as well. If I’m not mistaken, he won the South of Ireland Championship at Limerick LTC on at least one occasion at a time when a few participants at Wimbledon on the previous week used to participate. In other words, something not easily done! In many ways, he was a class act on and off the pitch and the court and as the years unfolded, I got to meet and know Tom fairly well. I do believe our last get together was in Mullingar during a Scratch Cup in the early 90s. He joined the likes of Micky Duffy, Roche T, Joe Healy, probably Paddy Dunne and Paddy McCartan and one or two other characters for a few jars and a chat. Once he discovered that I hadn’t still booked a room for that night, he absolutely insisted that I should stay in what I assume to have been the home of your mother, Helen, and yourself, in Mullingar town. Needless to say, it was a late night and I slept the sleep of the inebriated only to be woken around 9. 30 or 10 a.m. by Tom and Helen bearing a cooked breakfast of just about every delicious ingredient you could mention. Even though I was in no fit condition to do justice to the meal, there was no way I could say no and duly polished it off. All the time, Tom was putting away his grub as if he hadn’t had a drink all night and had slept the round of the clock! Alas, I won't be in a position to attend your launch on October 2nd because I'll be working at a golf tournament in Scotland so please accept this e-mail as a suitable apology. In the next hour or so, I intend to contact some of Tom’s old Bohemian teammates to inform them of the occasion and hopefully a few will be able to make it to Mullingar that day. Once again, congratulations on what I know will be a delightful book and one which I avidly look forward to reading and hopefully reviewing in the pages of the Irish Examiner, many of whose readers will have fond memories of a remarkable character.
17th October 2005. Dear Ursula, It is a good thing that you were late for the Booker Competition or John Banville would be short of a few bob! Please accept my sincere congratulations on the wonderful achievement that is "Suitcase Number Seven". It's fascinating format and excellent layout and production made for an easy read but, for me, much of the contents called up a variety of emotions and posed some profound questions - surely a sign of good literature. I identified strongly with the Carrick background as it was very similar to my own early days. The photos of Castleknock recalled many memories and faces. Although I was only a short time there it was a place in which I felt safe, accepted and at home. Tom appointed me 7th sub for the Leinster Senior Cup final at Lansdowne in 1948! My only claim to fame! My own demons were gathering force by the time Tom came to Mullingar "on holiday" in 1966 and I had already become isolated from the golf and rugby clubs. I did have some encounters with Tom on the pub circuit and would see myself as a superfluous extra in that band of real players (a 7th sub?) until I happily threw in the towel in St. John of Gods in 1974. However the memory I prefer to hold on to is of the day I told (my wife) that I had just met Tom Cleary and that he was in great physical and mental health. I recall telling her what delightful company he was - back to his old self. We had talked of many things past and present and as we spoke on the street, his observation of and pithy comments on simple things happening right then were a joy to listen to. And yet I know too well how accurate is your description of the down days of near despair. It is a grand thing to have lots of friends speak well of you but to have someone research and diligently record your story is a matter of envy. You did him proud! Keep writing - you have a great talent. Sincerely, | Other websites featuring Suitcase Number Seven | ||||
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