Michael Commins
COUNTRY legend Big Tom took ill during the final dance in the Royal Ballroom in Castlebar on Easter Monday night. The Monaghan singer was unable to continue after around 45 minutes on stage and, for the first time in over 40 years on the circuit, had to cut short his appearance on the night.
Big Tom and his wife Rose arrived in Castlebar on the previous evening and were among the attendance at the Charley Pride concert in the theatre on Easter Sunday night. On Monday afternoon, Tom encountered severe stomach pains and was admitted to Mayo General Hospital across the road from the hotel.
Medical staff at the hospital performed a number of tests and the singer was released around 8pm. He was later interviewed by the GMTV crew for a special programme they were doing on the closing of the ‘old’ Royal Ballroom.
Determined not to disappoint the many followers who had travelled from as far away as Waterford, Tipperary, Tyrone and Louth, and some from England, Tom came on stage just after 10.30pm. Around 30 minutes into the show, a high stool was brought in to facilitate him during his break from the microphone. As worried supporters observed that he was coming under pressure, Tom took a break for a few minutes before returning, minus his guitar, to sing one of his number one hits, ‘Old Love Letters’.
Obviously feeling unwell at this stage, he retired again …and was unable to take part in the rest of the show. Fulfilling the old adage that the show must go on, the other six members of the original Mainliners played through to the end of the night.
“Big Tom felt he would be able to do the entire show,” said his manager Kevin McCooey during the week. “But he was weaker than he thought he was and the pains took their toll and he was unable to continue. I’d say 99 per cent of people understood the situation and, to be honest, all they were concerned about was that he’d be okay. These things happen now and again and there’s nothing you can do about them. I know he’d love to come back again for one of the first dances in the new Royal when it opens later in the year.”
Big Tom underwent a series of checks and tests at Monaghan General Hospital last Wednesday and Thursday after returning to his home county from Castlebar. His wife Rose confirmed that he was in much better form at the weekend and that the pains had cleared up. “No one was more disappointed than himself. It never happened to him before. He’s been taking things easy all the week and underwent the tests over in Monaghan hospital.
“I know he’d like to go back again. We’ll see what the summer brings. He’s due to headline the big London-Irish Festival on July 27 and, if things go well, he might do one or two more shows along the way.”
