Glenamaddy tribute to Big Tom

The power of a song to promote a town or village can never be underestimated and Four Country Roads, a huge song for Big Tom in the 1980s, made him synonymous with Glenamaddy.

Big Tom drew huge crowds to the local dancehall, The House of Music, run by the late Joe O’Neill. Many people still refer to the song as Four Roads to Glenamaddy.

Julie Healy, a native of Glenamaddy, has organised a special tribute show in honour of the Monaghan legend and the Big Tom Night will be staged in Mannion’s of Glenamaddy on Friday night, 28 September, and Julie has even booked a marquee to cater for the expected crowd.

Julie Healy album cover.

Earlier in the day, local TD Michael Fitzmaurice will unveil a seat in memory of Big Tom, another venture organised by Julie. The night will also feature the launch of Julie’s new single, My Native Glenamaddy, composed by Seamus Fitzsimmons from England who will feature on the bill for his first trip to the west of Ireland.

Also taking part will be Michael O’Brien and Philomena McGovern, Mick Mulhern, PJ Murrihy, Kevin Prendergast, James Shevlin, Seán Walsh, Aoife Leonard, Tommy Burke and local man Mattie Clarke, who specialises in singing Big Tom songs. It is also expected that Dermot McBride, son of the late legend, will perform at the show. The compere is Michael Commins.

Two portraits of Big Tom by artists Matt Doyle will be auctioned on the night. The show starts at 9pm and admission is free.

Sligo show for COPD

The Benlbulben COPD Support Group will hold its annual fundraising show in the Sligo Southern Hotel on Tuesday 9 October. The proceeds from the night will assist in the purchase of medical equipment for Sligo Hospital to help people with COPD to cope with and manage lung disease.

Sligo musician and singer Michael McGloin, with the help of some dedicated friends, is once again organising this special event. The artists taking part in the show on this occasion are Eamonn Jackson, Kevin Prendergast, Caitriona Ni Cheannabháin, Paul Kelly, Anne Biddie, David Godfrey, Trevor Moyles, Róisín Murphy, John Nelson and Christine Reilly. The backing band features Brendan Magee and Eugene Cunningham, while Brendan will also be compere for the show. The concert starts at 8.15pm and admission is €10.

Dancing down Limerick way

A new series of Thursday night dancing gets underway in the Longcourt House Hotel in Newcastlewest on 4 October, with music by Dermot Lyons and band. The venue is hosting a concert on Thursday 11 October and returns with dancing to the Neily O’Connor Band on 18 October. Peter Burke, a popular entertainer on the Munster circuit, will entertain patrons on 25 October, while Adrian Ryan from Carlow, a brother of Derek, will be on stage on 1 November. Dancing is from 9pm to 11.30pm and admission is €10.

Tom Mulloy, the man who played for The Beatles

Tom Mulloy from Mulranny, who died last week, was a true Mayo legend. You broke into a wide smile every time you met him. He had an infectious way that lifted one’s spirits. He loved his home county with a passion.

Along with his brothers – Pat, Martin and Michael – they gave massive enjoyment to thousands and thousands of people for around 50 years. And they enjoyed every minute of being on stage themselves.

The Clancy Brothers were among their earliest musical influences. They even performed for John Lennon of The Beatles.

Tom related the story of the subsequent fame: “I went into a pub one night for a pint on my way to a dance in the Wavecrest (in Achill) and Neil Kilbane and The Colman Ceili Band were playing inside. ‘Here comes Tom Mulloy, the man who played for the Beatles’, Kilbane announced to the crowd. Jaysus, but I got a great kick out of that.

“And he was partly right. When John Lennon bought an island here in 1968, he came to Mulranny and stayed in The Great Southern Hotel. We were playing in Corrigan’s and a phone call came to see if we’d go down and play for him. I said we would if Tommy Corrigan allowed us.

“He did and the first song we sang for John Lennon and Yoko Ono was The Leaving of Liverpool. Sure what else could we sing and he from Liverpool. Pat got John Lennon’s autograph and to this day he doesn’t know where he put it.”

We will all miss Tom, the warm handshake, the brilliant jokes, the hearty laugh and loud voice and the way audiences loved this ballad group. Tom was truly unique and the west was in his heart and soul. Farewell to one of the greats. We’ll not see his likes again.