Tá Tomás Ó hEochaidh, bunaitheoir Ógras agus fathach na Gaeilge agus an CLG, imithe ar shlí na fírinne. Bhunaigh sé Ógras i 1969 nuair a bhí sé ag obair mar Oifigeach Óige Chonradh na Gaeilge. I 1980 bhunaigh sé Scoil Aonghusa, an chéad bhunscoil lán-Ghaeilge i nDroichead Átha. D'eagraigh sé ranganna Gaeilge agus Seachtain na Gaeilge agus bhí sé gníomhach leis an gclub CLG áitiúil, Oliver Plunkett's. Thóg sé agus a bheanchéile Áine a gclann trí Ghaeilge.
Dúirt Cathaoirleach Ógras, Anita Mhic Gib, gur chreid Tomás go raibh sé tábhachtach go mbeadh deis ag gach duine óg a c(h)uid Gaeilge a chleachtadh i dtimpeallacht spraíúil, shábháilte.
Dúirt Stiúrthóir Ógras, Maedhbh Ní Dhónaill, go bhfuil na daoine óga in Ógras chomh buíoch as an deis a thug Tomás dóibh spraoi agus taitneamh a bhaint as an nGaeilge mar theanga bheo, álainn, agus as a léargas maidir le forbairt nascanna le heagraíochtaí eile anseo agus thar sáile.
Go raibh míle maith agat as do chuid díograis, a Thomáis. Ar dheis Dé go raibh d’anam dílis.
The founding father of Ógras, Tomás Ó hEochaidh, has gone to his eternal reward. He founded Ógras in 1969 in his role as Conradh na Gaeilge Youth Officer. In 1980 he founded Scoil Aonghusa, the first all-Irish school in Drogheda. He organised Irish Classes, Seachtain na Gaeilge, and was active in his local GAA Club, Oliver Plunkett's. He and his wife Áine raised their children thorugh Irish.
The Chairperson of Ógras, Anita Mhic Gib, said that Tomás believed in giving every child the opportunity to practise their Irish in a fun and safe environment.
The Director of Ógras, Maedhbh Ní Dhónaill, said that young people in Ógras will be forever grateful to Tomás for giving them the opportunity to speak Irish as a beautiful, living language and she praised his vision in developing links with other organisations, both at home and abroad. Thank you for your commitment, a Thomáis. May you rest well.