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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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The late Big Tom McBride.
THE popular Nationwide show on RTÉ One this evening, September 20 (7pm-7.30pm), will feature a special tribute to legendary country singer, Big Tom McBride, ahead of the commemorative celebrations in Monaghan the following week.
Presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh and the production team of Suzanne and Brian Walsh (Waterford) visited Oram and Castleblayney in recent days where they recorded interviews with locals in his home village as well as others beside the Big Tom monument in Castleblayney.
Bláthnaid and the team were delighted with the warm welcome and the show on Friday evening looks set to attract a huge audience all around the country.
The ceremonies to mark the sixth anniversary of the unveiling of the Big Tom statue in the town in 2018 will take place from Friday to Sunday, September 27 to 29. The main celebrations around Big Tom will be held on Saturday, September 28 in his home village of Oram.
Thousands of people have taken photos beside the famous statue since President Michael D Higgins presided at the official unveiling ceremony in September of 2018, just five months after Big Tom died on April 17.
There is a whole new energy behind the celebrations this time and The Big Tom Song Challenge for people between the ages of 18 and 25 has attracted a lot of interest.
Eight finalists have been chosen for the contest that will be staged in Oram GAA Community Centre on Saturday afternoon (September 28) at 3pm where all the participants will perform a song of their choice recorded by Big Tom with the winner securing the top prize of €5,000 sponsored by Monaghan County Council. I have the honour of being compére for this event.
The big night in memory and honour of Big Tom gets underway in Oram Centre around 9pm on Saturday and will feature guest spots by Margo, Thomas McBride Jnr, John Glenn, Mick Mulhern, Anne Biddie, Michelle Murphy, Alex Black, John Scally and Dan Murtagh with the acclaimed Ryan Turner Band supporting all the acts. The winner of the Big Tom Challenge will be announced during the night and Monaghan TD and Minister, Heather Humphries, will be along to present the prize. One thing is for sure, it will be country all the way in ‘Blayney and Oram on the last weekend in September.
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