Biography:

Big Tom and The Mainliners were a Country and Irish showband from the Castleblayney area of County Monaghan, Ireland.

1966–1975

Originally named the “Mainliners Showband”, sometimes prefixed with the word “Mighty”, and already beginning to make a name on the country music scene in Ireland and Scotland, particularly since mid 1965 when the late John McCormack of Rockcorry became their manager, the band received its biggest break and widespread fame appearing on RTÉ Television‘s Showband Show broadcast on Saturday, 21 May 1966.

In Big Tom McBride’s own words, published in the Connaught Telegraph on 27 June, 1984, their appearance on it was “made possible by the herculean efforts of Tommy Toal” aka Fat Sam, late and much-lamented radio presenter, singer, entertainer, and a pioneer of Local and Community Radio in Ireland with Radio Monaghan, Big M and Hometown Radio in his native town of Castleblayney. On the Showband Show, Tom sang Gentle Mother and such was the huge positive public response and demand for more, it was soon recorded and reached number 7 in the Irish charts.

Original line up 1966

• “Big” Tom McBride– lead vocals, saxophone, rhythm guitar
• Seamus McMahon – lead guitar, fiddle, vocals
• Henry McMahon – tenor sax, vocals, bandleader, percussion
• John Beattie – keyboards, piano
• Cyril McKevitt – trombone, vocals
• Ronnie Duffy – drums, vocals
• Ginger Morgan – Bass guitar, vocals

Credits: