Tributes pour in for Banjo Barney
Dublin People 06 Apr 2012
TRIBUTES poured in last week following the sad and
sudden passing of legendary Northsider Barney McKenna of
‘The Dubliners’.
Barney, who was born in Donnycarney, passed away at
his home in Howth on Thursday morning, April 5.
Banjo Barney as he was affectionately named, was one
of the last surviving members of
‘The Dubliners’.
The 72-year-old folk musician had been a member of
‘The Chieftains’ before setting up
‘The Dubliners’, which recently marked their
50th anniversary.
The day prior to his death Barney himself had played
at the funeral of an old acquaintance.
Speaking to Northside People on the day of Barney’s
passing, Brian Hand, agent for
‘The Dubliners’, said he played with vigour and
passion right up until his death.
“He was in brilliant form and very much looking
forward to the upcoming tour,
? he stated.
“He was first and foremost a musician from the tips of
his fingers down to his toes.
“He never worried about the business side of things.
All he cared about was the music. He played the same whether one person or
50,000 people turned up to a gig.
“His legacy was his legendary style of banjo playing.
He was a great guy, very funny, warm and always had a story or an interesting
fact to tell you.
?
Brian Hand said he was unsure about what the future of
‘The Dubliners’ holds.
“We talked about the future of the band a few years
ago and Barney said
‘It’s too late to stop now’ and that’s been our motto ever
since. I don’t know what will happen now.
?
A statement released by
‘The Dubliners’ following his
sudden passing described Barney as
“one in a million
?.
“The band, his family and friends would like to thank
everyone for their kindness and support,
? the statement read.
“Words cannot describe how we all feel. He was one in
a million.
“The greatest tenor banjo player of his generation,
Barney spent his life travelling the world playing Irish music. He loved it.
The world loved him.
May he rest in peace.
?
‘The Dubliners started in O’Donoghue’s Pub in Dublin
in 1962 and played an instrumental role in popularising traditional Irish music
and were due to embark on a tour of Denmark starting on April 17.
Dublin’s Lord Mayor Andrew Montague said he was
saddened to hear of Barney McKenna’s death.
“I would like to extend my sympathies to his family
and friends,
? he stated.
“Barney was a great character on the traditional Irish
music scene both in Ireland and abroad.
“I met him on March 2 last in Fairview Park where we
planted a tree to mark 50 years of the Dubliners.
?
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