1996/99
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Stateside beckons once more for Ballina's radio maestro
11 February 1998
By Tom Shiel
Enniscrone holds many memories for Tommy Murphy. The flames of the great love of his life, music, were fanned for him when on summer nights, as a schoolboy, he heard the glorious sounds of the Big Bands drifting across the resort from the Marine Ballroom.
Young Murphy shyly made his way to the Marine where a drummer, sensing his curiosity and eagerness to learn, gave him lessons. Tommy was hooked and a set of drumsticks has rarely been out of his nimble hands since.
Now in mellow middle-age, Tommy Murphy has built up a reputation not alone has a musician but as a talented broadcaster. The mellifluous voice is well known to listeners of Mid & North West Radio and his talent as a communicator has spread further afield to America.
Next month, the father of four will be packing his bags for his annual visit to the towns of Quincy in Illinois and St. Patrick's, Missouri in the United States. Tommy is the Honorary Lifetime Mayor of St. Patrick's and he has been to the area on no less than nine consecutive occasions.
Tommy has a regular slot on a number of U.S. radio stations. Presenters ring him for an overview of what is happening on the social and political scene in Ireland. He is grateful for the opportunity because he absolutely loves the medium of radio and has a special rapport with Americans whom he regards as very genial and hospitable.
HOME HAS A STUDIO
Indeed, the neat house at Lord Edward Street, Ballina where Tommy lives with his wife, Beenie (formerly Beenie Corcoran from Ballina) has more than a touch of a radio studio about it with one upstairs room converted to serve as a recording area.
Then there's the famous Murphy collection of records, CD's and tapes which occupy every available space in the building. "I've everything here from classical to jazz, from American Country to showband records. They do take up a lot of room".
At this latter remark, an obviously house-proud Beenie, who had been listening, nodded her head in agreement.
Apart from the more contemporary material, Tommy has a huge collection of old 78 records. All the great tenors are there, Count John McCormack among them, and the recordings of dancebands from all over the world figure prominently in his vast library.
Tommy Murphy was born in England but reared in Enniscrone. His mother, Frances (Cissy) Gannon was a native of the Enniscrone area as was his father, Tommy .Both parents had a love of music although they practiced it very little.
At the tender age of 14, having just left National School, Tommy played with the Jimmy Honeyman Band. After emigrating to England at sixteen, he worked in an office. On his return home, Tommy eventually became a drummer with the legendary Jack Ruane Band.
He was playing with Jack at the time he met Beenie. The couple decided to go to England. Tommy went over first and secured work there. Beenie , who was to later work as a solicitor's clerk in London, followed him over.
The couple came home to be married in 1960. They are now the proud parents of four grown ups: Barry, Paula, Brendan and Peter.
Tommy now recalls with fondness his Big Band' days. "Dancing is a thing of the past", he says. "What you see on the dancefloor can hardly be classed as dancing anymore".
PIRATE RADIO
When pirate radio became established in the eighties, Tommy, with his natural radio voice and huge collection of music, was eagerly sought after by station bosses.
He worked for a while with Alternative Radio West, based in Ballina. At the time Tommy Marren, now one of the leading presenters on Mid & North West Radio, was developing his talents there.
Later, there were spells with Castle Radio, based in Belleek Castle; Westward Radio and Twin County Radio which served part of County Sligo.
When the licensed Mid-West Radio came on air in 1989, Tommy Murphy was a natural choice as a presenter. The top-rated "Tommy Murphy Show" goes in air at 7 a.m. every Sunday morning which means a 5.40 a.m. start for Tommy to Ballyhaunis from his Ballina home.
"At first I was a bit nervous when Paul Claffey offered me the early Sunday morning slot", Tommy admits. "I thought everyone would be in bed at that time of the morning. Then I ran a phone quiz to test the listenership and was pleased and was relieved to find there were lots of people out there up and about, bright and breezy, and listening to my programme."
Tommy still dallies with his first love, the drums. He plays with the Riverboat Jazz band in the well known Moyside establishment of that name and also does the occasional stint with P.J. Duffy. Photographs on walls of the Murphy home bear testament to the many well known performers Tommy has either played with or rubbed shoulders with over the decades- for instance, the backing band for Slim Whitman, Sandie Shaw and Dana to mention but a few.
Tommy Murphy confesses he hasn't much time for modern music -He says: "I can't understand most of it". Yet when asked jokingly to name the five Spice Girls, he quickly reels off the names of four of them.
It just goes to prove that where a question of music is involved, Tommy Murphy is rarely found wanting.
Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - February 1998
