Thomas Joseph McSwiggan

Tom was born on August 27, 1935, to Daniel and Marie McSwiggan and spent his formative years in Glenelly Valley, County Tyrone, Ireland.

Tom immigrated to Canada in 1957. Landing in Quebec City on a cold April day, he arrived with no money, no family, and no job. Although the early years were difficult, Tom persevered in building his new life in Canada and settled in Brockville, Ontario. He would eventually find steady work and meet the love of his life, Frances Pendergast of P.E.I. They married on September 5, 1961. The couple went on to have five children: Danny (Gwen), Susan (David), Tommy (Sheila), Sheila, and Patrick (Octavia). He was a very proud grandfather to Kate, Maggie, Winona, Bridget, Anton, Finn, Malcolm, Sadie, Colleen, Eamonn, Maeve, and Veronica.

After getting into the tire business with Goodyear, Tom transferred to Ottawa and soon moved to Frisby Tire, where he finished his career as a store manager.

Other than family and friends, Tom’s two greatest loves were playing music and spending his summers at the cottage in P.E.I. Music came naturally to him, having taken up the harmonica in his teens. His musical career really picked up when his loving wife gifted him an accordion for Christmas in 1975. This led to Tom joining the Ottawa Ceili Band in 1981 and becoming Chairman of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for Ottawa and Canada, which was dedicated to the promotion and preservation of traditional Irish music. He entertained and supported the Ottawa Irish community for many years.

In 1997, Tom created one of the first and most famous Island ceilidhs on P.E.I., which is still running strong today. His passion was to play, sing, and tell stories, leaving a legacy of music and laughter across Canada and beyond.

Tom was predeceased by his parents, Marie and Daniel, and his brothers Raymond, Daniel, and Lawrence. He is survived by his loving sisters, Moira and Cecelia (Gary), and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation will be held at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home on March 2, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Cross Parish on March 3, at 2 p.m., followed by a reception in the hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, an organization Tom felt strongly about.