'Ronnie will be remembered for his promotion of Irish music both at home and around the world. He bore his illness with bravery and will be sadly missed' - Taoiseach Brian Cowen
DUBLIN (The Independent), August 18, 2008:
By Fergus Black
FOLK hero and Irish music legend Ronnie Drew will be waked at home today as preparations get under way for a celebration of his life at his funeral tomorrow.
The quintessential Dubliner, with the bearded face and gravelly voice, lost his battle with cancer on Saturday.
He died at St Vincent's Private Hospital, Dublin, surrounded by family and close friends.
His death, at the age of 73, happened on the same date as Elvis Presley died 31 years ago. He is survived by his son Phelim, daughter Cliodhna, brother Tony, sisters Joan and Margie and by six grandchildren. His wife Deirdre died last year.
Last night, the man described as an icon was being waked at his home in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Family friend Brian Hand said Ronnie believed in the "old school" ways and was being waked at home before his funeral Mass in the Church of the Holy Rosary in Greystones tomorrow.
"He wanted to go out with a celebration," said Mr Hand. "There will be a few tears at the end of the day but there will be lots of stories, great music, a beer or two and maybe the odd Cuban cigar."
Ronnie Drew
leads the
2006 Dublin
St Patrick's Day Parade
as grand marshal
President McAleese led the nation's tributes to the singer and musician, describing him as "a champion of traditional Irish music" who, with The Dubliners, re-energised and refreshed our unique musical heritage.
Pleasure
"He brought great pleasure to the people of Ireland and yet more around the world. Ronnie will be greatly missed by many, but most particularly by his family with whom our thoughts are today."
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Ronnie Drew had been an iconic figure in Irish music over the past five decades. "Ronnie, whether as part of The Dubliners or during his solo career, will also be remembered for his promotion of Irish music both at home and around the world. He bore his illness with bravery and will be sadly missed."
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said it was no exaggeration to say that Ronnie Drew was a legend -- and his sad passing would be felt at home and abroad.
"His contribution to Irish music and Irish life was immeasurable and his influence will be felt for many, many years to come," he said.
Labour's Mary Upton said Ronnie and The Dubliners played a huge role in the restoration of interest in Irish songs and music.
"We have now lost three members of the original Dubliners -- Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly and Ciaran Bourke -- but their music will retain a special place in the affections of the Irish people."
-----------
Gentleman Ronnie made everyone around him feel better about themselves
For some 50 years he was the living embodiment of what the world, and many provincial Irish people, believed was a typical Dubliner.
According to legend, an archetypal Dub is a droll raconteur and a rapier wit, as the circumstances require.
It was bizarre stereotyping for Ronnie Drew (or anyone) to measure up to -- and a burden that he carried stoically, if not always silently.
Yes, he was one of the balladeers who borrowed the name from the title of James Joyce's book, and in that sense he was a volunteer Dubliner.
He also had a distinctive beard that made him immediately recognisable and a unique voice that confirmed his identity for those who couldn't believe their eyes.
For many he was heir to another bearded and gravel-voiced Dubliner, the late Noel Purcell. And both of them could have been role models for the kindly Captain Birds Eye, who persuades children to eat fish fingers.
People who saw him on television or heard him on the radio assumed they knew Ronnie Drew, and the less inhibited sometimes presumed an intimacy that was offensively intrusive.
Yet even when a show-off bore descended on him, Ronnie persevered: he may not have grinned and cackled to order but he was always a gentleman, even when he told them to F*** off.
He was something of a curmudgeon, a personality trait necessary for his survival and which reflected part of his world view. But he had scintillating flashes of rapier wit and droll anecdotage that more than compensated for the occasional negativity.
.......
To the end, Ronnie Drew was a gentleman who made us feel better about ourselves.
© Independent.ie
'Ronnie will be remembered for his promotion of Irish music both at home and around the world. He bore his illness with bravery and will be sadly missed' - Taoiseach Brian Cowen
DUBLIN (The Independent), August 18, 2008:
By Fergus Black
FOLK hero and Irish music legend Ronnie Drew will be waked at home today as preparations get under way for a celebration of his life at his funeral tomorrow.
The quintessential Dubliner, with the bearded face and gravelly voice, lost his battle with cancer on Saturday.
He died at St Vincent's Private Hospital, Dublin, surrounded by family and close friends.
His death, at the age of 73, happened on the same date as Elvis Presley died 31 years ago. He is survived by his son Phelim, daughter Cliodhna, brother Tony, sisters Joan and Margie and by six grandchildren. His wife Deirdre died last year.
Last night, the man described as an icon was being waked at his home in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Family friend Brian Hand said Ronnie believed in the "old school" ways and was being waked at home before his funeral Mass in the Church of the Holy Rosary in Greystones tomorrow.
"He wanted to go out with a celebration," said Mr Hand. "There will be a few tears at the end of the day but there will be lots of stories, great music, a beer or two and maybe the odd Cuban cigar."
Ronnie Drew
leads the
2006 Dublin
St Patrick's Day Parade
as grand marshal
President McAleese led the nation's tributes to the singer and musician, describing him as "a champion of traditional Irish music" who, with The Dubliners, re-energised and refreshed our unique musical heritage.
Pleasure
"He brought great pleasure to the people of Ireland and yet more around the world. Ronnie will be greatly missed by many, but most particularly by his family with whom our thoughts are today."
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said Ronnie Drew had been an iconic figure in Irish music over the past five decades. "Ronnie, whether as part of The Dubliners or during his solo career, will also be remembered for his promotion of Irish music both at home and around the world. He bore his illness with bravery and will be sadly missed."
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said it was no exaggeration to say that Ronnie Drew was a legend -- and his sad passing would be felt at home and abroad.
"His contribution to Irish music and Irish life was immeasurable and his influence will be felt for many, many years to come," he said.
Labour's Mary Upton said Ronnie and The Dubliners played a huge role in the restoration of interest in Irish songs and music.
"We have now lost three members of the original Dubliners -- Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly and Ciaran Bourke -- but their music will retain a special place in the affections of the Irish people."
-----------
Gentleman Ronnie made everyone around him feel better about themselves
For some 50 years he was the living embodiment of what the world, and many provincial Irish people, believed was a typical Dubliner.
According to legend, an archetypal Dub is a droll raconteur and a rapier wit, as the circumstances require.
It was bizarre stereotyping for Ronnie Drew (or anyone) to measure up to -- and a burden that he carried stoically, if not always silently.
Yes, he was one of the balladeers who borrowed the name from the title of James Joyce's book, and in that sense he was a volunteer Dubliner.
He also had a distinctive beard that made him immediately recognisable and a unique voice that confirmed his identity for those who couldn't believe their eyes.
For many he was heir to another bearded and gravel-voiced Dubliner, the late Noel Purcell. And both of them could have been role models for the kindly Captain Birds Eye, who persuades children to eat fish fingers.
People who saw him on television or heard him on the radio assumed they knew Ronnie Drew, and the less inhibited sometimes presumed an intimacy that was offensively intrusive.
Yet even when a show-off bore descended on him, Ronnie persevered: he may not have grinned and cackled to order but he was always a gentleman, even when he told them to F*** off.
He was something of a curmudgeon, a personality trait necessary for his survival and which reflected part of his world view. But he had scintillating flashes of rapier wit and droll anecdotage that more than compensated for the occasional negativity.
.......
To the end, Ronnie Drew was a gentleman who made us feel better about ourselves.
© Independent.ie
