The enduring love for Big Tom

The enduring love for Big Tom McBride continues unabated and once again he is back in Ireland’s Top 20. This time, it is in the best-selling books section, where Tom Gilmore’s recently published book, Big Tom – The King of Irish Country, is proving hugely popular all over the country in the countdown to Christmas.

Tom, a well-known journalist with The Tuam Herald and a presenter on Galway Bay Radio, tells the story of the legendary Big Tom from Oram, Castleblayney, who touched the hearts of countless thousands of people in a career that spanned over five decades.

In the weeks after Tom’s passing in April, Tom Gilmore recorded some interviews with band members who played with Tom, numerous friends from over the years and also spoke to all four of Tom and Rose’s children: Thomas, Aisling, Dermot and Siobhan.

There are interviews with Henry McMahon, Kevin McCooey and various other names from the country music scene, all who knew and respected Big Tom in such a special way.

“Meeting people and doing those interviews gave me a huge sense of the unrivalled place Big Tom held in the hearts of the nation,” says Tom Gilmore.

“I got a huge insight into the life and times of the most charismatic singer in the history of country music in Ireland. He was, and always will be, regarded as the King of Country here in Ireland.”

Reeling through the years

The book, which runs to 256 pages, also features a major collection of photos from Tom’s career, some of which are published here for the first time.

It has spent several weeks in the Top 20 best-sellers here in Ireland, reaching number five, and it is expected to bounce back up the charts again in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It is already in its second print run.

“I have done launches in various parts of the country and the response is the same everywhere. Big Tom was like one of the family and he was an enduring link with the generations. The young people heard so much about him from their parents.

“I did a launch over in the Irish Centre in Manchester where we had a lovely gathering, and it was fascinating listening to some of the people recalling the fondest of memories of Big Tom. It was an emotional bond for so many of them.

“The Manchester launch was recorded for the Showcase channel on Sky 455 and the half-hour show, The Irish in the UK, hosted by Galway native Martin Logan, will air at 7.30pm on Thursday 20 December, with repeats on Saturday 22 December at 8.30pm and Christmas Day at 1pm,” says Tom Gilmore.

Presidential blessing

President Michael D Higgins, whose magnificent speech at the unveiling of the Big Tom monument in Castleblayney at the end of September captured so much in relation to the place of the Monaghan man in the hearts of so many people at home and overseas, recalled the legend.

“The love and appreciation for Big Tom came through friendship and meeting him on the streets and in the shops, pubs and dance halls.

“All who knew him speak of his remarkable warmth, compassion and generosity of spirit, a man who despite having great popularity and having achieved celebrity status, was humble about his great accomplishments,” said President Higgins.

Big Tom was a national institution whose outreach to the hearts of people will probably never be seen again. The loyalty to him was phenomenal and he was still attracting capacity crowds to all his shows right to the end.

Big Tom - The King of Irish Country Music is published by O’Brien Press and is available in outlets all over the island of Ireland and also direct from the publishers and some other online sites.