Promoter dies on Caribbean cruise

Tributes poured in for the music promoter and businessman Tom Pigott yesterday, who died just after performing a song with Mary Black on board a cruise ship in the Caribbean.

Mr Pigott, originally from Crosby Row in Limerick, died in the early hours of Saturday while on a trip with his partner on the Norwegian Pearl liner.

The 63-year old was the owner of Enchanted Way Tours, a Clare-based business that attracts mostly American tourists on a music and cultural tour of Ireland.

Only hours after the cruise liner had departed Miami, Mr Pigott suffered a heart attack.

Holding back tears, one of Mr Pigott’s closest friends, Billy Hogan, said last night: “My heart is broken.”

Mr Hogan who, helped Mr Pigott book musicians to play at Tim’s Pub, — a former hotspot in Limerick for singer-songwriters on tour — was due to fly to the US in March to meet Mr Pigott.

“We were going to go on a road trip. He had a float organised for St Patrick’s Day in Savannah, Georgia, we were going to take part in that and then go on our trip,” said Mr Hogan.

“He died on my birthday, Feb 3. It’s the same date Buddy Holly died.”

American musician Ronny Cox, who starred in the 1972 cult movie Deliverance, paid tribute to Mr Pigott online.

“RIP... my dear friend... we’re all the worse for your having left us”.

From his home in Sweden, the Irish singer-songwriter Brian O’Connor described Mr Pigott as “a big man with a bigger heart,” who “was a father figure” to musicians across Ireland and abroad.