'Jim Tobin was the best Jim Reeves singer in the world', funeral hears

When Jim Tobin started singing Jim Reeves, everyone else stopped singing singing Jim Reeves, Fr Brian D'arcy said at the Skryne singer's funeral Mass today.
Fr D'arcy, who was a friend of Jim Tobin for 50 years, said that he was not just the best Jim Reeves singer in Ireland, but in the world.
The priest had been invited to be chaplain to the showband industry following his ordination in 1969, as he had been writing about them for Spotlight magazine and Dance News before his ordination. 
He recalled that Jim Tobin had more than a slight stammer in his speech, which held him back in life, but he discovered when he sang along to Jim Reeves' records, he lost his stammer.

“And he shared this gift of singing over and over again,” Fr D'Arcy said.
Jim Tobin was known as a great fan of Jim Reeves, who in the 1960s was the ultimate country singer as far as Irish people were concerned.
"Singers like Larry Cunningham, Big Tom, Gene Stuart and Pat Healy sang country music style like Jim Reeves, Al Grant still does, and probably the best was Shay Hutchinson of the Melody Aces, but when Jim Tobin started, everyone else stopped singing him."
The congregation burst into a round of applause as Fr D'arcy described Jim Tobin as the best Jim Reeves singer in the world. 
“He was the perfect replica – in tone, in key, in phrasing, and in diction,” Fr D'arcy said. “Not just with a Jim Reeves song, but any song he sang became a Jim Tobin/Jim Reeves song.”

Fr Brian D'arcy leading the funeral to the cemetery.

Fr D'arcy wrote the sleeve notes for the album, 'Jim Tobin Remembers Jim Reeves' which was brought up in the offertory procession at today's funeral, along with a miniature truck, representing Jim's career as a lorry driver.
Jim Reeves was known as 'Gentleman Jim', and the same could apply to Jim Tobin, who like the beatitudes in the Gospel, was blessed with the right attitude to life, and had the grace and wisdom to accept his illness with courage, Fr D'arcy said.
Like his hit song, Jim said 'This Is It', and decided to live the best he could after his motor neurone diagnosis, never looking at the glass half full, he continued.
“And he always helped everybody in a quiet, practical way.”

Fr Thomas O'Mahony, PP, Skryne, leading the funeral from the church.

Fr D'arcy spoke of Jim's love for his wife of 45 years, Caroline, and his family, and how he was a father figure to all. He remembered his late brother, Thomas, sister, Stella, and son-in-law, the actor, Alan O'Neill, who died last year.
He was joined by Fr Thomas O'Mahony, PP, Skryne, in celebrating the Mass, in which members of the Tobin family participated.
Soloists Niamh Lynn and Hazel Tobin were accompanied by Jimmy Gray on organ, while Matt Leavy sang at the graveside. Jim Tobin was accompanied out of the St Colmcille's Church by his own recording of 'This Is It', and piped to the cemetery by Declan McConnon.

Matt Leavy performed at the graveside.

Chief mourners were  daughters Avril and Yvonne, grandchildren Jamie, Cheyenne and Daniel, great-granddaughter Ella May, son-in-law David, sisters Margaret, Finola, Marie, Marian and Chris, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, aunts Phil and Bridie, relatives, neighbours, and friends in the music industry, especially the members of The Firehouse Showband.

Following the burial, refreshments were served in Skryne Hall, which Jim Tobin and the Firehouse had performed at the official opening of 47 years ago, and the attendance included Stephen Duffy from Skryne and Bridie McCabe from Dunsany, who met at that opening night and subsequently married.

Minister for European Affairs, Helen McEntee, in attendance.