Tom Spillane (first from left) with Fossa chairman Dermot Clifford, former GAA president Seán Kelly, David Clifford and Fossa secretary Merry Talbot, in 2017
Himself and Ger Lynch — assigned to mark Tommy Conroy and Barney Rock during the 1984 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final — began their efforts during the national anthem, which they sang with aplomb.[3] Spillane, quoted in the book Princes of Pigskin, said of this tactic later: "There was no belting but the plot was to sing the National Anthem as loud as we could into their ears to put the fear of God into them. Neither of us were great singers but they must have thought we were wired to the moon".[3]
Together with his brothers Mick and Pat, the Spillanes hold a record 19 All-Ireland medals between them.[2] However, he won a mere four All-Ireland medals besides Mick's seven and Pat's eight.[citation needed]
Tom Spillane works as an auctioneer and runs his business from Killarney. He specialises in dealing with property in the Killarney and Kenmare areas.[citation needed]
Spillane's brother Pat took over their mother's bar, renaming it Pat Spillane's Bar, and ran it before leasing it.[2] Tom Spillane bought the pub from Pat Spillane in the late 2010s, with the intention of running it alongside his sons Killian and Adrian (also Kerry footballers).[2]
^ abcdO'Riordan, Ian (13 September 2019). "Patrons of Ireland's highest pub travel to see Kerry back on top". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 September 2019. It was once owned and run by Maura Spillane, mother of the Spillane brothers Pat, Tom and Mick, who between them hold a record 19 All-Ireland football medals. It then became Pat Spillane's Bar, and ran successfully for some time before he leased it out and then rural decline set in... Tom recently purchased the pub from his brother and the plan is for Killian and Adrian to help run it when it reopens next summer...
