Henry McMahon obit

‘A real gentleman and genius’ – tributes paid after death of Irish country music star Henry McMahon of The Mainliners

 

He was not on the list.

Musician Henry McMahon, who died peacefully at home on Sunday in his native Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, leaves a significant handprint on the Irish country music scene.

The sax player co-founded Ireland’s country music supergroup The Mainliners with his lifetime friend, the iconic Big Tom McBride, as singer back in 1965.

From humble beginnings playing dinner dances and small local halls, The Mainliners, who developed their own unique sound, became one of Ireland’s biggest bands after scoring a smash hit with Gentle Mother, a song that Big Tom picked up in London from Irish emigrant brothers while working there in the 1960s. Henry had also worked in London.

In addition to his success as band leader of The Mainliners, who all lived within a short distance of each other around Castleblayney, McMahon would go on to become a prolific songwriter in the 1990s for other artists.

He also helped to launch and manage the careers of newcomers who would go on to become household names on the Irish country scene.

It was Big Tom who recorded his first batch of original songs that included The Little Hills of Monaghan, An Irish Nurse, Old Father Time and One More Christmas With You.

His songs were recorded by country queens Philomena Begley (Way Back Then) and Margo (Footsteps Through The Rosses), and he wrote Robert Mizzell’s hit, Mama Courtney.

Country star Michael English credited McMahon with his own success as a singer describing him as “a true legend in Irish entertainment and someone I owe so much to throughout my career”.

“Henry was first and foremost a real gentleman. He was also a genius in every way and started my career when he wrote The Nearest to Perfect for me,” he said.

“I honestly believe that I wouldn’t be in showbusiness today without him and that song.

“It would certainly have been much more difficult to make that start without him by my side. I was also very fortunate to have Henry manage me in the beginning.

“Henry was truly one of life’s gentlemen and will be greatly missed by so many.”

Singer Jimmy Buckley said: “Henry played a huge part in my life through his management and songwriting.

“He wrote Your Wedding Day and co-wrote My Mother with me, among numerous other great songs. He was a brilliant character and he loved life, his family and all genres of music.

“His legacy will no doubt be his songwriting and the fact that he wrote many country hits in Ireland over the last 30-plus years.

“Those of us who were fortunate enough to receive a Henry McMahon song were so lucky.

“I went to see him in the last few days and had the opportunity to thank him for the impact he had on my life as an artist and a singer, to which he smiled and said in his humble way ‘you’re very welcome Jimmy’.”

McMahon also set singer Gerry Guthrie on the country road to a successful career.

Guthrie said: “In our business you need someone who believes in you and is in your corner at all times. Henry was both of those to me, and for that I will always be grateful.”

Henry McMahon will repose at Ward’s Funeral Home, Ballybay (A75 H585), on Wednesday from 1pm until 8pm.

His funeral cortege will proceed on foot from the Big Tom Statue, Castleblayney, on Thursday at 11.30am to arrive at St Mary’s Church in Castleblayney for funeral mass at 12 noon, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.