It’s been years since Ireland lost one of its most beloved country music icons, but for Margo O’Donnell, the memories of Big Tom remain vivid — as warm and comforting as the songs they once sang, and the quiet friendship they shared away from the stage.
In a recent emotional interview, Margo opened her heart about the man she called not only a colleague, but “one of the truest friends I ever had.”
“Tom wasn’t just a star,” she said, tears gently touching her voice. “He was the kind of man who made you feel at home, even if you were far from it.”
They rose to fame in parallel paths — Margo as one of the first ladies of Irish country music, and Big Tom as the gentle giant whose voice felt like the heart of a nation. But behind the scenes, what bound them together wasn’t just music — it was mutual respect, loyalty, and a friendship that never once asked for the spotlight.
“He could make you laugh on your worst day,” Margo shared. “And he’d never let you feel small. In a business full of egos and noise, Tom was quiet. Humble. Real.”
She recalled their many shows together across Ireland’s dance halls — long nights on the road, and early morning chats over tea. What stood out, she said, wasn’t the crowds or applause, but the moments in between.
“He’d ask about my mother. He’d pray with me before a show. And he never forgot a birthday,” she smiled.
When Big Tom passed away in 2018, Ireland grieved — not just for a voice lost, but for a symbol of simpler times, of music that told the truth. Margo said she still feels his presence at every show.
“Sometimes I’ll be backstage, and I’ll hear his voice in my heart — telling me, ‘Go out there and sing it like you mean it.’ That was Tom. He sang everything like he meant it.”
Her tribute ended not with sadness, but with gratitude.
“He gave us everything he had. Every note, every mile, every ounce of kindness. I’ll carry his memory with me as long as I live. Because he wasn’t just a friend — he was family.”
And in the hearts of those who loved Irish country music, Big Tom McBride lives on — not just in songs, but in the stories, smiles, and quiet strength he left behind.