Great sadness at passing of Rose McBride

It was with immense sadness that the country music fraternity learned of the recent passing of Rose McBride (nee King), wife of country legend Big Tom. News of her death, following a short illness ,came as a big shock to all who knew her and held her in such regard over many years.

Rose (73) was a heart and soul country woman and so proud of Oram, Castleblayney and Monaghan. The McBride home has always been a welcoming one, with people calling by day after day down through the years.

When Country Sound was launched here in the Farmers Journal seven years ago, our very first story featured a visit to the home of Tom and Rose in Oram. The renowned welcome was warm and special, and we knew we were at the heart of one of the truly great stories in Irish country music.

Some months ago, Mary Kennedy and the RTÉ Nationwide show team visited the family home and dedicated an entire show to the McBrides.

Rose was immersed in the community life of Oram and had a great fondness for the local chapel, where she helped out on a weekly basis over many years.

She undertook several fundraising walks with Rehab, some overseas in the Holy Land and America, and raised thousands for various causes. The McBride family have quietly, and away from the limelight, helped so many people over the decades.

She was a passionate Oram and Monaghan GAA supporter and also served as Lady Captain at Castleblayney Golf Club, where she made numerous friends.

Rose was Tom’s guiding light, the one who was always there for him and the family. She never lost that lovely rapport she had with people of all backgrounds who felt so at home in her company.

The very large attendance at the funeral mass in Oram was a fitting tribute to an absolute lady, who was loved and respected by the legion of Big Tom followers everywhere.

Rose will be greatly missed by Tom and their family, Thomas, Dermot, Aisling and Siobhan, in-laws, grandchildren, brothers and sister, the family circle, neighbours and so many friends.

Margo for Ballyliffin show

Margo will host her own special show at The Strand Hotel, Ballyliffin, Co Donegal, on Friday night, 16 February, at 8pm. This will be a special evening for many of Margo’s loyal followers. The guest artists are Donegal singers Shunie Crampsey and Keelan.

Michael as guest

South Derry native Michael Mawhinney is looking forward to a special few days in his life, when he will feature as a guest artist alongside some of the top names on the Irish showbusiness scene.

The young man from Ballymaguigan will feature as a guest artist, along with Ray Lynam and Philomena Begley, on the Mike Denver concert tour at the Millennium Forum in Derry on Thursday, 16 February, when a busload of Michael’s fans will travel to the show from his home parish in Newbridge and Ballymaguigan.

Michael is also on the bill at the Brendan Grace Show in the Armagh City Hotel on Thursday, 22 February, on a show which also features Ray and Phil, along with Caitlin Murtagh.

Take Me As I Am is the latest 12-track album from Michel, which features some well-known songs including Mary Ann Regrets, My Old Home In Mayo, How Great Thou Art, In My Father’s House, Old Loves Never Die, I’ll Settle For Crossing Her Mind and If I Ever Fall In Love With A Honky Tonk Girl.

Pat Lynch dies in Cork

Former showband singer Pat Lynch died in Cork in recent days. Pat fronted The Airchords Band and enjoyed some good years on the circuit from the mid-1960s to the early ’70s. He also was a regular on the Cork Showband Nostalgia nights, where he always went down a treat.

Pat (84) had two number one records in the Irish Top 20. His first chart-topper was Treat My Daughter Kindly in December 1967. When We Were Young, topped the charts in March 1971 and went on to become the song most synonymous with the man from Blackpool in Cork city. Other chart hits for Pat were The Leaving of Liverpool, The Irish Solider Boy and Three Good Reasons.

Tony Stevens, who has performed on several of the Cork Showband Nostalgia Shows with Pat, says they will all miss him: “Pat was a real professional and had a wonderful ability to deliver a song from the heart. He retained a great love for the music and stage to the end. He was a real gentleman and was a Corkman through and through.”

Condolences are tendered to his family circle and friends at this sad time.

Keeping it in the family

Carmel Sheerin from Westmeath has released her brand new single. The song, Another Town, was composed by her uncle Kevin Sheerin, a member of the original Hillbillies band, and was a major hit for Ray Lynam back then.

Carmel is a member of the renowned Sheerin Family Band and has been much to the fore in bluegrass circles in Ireland over the last decade. CL