Career
Established since 1966, he is currently front man of the Irish showband Big Tom and The Mainliners. He is affectionally known as "Ireland"s king of country music"
2000 – Big Tom underwent a nodule operation on his throat. September 2004 – Big Tom was reported to have been in a list of Irish tax evaders.
8 July 2005 – A plaque was erected by the local community in Big Tom"s home village.
November 2006 – Big Tom suffered a sudden heart attack at the age of 70, this had put doubt into whether he would ever tour again with his band. 1 February 2008 – Big Tom began a 12 date tour of Ireland after doctors gave him the all clear.
24 March 2008 – Big Tom performed at Castlebar"s TF Ballroom"s final farewell night (in its current guise) but he was reported to have taken ill on stage during the performance. 25 May 2008 – Big Tom performed for the closure night of the Galtymore dance hall in Cricklewood, London.
27 July 2008 – Big Tom was headline act at London"s Irish Festival.
23 November 2008 – Big Tom headlined the Claremorris dance festival weekend. July 2009 – K-MAC Records announce more dates in Ireland for Big Tom and the Mainliners which commence August 2009. 14 August to 13 September 2009 – Successful tour of Ireland with large attendances to venues.
The highlight being the Glencarn Hotel in Tom"s home town Castleblayney where the concert was packed to capacity.
The tour ended in Ennis with fans travelling many miles to see Tom and the band. Two days after the end of the tour the band"s Trombone player and vocalist Cyril McKevitt died of a heart attack.
8 November 2009– Big Tom will be back in Claremorris to headline the Michael Cummins Dance weekend. 2010 Big TOM announces an extensive series of tour dates
2011–present Tom and the band continue to perform with sporadic appearances.
Other details
Big Tom suffers from a fear of flying, in 1980 he undertook a sea voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to record his Blue Wings album in Nashville.
Big Tom has hit the Top Ten numerous times in the popular charts of Ireland:.
