Tributes paid to man of Faith, Big Tom

Dubbed Ireland’s king of country music Big Tom was also described as a man who was “very committed to his locality and parish” after his death this week. Tributes have streamed in for the music legend, who died aged 81 on Tuesday. Thomas McBride [his real name] dominated the showband scene in the 1960s and is known for defining country music in Ireland.

Fr Brian D’Arcy said Tom attended a Mass he held every year for people in the entertainment business. They would “go and have a Mass and a quiet little talk about things, and maybe a sing-song after the Mass too,” Fr Brian said, “it’s a chance for a spiritual get together as well as a community get together”.

“Tom always came to those, always enjoyed them very, very much, and always sang at them. He’d sing a religious song if you asked him and afterwards he’d sing whatever kind of song he wanted to. He was a very respectful man and knew what was important in life.”

Fr Brian told The Irish Catholic that the late star’s 2005 hit ‘The Same Way You Came In’ was an expression of his philosophy of life: “Don’t get above yourself, know what your gifts are, know where your gifts came from and always enjoy using them.”

His death comes shortly after his wife Rose, who passed away in January. They had been married for 50 years.

“His wife Rose of course was the centre of the parish activities there in Oram and she died recently and we all knew that in the graveyard that day that Tom wouldn’t last long without Rose, because she had cared for him so well and they had been so close. So it transpired,” Fr Brian added.

Msgr Joseph McGuinness released a statement on behalf of the Diocese of Clogher saying Big Tom brought “great joy to many people, both in Ireland and worldwide, through his singing and his music”.

Strong
 team

‘But Tom McBride was more than just a singer. Above all, he was a family man. He and his late wife Rose formed a strong team in their household and in the wider community. Tom was a pivotal member of the community in his native Oram, where he contributed greatly through farming and sport. He was very proud of that community and of Co. Monaghan in general.”

Big Tom and Rose are survived by their four children Thomas, Dermot, Aisling and Siobhán.