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This site includes the postings from the Irish Aires email list. This includes a listing of Irish/Celtic events in the Houston area and other information that the Irish Aires radio program posts.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Dubliner Ronnie Drew Dies
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5juTx-BY0_-RdrQQO5KGIcUwSZcKw
Folk Musician Hero Ronnie Drew Dies
4 hours ago
Ronnie Drew, the legendary Irish folk singer and musician, has died,
his family said.
The 73-year-old founder of The Dubliners had been battling ill health
for some time.
In a brief statement, his family confirmed he passed away at St
Vincent's Private Hospital in Dublin at 2pm.
Drew founded the then-Ronnie Drew Group in 1962 which later came to be
known as The Dubliners.
The group included fellow Irish music legends Luke Kelly, Ciaran
Bourke and Barney McKenna.
They emerged from back room sessions in the O'Donoghues Pub in central
Dublin to become world-renowned.
While Kelly was known for singing their soulful ballads, Drew will be
best remembered for his gravelly-voiced renditions of rabble-rousing
folk songs, like Finnegan's Wake and Dicey Reilly.
Earlier this year, U2, Sinead O'Connor, Shane McGowan, Christy Moore
and others came together to record a tribute to the singer, called The
Ballad Of Ronnie Drew.
All profits from the release of the single went to the Irish Cancer
Society.
Speaking at the time of the recording, U2 frontman Bono said: "Ronnie
is like the King of Ireland, and we are his subjects. This is a big
fight for him. But like any fighter, it's easier if there's a crowd
cheering."
