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The second annual Back to Castleblayney Festival takes place this weekend celebrating the contributions of Big Tom McBride, Paddy Cole and renowned photographer Dr JJ Clarke to the history and promotion of Oram and Castleblayney.
The festival takes its name from the Big Tom song which was penned by his great friend Johnny McCauley – a song that became synonymous with Big Tom and Castleblayney. It was played on the day back in 2014 when the Freedom of Castleblayney was bestowed on Big Tom and Paddy Cole.
Hundreds of people from around Ireland are heading to ‘Blayney for the weekend and the vast bulk of these are lifelong devotees of Big Tom and The Mainliners.
Oram will host a special night of story and song on Friday 20 September, where local people will recall stories of the local “gentle giant” who went on to become the greatest legend in Irish country music but who always and ever remained the same down to earth Tom McBride, son of Oram, as he did the first day he stepped on stage.
The show entitled “From the First Fall of Snow to the Sunset Years of Life” will recall memories of Tom and his amazing life journey that saw him command such a special place in the hearts of country music followers here in Ireland and internationally.
This part of the show has been scripted by Marina Ní Threasaigh and will also be narrated by her. Jim O’Neill, who was at the dance in Oram on the first night Tom sang on stage with the band, will recall memories of that occasion. This gets underway at 8pm.
It will be followed at 9.30pm by the Monaghan premiere of the documentary Making Tom, compiled by Taine King, a niece of Rose McBride, wife of Big Tom. The Friday night will also see a country concert in the Iontas Theatre featuring Susan McCann and this gets underway at 8pm. The night will feature music in many of the pubs around ‘Blayney town including the Stephen Smyth Band in the Old Coach Inn with the Mone Family providing music out in Oram Centre and Johnny Brady and his band on stage in the Glencarn Hotel.
The big focus on Saturday night will be in Oram GAA Centre where Tom McBride Jnr and his band will headline the big music night. Dedicated followers of the late Big Tom are expected to flock to Oram for this commemoration dance. The dance will also feature guest spots by Damian Davis from Oram (grandnephew of Big Tom), Cowboy Larry from Tyrone, Eamon Toal (former Ireland Eurovision representative), Paddy King (Oram) and Mick Mulhern from Mayo. The music starts at 9.30pm.
The Old Coach Inn in Castleblayney will also host a Big Tom Hooley starting at 10pm. Earlier on Saturday, Philip Darcy from Enniskillen will host his superb Remembering the Showbands Photo and Memorabilia Exhibition, in the Glencarn Hotel from 3pm. There will also be a Paddy Cole Celebration in honour of another favourite son of the town.
The Big Tom Memorial Vintage Tractor Run departs Oram at 1pm on Sunday. Later in the evening between 5pm and 7pm, there will be music at the Big Tom Statue in Castleblayney town to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the unveiling of the monument by President Michael D Higgins.
Tom McBride Jnr and his band along with special guests will bring the curtains down on the weekend festival when they perform in the Old Coach Inn on Sunday night while other venues around ‘Blayney will have their own music shows throughout the weekend. Tom Jnr and band are also playing on the afternoon of the annual Castleblayney Fair and Heritage Street Festival on Sunday week, 29 September.
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