A TRUE legend of the showband era, and a Limerick icon in his own right, has passed away and gone on to “sing with the angels”.
70s singing sensation Tommy Drennan passed away this past Thursday (July 11), peacefully and surrounded by his loving family at Milford Care Centre in Castletroy.
Formerly of O’Donoghue Avenue of Janesboro and late of North Circular Road, the legendary showband songster led The Monarchs to nationwide fame and got many the body moving in dancehalls across Ireland.
Though he would go on to national acclaim as a leading light of the showband era in the 60s and 70s – with his name often uttered in the same sentence as the likes of Dickie Rock and Brendan Bowyer – and become a frequest guest on the Late Late Show, a young Tommy made his start with Limerick’s Redemptorist Choir at the tender age of 11 with an unforgettable rendition of O Holy Night.
He would later re-record the song that made his name, remixed with his childhood rendition, and beat The Beatles to the Christmas number one spot in 1971.
In his later years, Tommy sought to pass down the musical lessons he had learned in life, and began the Expressive Arts Theatre School alongside May O’Halloran and Pearl Kiely, as well as the Ennis Performing Arts school, to help usher along the next generation of musicians.
Paying tribute, another well known name in Limerick music, RTÉ Gold ‘Living in the 70s‘ presenter and former 2FM DJ Micky Mac wrote on RIP.ie that “Limerick has lost a real legend”.
“My mother Nora (Mrs Mac) was so proud of her former student when you went to number one on the pop charts,” he wrote.
“You sang with The Freshman at the famous High School Dance in the Stella and then carved out a nationwide career with The Monarch’s with numerous appearances on RTÉ Late Late and other shows.”
The radio DJ said he “will remember Tommy forever at Christmas”.
Other mourners recalled “the excitement of going to Expressive Arts on a Friday for the singing classes with Tommy on the keys and Pearl. He lit up the room when he walked in and was always good spirited and full of life. He was one of a kind.”
“Grew up listening to his wonderful singing, such a gift of a voice. May you now sing with the angels in your new home in heaven,” another heartbroken fan wrote.
Tommy will be sadly missed by Alice, his loving wife of 60 years, his children Linda (McKeon), Tom, John, and Brian, grandchildren Emma, Ben, Jack, Sean, Tom, Laura, Alice, Anna, and Genevieve, son-in-law Brendán, daughters-in-law Elaine and Cynthia, sister Mary, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and a wide network of friends and adoring fans.
Mr Drennan’s funeral will be arriving at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Ennis Road, on Monday (July 15), with Requiem Mass at 2pm, followed by a private cremation.
The family have requested no flowers, with a suggestion of donations, if desired, to Milford Care Centre.
