There’s no doubt as to what is the most anticipated event in Irish country music circles this month. Big Tom and The Mainliners are returning to the scene for three dates as part of the celebrations of the golden jubilee of their first hit record.

It was back in 1966 that Big Tom recorded Gentle Mother, a seminal moment in the country music story here in Ireland. Five decades on, this song still resonates as one of the most famous recordings by any Irish country singer.

Tom McBride’s place in the Hall of Fame is carved in gold, just as it is in the hearts of the thousands who have followed this Monaghan legend and band throughout the years.

The Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny has the honour of hosting the first of the three major shows this Friday 13 May. Next up will be a trip to The Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, on Saturday 21 May. The West County in Ennis will follow on Saturday 28 May.

It is now pushing four years since Big Tom and the band performed a series of regular dates. While Tom has done the odd guest spot on concert shows since then, it is clear that patrons can hardly wait to see him and the band back on the main stage again.

The Late Late Show country music special last October cemented Tom’s special place as the iconic star of the country scene in Ireland. It was as if the entire show was building up to that magic moment when Tom came into the room.

The standing ovations and crescendo of emotions that spread out from the RTÉ studio in Dublin was a massive endorsement of the place this man from Monaghan commands in the hearts of so many Irish people.

Kevin McCooey, long-time manager of Big Tom and The Mainliners, says the goodwill ahead of the dates is simply phenomenal.

“There is a huge expectancy around these shows and we have been inundated with enquiries from all around the country and from the UK.

“All of The Mainliners are from within a few miles of each other. Sadly, we lost Cyril McKevitt a few years ago. All the other original members will join Big Tom for this tour. It will be lovely to see Henry and Seamus McMahon, John Beattie, Ronnie Duffy, and Ginger Morgan on the same stage again, as well as Martin Campbell, who joined the band in recent years.

“We want to stress that the three shows in May are all dances and tickets can be purchased at the door, just as in the old days.

“The amount of good wishes coming our way is remarkable. Big Tom reminds so many people of happy times in their lives. He comes from a great generation of rural Irish people and we all know we will never ever see his likes again,” states Kevin McCooey.

• Dancing at all three venues will be from 9pm to midnight, with The Outlaws as the support act each night. Big Tom and The Mainliners will be on stage at 10.15pm. CL