Death of leading DJ Eddie a sad loss to musical scene

The country music scene in Ulster lost a dear friend at the weekend with the passing of highly-respected DJ Eddie Madine.

The Drumaness man was known to everyone involved in country dancing, in particular, as he had worked at the Millbrook Lodge Hotel in Ballynahinch before moving on to the Sheepbridge in Newry.

For the past 10 years, he was the resident Saturday night DJ at the Mourne Country Hotel in Newry, where he played his selection of hits before the bands took to the stage.

Modest and unassuming, Eddie was extremely knowledgeable on music and his choice of material always ensured that Saturday nights went with a swing.

He had been closely associated with the hugely successful Teconnaught Festival in recent years, having pioneered the event by booking the top bands for which the festival has become famous.

A friend to bands throughout the country, DJ Eddie was invariably the first to play newly-released CDs and his input and warm personality will be sadly missed within the country music scene.

He is survived by his wife, Suzanne, four daughters and family circle to whom I extend my deepest sympathy.

And further tragedy struck the family of the late Big Tom, when Rita Bogdanova, the partner of his son, Dermot, died suddenly at the weekend following complications after giving birth to a baby girl.

The infant survived the birth and is doing well, according to family sources. The couple had two other children.

Big Tom himself died in April at the age of 81, less than three months after his wife Rose passed away.

Dermot McBride is wellknown in country music circles and had played a part in assisting with his late father’s highly successful reunion tours.

Sadly missed: Big Tom