Ireland has lost a true legend from the showband era 60's

The renowned Irish country music singer, Big Tom McBride, has died at the age of 81.

Mr McBride's career spanned more than five decades on the Irish country music scene.

In a statement, his family said Mr McBride had "passed away peacefully".

They said he would "be sadly missed by all who knew him". The County Monaghan man was inducted into the Irish Country Music Awards Hall of Fame in June 2016.

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