A three-hour tribute show for Irish country music legend Big Tom expects to attract a large crowd on Sky 191 when it airs tonight, Thursday, 5 February, at 8pm.

The show is generating massive interest in Ireland and among Irish country music followers in the UK.

Recorded on 22 January in the Glencarn Hotel in Castleblayney, the hometown of Big Tom and The Mainliners, the show features a host of famous faces as they look back at the story of a singer and a band whose appeal and endurance has now spanned five decades.

I had the great privilege of anchoring the show and, along with support from Pierce O’Reilly and the large and dedicated team from Irish TV, including former Late Late Show producer Theo O’Grady, we presided over a night that looks set to hold a special place in the annals of Irish country music history.

This long overdue tribute to Ireland’s iconic king of country is sure to resonate strongly in the heartlands where Tom has been regarded as a national treasure for decades.

Since the mid-1960s, Big Tom and The Mainliners have travelled the highways and byways of Ireland. They have toured the UK extensively, where they played to thousands of Irish emigrants in iconic dancehalls like the Shamrock in Birmingham, the Carousel in Manchester and the Galtymore in London.

Magic night

It was a magic night in the Glencarn Hotel as those lucky enough to secure tickets shared in the unique atmosphere of an unforgettable occasion. Big Tom was accorded a standing ovation as he came on stage and again at the end of the night.

Big Tom and The Mainliners’ last time together before this night was back in Donegal town in October 2013. So it was little wonder that the fans raised the roof when they saw their heroes on stage performing their signature tune, Lonesome At Your Table.

It was great to see The Mainliners together again, featuring Henry and Seamus McMahon, John Beattie, Ginger Morgan, Ronnie Duffy and Martin Campbell. The late Cyril McKevitt was also fondly remembered on the night. Among those from the Irish country scene who performed on the show were Margo O’Donnell, Brian Coll, Gene Stuart, John Glenn, Philomena Begley, John Glenn, Declan Nerney, TR Dallas, Susan McCann and Sean Hughes.

The occasion also marked the reunion of Tom’s other band, The Travellers, who disbanded in the mid-1980s.

There was a special moment towards the end of the show where Rose McBride joined Tom for a short interview and a few good laughs.

The show also features some nostalgic memories and a number of tributes from other well-known people in showbiz. For the many followers of Big Tom and The Mainliners, this is a show to treasure.

Show to remember

“This is a fabulous tribute to one of the true greats of Irish country music,” said Irish TV CEO and presenter Pierce O’Reilly.

“It’s fantastic to see that, at 78 years of age, the king of country can still take to the stage and entertain the crowds – and there are no more appreciative crowds around than in his home town of Castleblayney.

“That so many big names felt it such an honour to perform on the night just goes to show what an impact Big Tom has had on country music in Ireland.”

Irish TV began broadcasting in May 2014 and recently created 20 jobs in their new regional base in Kerry. It is fast becoming a major player in the television market.

The chief backer of Irish TV is Mayo man John Griffin, a native of Currane, Achill, who sold a multi-million pound business in London in recent years.

The Big Tom Tribute Show will air tonight (Thursday) at 8pm on Sky 191, Freesat 400, eVision 191, all free-to-air boxes and online at www.irishtv.ie. A repeat will air on Sunday night, 8 February, at 8pm.