They sang and even jived for a true star
Daniel leads mourners and stars honouring Big Tom
‘THE King will live on,’ declared Daniel O’Donnell yesterday, and the stars of Irish country music who gathered to mourn Big Tom agreed.
As did the thousands of mourners who descended on the rural townland of Oram, Co. Monaghan, to pay their last respects to the star who died on Tuesday, aged 81.
O’Donnell told the media: ‘In country music, there’s no question, that he was the King, and he will be the King. He may be gone, but the King will live on, in everybody’s hearts and certainly in his music. He didn’t carry the title of king or stardom very well. He was a real down-to-earth man.’
And singer Susan McCann said: ‘My God, he will never be forgotten, because there was only one Big Tom. Irreplaceable. He had a magic that nobody else... that no entertainer that I know of, had.
‘He was the daddy of us all.’ Singers performed hits at his graveside including Pretty Little Girl From Omagh, Gentle Mother and Going Out The Same Way You Came In.
Some even jived to the more catchy numbers, after the coffin, draped with an Oram Sarsfields GAA flag, was carried in.
President Michael D Higgins visited Big Tom’s family home on Thursday evening, and he was represented at the funeral by his aide de camp, while Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was also represented.
An Oram GAA flag, Big Tom’s Golden Disc, a tractor, a guitar, a fishing rod, and family photos were brought forward by family members to celebrate his life.
Fr Leo Creelman told mourners that they day was ‘a heartbreaking replay of events’ for the family, after they buried their mother – Big Tom’s wife Rose – earlier this year.
‘When Rose died a massive part of Tom went with her. He was lost, dazed and brokenhearted,’ Fr Creelman said. ‘He was a man big in stature, matched up with an even bigger heart. Despite all his success and fame, he always remained humble and down-toearth – and first and foremost a family man.
‘He was referred to as a legend, a giant, an icon, a king, labels often liberally thrown out about others, but titles that Big Tom richly deserved and earned after decades of success in the country music scene, culminating with a lifetime achievement award at the Irish Country Music Awards in 2016.’
But he was happiest with his wife and children.
‘He loved his home, he loved his family, he loved the land. Locals here would often see Tom travelling round the little roads on his quad,’ said Fr Creelman.
‘Not only would they see him but hear him too, as that noisy exhaust never seemed to get fixed.’
He told the packed church that Big Tom enjoyed golf, John Wayne films and water skiing. His career spanned five decades and he is survived by sons Thomas and Dermot, daughters Aisling and Siobhán, and sister Madge. Comment – Page 14
jenny.friel@dailymail.ie
‘He loved his home and his family’