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Welcome to Top Rank Entertainments Youtube Channel

YouTube's No.1 Irish Country Music Channel

Top Rank organisation was the biggest management operation in country music on the island of Ireland in there time from it was established in 1963. Several of the biggest names in the business operated out of the Top Rank stable including Big Tom, Philomena Begley, Susan McCann, Paddy Cole, Hugo Duncan, Brian Coll and many more.The company owned chain of ballrooms and venues across the country, 17 in total.The Top Rank company had its own recording studio and record label Top Spin Records in Castleblayney as well as its own weekly publication, Entertainment News, which had a nationwide distribution bringing readers up to date with all the happenings on the country music circuit. In many ways, the Loughman enterprise was an empire within the structures of the country music scene here in Ireland. Top Rank is also responsible for promoting and taking some of americas big country stars to Ireland -Porter Wagoner, Charlie Pride, Hank locklin, Johnny Cash, Tom T Hall and many more...

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If you want any information on any CD's, DVD's, VIDEOS, LP's or Photos contact: toprankentertainment at hotmail dot com

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Top Rank Entertainment

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Ballrooms

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Rainbow Center, Glenfarne, Co. Leitrim
St. Patrick's Hall, Shercock, Co. Cavan
Central Ballroom, Mountfield, Co. Tyrone
Drumquin Social Center, Co. Tyrone
Starlight Ballroom, Clones, Co. Monaghan
St. Mary's Hall, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
Wonderland Ballroom, Bawnboy, Co. Cavan
Metric Ballroom, Burnfoot, Co. Donegal
Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan
Imperial Hotel, Garvagh
Barley Inn, Omagh
Plaza Ballroom, Buncrana, Co. Donegal
St. Brigid's Hall, Carnew
Termon Ballroom, Co. Donegal
Pettigo Community centre
Knock-na-Moe Hotel, Omagh, Co. Tyrone

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Bands

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Big Tom & The Travellers
John Glenn & the Wranglers
The Apaches
Sean Thompson & The Everglades
Paddy Cole Superstars
Brian Coll
Eileen King's Country Gifts
Patrice & Stage Five
Philomena Begley & her Ramblin' Men
Susan McCann & the Storytellers
Shelly & The Big Valley
Duggie Jane and Goldrush
Ian Corrigan and Country Style
Pat Ely & The Storytellers
Anne, Shelly & The Marines
Hugo Duncan
Mary Lou & Harvest
Big Ivan & The New County
Roly Daniels
Dermot O'Brien
Sharon & Green Forest
Sally O Brien
Sean Wilson
Louise Jones
Aine
Katy Durkin
Louge & Mc Cool
Boyzone
Sharon Turley
Margo O' Donnell
Showband Hits Superband
Karen Karroll
Dee Rielly


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The late Tony Loughman

Tony Loughman, who passed away was at one time the doyen of the country music promoters in Ireland and further afield. One of the true movers and shakers of the band scene in the 70's
80's and 90's. Tony was one of the guiding lights behind the Irish Country music success which followed the showbands, indeed very few acts in this particular generation could claim to be untouched by him.

Tony, a prolific footballer was never known to shirk a challenge on the field of play and the same can be said in his business dealings where he met adversity head on and it must be said he usually came out on top. A tough negotiator he came from a generation where deals were sealed with a handshake and having shook on the deal a mans word was his bond.

The carnivals that sprang up in every parish were his springboard to fame as he booked for most of them which gave him great clout when it came to dealing with the Dublin based syndicates who previously had called the shots but had to bend the knee when offered so many block bookings.

Having got the better of them once he decided to take them on at their own game when realising he was being supped off for advertising and recording, immediately launched his own magazine Top Rank which knocked the top selling Dublin magazine spotlight off its pedestal and eventually, after starting up a recording company in Castleblayney, all the artists managed by Top Rank had their own recording and publicity and printing business on their own doorstep which proves how far sighted a business man he was.

By this time most of the top recording stars including, Big Tom, Philomena Begley, Susan McCann, John Glenn, Hugo Duncan, Brian Coll, Paddy Coles Big 8, Roly Daniels and many more were managed from Blayney.

Having conquered Ireland Tony set his sights on Nashville and it wasnt long before artists such as Porter Wagnor, Dolly Parton, Charlie Pride, Johnny Cash, Tom T Hall, Hank locklin, TexRitter were on first name terms and many of the local artists fulfiled a lifetime ambition when they recorded with the cream of the country music capitals musicians in the famous fireside recording studios.

Tony found a way to combine his two great loves when he formed The Top Rank All Stars ladies and gents football teams which played most Monday nights and the same artists usually put on a musical performance afterwards which a local charity courtesy of Top Rank benefited from.

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