Thomas Joseph Markham (14 December 1878 – 15 June 1939) founded two Gaelic Athletic Association clubs in Dublin. After his death, funds were collected to provide the Tom Markham Memorial Cup, which was awarded annually to the county which won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship from 1940 to 2013.
Life Thomas Markham was born in Cragbrien, Lisheen, Clondagad, County Clare, on 14 December 1878, to John and Bridget (Slattery) Markham.Birth certificate, civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie. Accessed 1 June 2023.
He was a civil servant residing in Dublin when he married Agnes Daly in Ballycorick Church on 17 July 1907.Marriage certificate, civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie. Accessed 1 June 2023.
By 1911, he was an Assistant Clerk in the Local Government Board, and was using the Irish-language version of his name, Tomás Ua Marcacáin.1911 Census record, nationalarchives.ie. Accessed 1 June 2023.
He joined the Irish Volunteers in 1912. He was wounded during the Easter Rising. He later was an intelligence officer for Michael Collins after being released from prison by the British Army.
Death Markham died at his residence, 25 Windsor Avenue, in Fairview, on 15 June 1939.Death certificate, civil records.irishgenealogy.ie. Accessed 1 June 2023.
Legacy After Markham's death, a committee was established which raised the funds to provide the Tom Markham Memorial Cup in his memory.Irish Press, Friday, 16 June 1939, p. 9; Evening Herald, Saturday, 29 June 1940, p. 3; Irish Press, Saturday, 14 September 1940, p. 3; Irish Independent, Friday, 20 September 1940, p. 7; Irish Press, Monday, 23 September 1940, p. 10.
The original cup was replaced in 2014.New Tom Markham Cup commissioned, hoganstand.com. Accessed 1 June 2023.
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