Too Much for the Whiteman reunite for special show

Tuam’s first and only reggae band, which was formed in the late 1980s, will be reforming for the second time in as many years in tribute to their bass player who lost his battle with cancer.

Widely recognised as one of the best bass players in the West of Ireland, Dermot Holian from Dublin Road, Tuam, passed away in the summer of 2015 while still in his early 50s.

A huge fan of the music of Rory Gallagher, Dermot was part of Tuam reggae icons Too Much for the Whiteman who are now reforming for a gig this Saturday night, with the proceeds going towards Galway Hospice.

The gig will be held in The Brogue Bar in Tuam and this is the second time in the past couple of years that the band have reformed – they were one of the headline acts at the Sugar Beat festival in which The Stunning were the main attraction.

Der, as he was affectionately known, was an original member of Too Much for the Whiteman but had passed away prior to them performing at the Sugar Beat festival. Members of the band want to honour his memory and acknowledge the care he received in Galway Hospice.

The event is being organised by the Talty and Holian families in Tuam – Der was married to Diane Talty, a daughter of Paddy Talty whose name is synonymous with Tuam Stadium and GAA in general.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.