The overflow congregation in Bansha Church reflected the enormous regard in which Sam O’Doherty was held by so many people on the entertainment circuit across Munster and further afield. The news of his passing was received with huge sadness, as many were not aware that he had been in hospital in recent weeks. He was gigging as normal up until the end of January.
The overflow congregation in Bansha Church reflected the enormous regard in which Sam O’Doherty was held by so many people on the entertainment circuit across Munster and further afield.
The news of his passing was received with huge sadness, as many were not aware that he had been in hospital in recent weeks. He was gigging as normal up until the end of January.
Sam (72) was one of the most gifted entertainers in the country and it was a mystery to me why he was not one of Ireland’s superstars, because he truly deserved to be.
Four years ago, Sam was chuffed when he was honoured with the Farmers Journal Country Sound Hall of Fame Award at a gala concert in the Hodson Bay Hotel near Athlone.
It was a long overdue recognition at national level for a man who was one of the most natural entertainers ever to grace a stage in Ireland. He received a huge reception from the appreciative audience.
Sam was honoured in 2013 with a Mayoral Reception in the Town Council Offices in Tipperary Town. He was lauded for his contribution to the social and music life of the region over five decades and his lifelong love for and promotion of the traditional ballads and songs of the country.
The Galtee Mountain Boy
The Council Chamber had seldom seen such light-hearted abandonment as Sam launched into one of his most requested songs, The Galtee Mountain Boy.
“It was a lovely honour they bestowed on me and I was delighted with the welcome,” Sam told me at the time.
“This was a different setting than I am used to at gigs around the country. I had to be on my best behaviour and looking the part, you know what I mean like.
"It’s not every day you are honoured in your own county. Fr Michael Hickey was there to lend support and a good many more too.
“The years have taught me the ability to size-up a room of people right away. I knew after a while they were only raring for me to play the accordion and sing a song.
"I am not a man to disappoint an expectant crowd. What better song to sing there than the Galtee Mountain Boy. They loved it."
Standing ovation
The first time I saw Sam perform was at the Enjoy Travel Festival in Ibiza about 10 years ago. He did his own concert and received a standing ovation at the end of the show.
For me he was an automatic choice when I was asked to nominate some people for The Half Door series, which I hosted for Irish TV a few years ago.
We had a brilliant day filming with Sam in his home in Bansha and his wife, Kate, made sure we did not lack for food or drink.
He gave the three lads from the film crew a few crates of beer to bring home with them after their day’s work.
On another visit to his home in Bansha, Sam recalled his first time on stage was as a young chap when he played the melodeon with a local céilí band in the Tower Ballroom in Tipperary town.
I’ll never forget the night they gave me a half-crown. I ran home to my mother and told her. I can still see the horse’s head on it.
It was not long until Sam progressed to a local three-piece band that also featured Chris Buckley, an uncle of country singer Jimmy Buckley and Timmy Callaghan.
“We called ourselves Just 3 and we were together for 26 years. We played a lot of weddings, political socials for all the parties, creamery dances, guards dances, Macra and ICA dances.”
Sam met up with Nick McCarthy, who arrived back in his native Tipperary after many years away in England.
“Nick and myself grew up in the same street in Tipperary town. He asked me over to join him for a gig at the Irish Festival in Southport. That was the start of Mac and O and we had some great years on the circuit.
“For a good many years I was doing the ballads in all the big lounges. Then the dancing started and it was great for the likes of me.
"As long as you can do the quicksteps, waltzes and foxtrots and a few sets, it is easy to get along on our circuit. Being a box player myself is a great advantage.”
Advice
During that interview, Sam passed on his advice to folks in the business.
“Be nice to people and it is very important to get their first names. You have to have the lilt and the banter ….’how’s she cutting’, you have to have that, ‘how’s she going there, it’s great to see ye again’.
"At the end of the night, I always say ‘And that’s it, thank you very much for coming, say Goodnight Sam’ and they always shout back ‘goodnight, Sam.”
Goodnight Sam
He was an absolute legend and we all loved Sam.
He was a total one-off, unique in every way, one of the greatest all-round entertainers I ever knew. Sam brought great happiness to the hearts of many.
Well, goodnight Sam, we will never see your likes again. Tipperary and Ireland has lost an absolute legend.
To Kate and all the family, sons, Shane and Sammy, daughters, Kay, Saine, Samantha and Aisling, grandchildren, in-laws, brother, Thomas, sister, Teresa, the family circle and friends, sincere condolences at this sad time.
“I bid farewell to old Clonmel that I never more will see. And to the Galtee mountains that oft times sheltered me. To the men who fought for liberty and who died without a sigh. May their cause be ne’er forgotten said the Galtee Mountain Boy.”
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