Tribute to country legend big tom on irish tv

A special two-hour tribute show to Irish country music legends Big Tom and the Mainliners will air on Irish TV this Thursday (February 5).

Recorded on January 22 in the Glencarn Hotel in their hometown of Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, the tribute show will feature a host of famous faces as they look back on the band’s career.

The two-hour programme will air at 8 p.m. on Sky 191, Freesat 400, eVision 191, all free-to-air boxes and online at www.irishtv.ie. A repeat will air on Sunday, February 8, at 8 p.m.

Irish country music stars including Declan Nerney, Margo and Philomena Begley performed on the night, as did Big Tom and the Mainliners. Tom was also joined for the tribute by the likes of his former band The Travellers and Paddy King, John Glen, Susan McCann, Sean Hughes, Gene Stewart and Brian Coll.

The show will also include special interviews with those closest to Tom, as well as people who knew him down through his career.

This tribute show will be a culmination of almost half a decade of hits, including their first big one, ‘Gentle Mother’, and others such as ‘Old Log Cabin for Sale’, 'The Sunset Years of Life’, 'Broken Marriage Vows’, ‘I Love You Still’ and ‘Old Love Letters’.

“This is a fabulous tribute to one of the true greats of Irish country music,” said Irish TV 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 hometown of Castleblayney.

“There were some big names performing on the night, which just goes to show what an impact Big Tom has had on country music in Ireland.'