Blackpool native, Tom Foley was born in 1943 and grew up near the Grotto, on Dublin Street. A pupil of Blackpool National School, Tom’s passion for history began at a young age, inspired by what he saw and heard in the friendly community around him.

When he left school at 16, he got a job in Murphy’s Brewery, starting off in the bottling store and then going out in the horse and cart and lorries. During his time in Murphy’s, Tom traveled widely during his holidays. After spending ten years in Murphy’s, Tom was made redundant but it wasn’t long before he landed in a new position in Youghal Carpets and spent twenty years there.

In 1994, Tom, together with Jim Fitzpatrick and several others established the Blackpool Historical Society which operated out of the Blackpool Community Centre. Over the years they organised a great deal of exhibitions and lectures and built up a fine photographic collection of Blackpool. In 2000, the society published Rare and Recent Photographs and in 2003 Cork’s Own Blackpool; they also produced a DVD: Blackpool to the Fore.

Tom also has a lifelong love for art and the history of art, especially colourful landscapes.