Limerick showband legend dies

A TRUE legend of the showband era - Limerick man, Tommy Drennan, has died. 

Originally from O’Donoghue Avenue in Janesboro, but most recently living on North Circular Road, he helped The Monarchs to shoot to fame and fill dance halls all over the country. 

Along with the likes of Dickie Rock and Brendan Bowyer, Tommy was considered a legend and celebrity in the showband world, which had taken over the Irish musical scene in the 60’s and 70’s. 

He joined the Redemptorist Choir when he was 11-years-old as a boy soprano and is most well known for his haunting rendition of O Holy Night. 

Tommy made it to number one in the charts with his version. 

Trawling through the Limerick Leader archives, Tommy once recalled himself: "Every Christmas there was a recital given by the choir from the altar. Fr John Torney was the choir master and he used to make tapes on an old Grundig tape recorder. He made quite a lot of recordings and he gave me a tape of myself singing O Holy Night. I took it home and put it into an old suitcase where it remained for years."

Speaking about the busy years of touring with the band, he said there were long days and nights and that they played a lot of cards and got very good at 45 and Lives. 

In 1972, Tommy later merged the O Holy Night recording from when he was 11 with a contemporary version, to create an incredibly unique and moving duet featuring the same person - but as a boy soprano and as an adult. 

It went straight to number one in the Christmas of 1972 and beat the Beatles. 

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It stayed in the coveted number one slot for five weeks and is often still played around Christmas time. 

1972 was the same year that Tommy formed his own band Top League, which he remained in for four years. 

Right up to his later years, he continued to sing, but in the corporate and cabaret scenes, long after many of the famous ballrooms had closed their doors for the final time. 

Tommy is survived by his wife Alice (nee Dillon), his wife for sixty years, who was working in the Limerick Leader when they were engaged. 

He will be sadly missed by his children Linda (McKeon), Tom, John and Brian, as well as his grandchildren, relatives, friends and neighbours. 

He died today (July 11, 2024) peacefully at Milford Care Centre surrounded by his loving family. 

Tommy’s funeral will take place on Monday next, July 15 at 2pm in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Ennis Road, followed by a private cremation and people are asked to give a donation to Milford Care Centre instead of flowers.