A man widely described as the ‘father of the Irish community in Leeds’ has been presented with one of the city’s highest honours.
Tom McLoughlin MBE received the Leeds Award from the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Dan Cohen, at a civic presentation recognising his outstanding and lasting contribution to the city. The Leeds Award is given to individuals whose achievements have made a significant, long-term difference to Leeds. Mr McLoughlin was honoured for more than 50 years of dedicated service to the Leeds Irish Centre and for his wider work supporting charities and community groups across the city.
His name will now be added to the Leeds Civic Hall antechamber honours wall, alongside past recipients including Windrush pioneer Alford Gardner and D-Day veteran Jack Mortimer.
Born in 1941 to Thomas and Winifred McLoughlin (née Brennan), both from County Mayo, Mr McLoughlin moved to Leeds as a child and was immersed in Irish traditions from an early age. His parents ran pubs in Hunslet and Beeston, and he spent evenings helping out and entertaining members of the Irish diaspora with traditional songs. Tragedy struck when his father died suddenly while the family were running a third pub in the city. Aged just 17, Mr McLoughlin left school to support his widowed mother, first working in an office before later taking work as a labourer on building sites.
It was his singing talent that led to an invitation to serve as master of ceremonies for the official opening night of the Leeds Irish Centre in June 1970 — the first purpose-built centre of its kind in the UK. A regular at the venue from the outset, he went on to become its full-time manager in October 1975.
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.”
Working alongside his deputy manager of 50 years, Christy Power, Mr McLoughlin helped shape the centre’s ethos — that anyone, whatever their background, would receive a warm Gaelic welcome upon entering.
Those values, colleagues say, were reflected in his own approach to community life. Over five decades, Mr McLoughlin is credited with helping thousands of people and leading fundraising efforts which, together with staff and patrons of the Irish Centre, raised more than £5 million for causes in Leeds and beyond.
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.”
Charities supported through the centre’s fundraising include the Cardiomyopathy Association, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, The Smily Bus, the Take Heart Appeal, the Head and Heart Appeal at Leeds General Infirmary, the Brain Injury Trust, the Noddy Appeal, St James’s Bexley Wing cancer unit, Food for Kids at Christmas, Martin House, Simon on the Streets, local foodbanks 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.”
Presenting the award, Leeds City Council paid tribute to Mr McLoughlin’s long-standing service, generosity and commitment to bringing people together — both within the Irish community and across the wider city.
The Leeds Award, officials said, was a fitting recognition of a lifetime devoted to community, culture and charitable work in Leeds.
