He wrote the ballad "The Bould Thady Quill" (c.1895), a spoof on a non-athlete, and two other noted poems: "The Battle Ship Sinn Féin" (c.1905), his only patriotic piece, and "The Wild Bar-A-Boo" (c.1910), spoofing the noted Muskerry fox chase that originated in Ballincollig and passed through his townland near Rylane, County Cork.
Mary was the aunt of another famous Corkman, Peter Golden (1877-1926): author, actor, poet and patriot.
Johnny Tom, trying to follow in his brother's priestly footsteps, reportedly enrolled in a seminary, but for some reason, possibly the regimented life, he returned to his family's farm.
Whenever he needed money, he would wander out into the fields hopefully to find a young cow, lamb, or foal he could sell.
In this regard, Johnny Tom was more noted for his lilting or "dideling" (i.e., the rapid "di-diddle-dee-dee" approach to singing).
Johnny Tom played and sang at set-dances in the vale below his uncle David Gleeson's house.
This same vale was on the route of the noted Muskerry fox chase, which Johnny Tom immortalized in his ballad "The Wild Bar-A-Boo."
About two months before his death, in failing health, Johnny Tom sold his farm and moved in with Paddy (c.1878 - c.1925) and Lena (c.1870 - c.1933) Corkery, his neighbors.
On Sunday, 16 August 1970, a plaque was unveiled by a group of Cork dignitaries to mark the grave of Johnny Tom near the wall outside South Kilmurry Church.