Singers and musicians are paying tribute to the songwriter Thom Moore who died on St Patrick's Day, after a lengthy illness.
Moore, an American who spent much of his life in this country, has died aged 74. His step-son Stan Zamyatin Moore confirmed the news.
In a statement to RTÉ he said: "My step-father and legendary singer-songwriter Thom Moore passed away peacefully after a long struggle with illness, while holding my hand and listening to his music, on Saturday 17 March, 2018.
"His passing away on St. Patrick's Day was symbolic of not only his love but his great contribution to Ireland."
He wrote the songs Caroline Rua, Still Believing and Saw You Running, all of which were popularised by Mary Black some 30 years ago. In more recent times Nathan Carter also covered Saw Your Running. Other popular Moore songs include The Navigator, Gorgeous and Bright and The Scholar.
In the 1970s, when the musician first moved to Ireland, he co-founded the rootsy, Appalachian-tinged bands Pumpkinhead and Midnight Well. Moore spent much of the last three decades in Sligo, a county dear to his heart.
Only just learned of the passing of USA songwriter Thom Moore.A longtime resident of Ireland, I had the pleasure of playing his extraordinary songs all over the world as part of The Mary Black band. A charming, colourful character who brought light & humour to late 80s/90s Dublin pic.twitter.com/vJn0y71oh3
— Eleanor McEvoy (@eleanormcevoy) March 20, 2018
He was born in California in 1943, and spent some of his childhood and adolescence in Ethiopia and Lebanon where his parents lived for a time.
The songwriter graduated from the American Community School in Beirut and joined the US navy. He worked for three years as a journalist with the Pacific Fleet commander in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Later he enrolled in Slavic languages the University of California in Los Angeles.
Thom Moore, one of our finest singers songwriters, may you rest in peace. https://t.co/loV1pya7Cp
— Altan (@altanmusic) March 18, 2018
Arguably Moore's most famous song is Cavan Girl, which was covered by a host of artistes, including The Dubliners, The Barleycorn, Eddie Grant, and in more recent times by The High Kings
Singer-songwriter Johnny Duhan tweeted his appreciation of Moore's unique gift. "Sad to hear that the fine songwriter, Thom Moore has died. I had the pleasure of sharing a stage with him some years back. A good memory. May he rest in peace."
