Celebrating the legacy of Big Tom

It will be a case of back to Castleblayney and Oram at the end of the month when this region of Monaghan celebrates the memory of the greatest legend in Irish country music, the inimitable Big Tom McBride.

Ceremonies to mark the sixth anniversary of the unveiling of the Big Tom statue in the town back in 2018 will take place from Friday to Sunday, 27 to 29 September. The main celebrations around Big Tom will be held on Saturday 28 in his home village of Oram.

Thousands of people have taken photos beside the famous statue since President Michael D Higgins presided at the official unveiling ceremony in September of 2018, just five months after Big Tom died on April 17.

The President gave a magnificent talk on the day and he captured the quintessential attributes of the Monaghan farmer who connected with the hearts of countless thousands of people in a manner we will never again witness in country music.

The creator of the statue, Mark Richards from England, is regarded as one of the finest sculptors in the UK and won the contract after public tender. His studio is in Stanton Lacy, Gloucestershire.

Another country legend, Margo O’Donnell, was the driving force behind the commission of the statue while Tom was still alive.

It was entirely fitting that both Tom and his beloved wife Rose, who predeceased him by just eleven weeks on 30 January (2018), got to see the prototype of the statue.

Tom even remarked at the time: “Anyone who looked at that will know it’s me alright!” an immediate stamp of approval for the work of Mark Richards.

Big Tom was the king of hearts. Among the Irish in England, he was the true superstar. In 1979, along with The Travellers who were his band at the time, he headlined the London-Irish Festival in Roundwood Park in London before a crowd of 84,000 people.

There is a whole new energy behind the celebrations this time and The Big Tom Song Challenge for people between the ages of 18 and 25 has attracted a lot of interest.

Eight finalists have been chosen for the contest that will be staged in Oram GAA Community Centre on Saturday afternoon at 3pm where all the participants will perform a song of their choice recorded by Big Tom with the winner securing the top prize of €5,000 sponsored by Monaghan County Council.

“There is a whole lot of goodwill out there for this special weekend at the end of the month,” said Margo.

“Like so many thousands, I loved Big Tom and Rose. They were the finest of people, humble, kind, warm and so generous.

“It is brilliant to see such cooperation between the Castleblayney Regeneration Committee, the local Vintage Club, the Big Tom Memorial Committee and Monaghan County Council as well as Heather (Humphries) who has been outstanding in supporting this celebration.

“We are also grateful to the Nationwide team from RTÉ who are doing a special on the Big Tom weekend that will air in the coming days.”

Like so many thousands, I loved Big Tom and Rose. They were the finest of people, humble, kind, warm and so generous

The big night in memory and honour of Big Tom gets underway in Oram Centre around 9pm on Saturday and will feature guest spots by Margo, Thomas McBride Jnr, John Glenn, Mick Mulhern, Anne Biddie, Michelle Murphy, Alex Black, John Scally and Dan Murtagh with the acclaimed Ryan Turner Band supporting all the acts.

The winner of the Big Tom Challenge will be announced during the night and Monaghan TD and Minister, Heather Humphries, will be along to present the prize.

The Castleblayney Vintage Fair Day has been organised to coincide with the weekend and will be staged on the streets of the town on Sunday, 29 September.

It will conclude with a big country night in Watters’ Old Coach Inn on Sunday night with Country Harmony, John Glenn, Thomas McBride Jnr, Damian Davis and Barry Doyle.

One thing is for sure, it will be country music all the way in ‘Blayney and Oram on the last weekend in September.