“He was very droll man and great company. Celtic Thunder - the kings of Social Media, Museum to honour One Direction star Niall Horan, Susan Boyle bullied after doctor’s incorrect diagnosis, Van Morrison – the ten million airplays man, In-ear earphones ‘damaging’ children’s hearing. The broadcaster and banjo player Mick Moloney told me: "His very gentle, subtle picking style, along with the beautiful swing in his playing, were an absolute revelation to the Irish music scene." McKenna was the last surviving founder member of The Dubliners,who formed in 1962. One night, with the landlord's permission, they played some tunes in the bar. McKenna was born in Donnycarney, Co Dublin, and started to play the banjo because he could not afford a mandolin. In February, the band was presented with a lifetime achievement award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk awards. All rights reserved. Though he had health problems in recent years with diabetes and a mild stroke, his death came as a shock. Pat Kehoe is a writer for Irish Music Daily. McKenna was born in Donnycarney to the north of Dublin in 1939. Barney's entire life has been involved with music. They are arguably the most famous Irish traditional ballad group of all time and were responsible for the resurrection of some Irish songs that had died out. In addition, McKenna played the mandolin and the melodeon. Info and videos of new Irish performers, on Barney McKenna of The Dubliners dies aged 72, Barney McKenna – musical genius and great man. He wore his talent very lightly.”. Barney McKenna, auch als Banjo Barney From Donnycarney bekannt, spielte Banjo, Mandoline und Melodeon. When the Pogues brought the Dubliners back to the vanguard of Irish music in 1987, their joint recording of The Irish Rover has his banjo well to the fore. McKenna was an accomplished performer on the mandolin and the melodeon, but he is best known for his virtuoso banjo playing. The tuning was an octave below the fiddle, opening up the banjo to a wide range of traditional music. McKenna’s wife Joka died 28 years ago. Barney McKenna, who has died aged 72, was the last surviving founding member of the Irish folk group the Dubliners.While Ronnie Drew's gravelly voice gave the … Known as the Ronnie Drew Folk Group, they soon changed their name to the Dubliners. The only surviving founding member of the Dubliners Barney McKenna has died suddenly. They celebrated their 50th anniversary with a series of concerts in Christ Church Cathedral in January and are also participating in the official Irish single for the forthcoming European Championships. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. "It was not played a lot up until the 1960s. But it was McKenna – alongside Sheahan, who joined in 1964 – who provided the continuity in a band that defied the changing tastes of Irish traditional music to build a worldwide fanbase for the good-time, occasionally raucous, street songs of Dublin. Daily news and information about Irish music. The Dubliners' concerts invariably included banjo solos from McKenna, such as, in recent years, The Maid Behind the Bar and The High Reel. Er stimmte das Banjo nicht in der „klassischen“ CGDA-Stimmung, sondern wie die Geige auf GDAE, allerdings eine Oktave tiefer. He popularised it. His parents are both from Ulster and share a strongly musical background. Words cannot describe how we all feel. He collapsed at his home this morning and was later pronounced dead at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. He was 72. McKenna had recently completed the Dubliners' 50th anniversary tour of England, as well as concerts in Germany and Dublin. His family released the following statement: “The band, his family and friends would like to thank everyone for their kindness and support. “I don’t think you’ll ever be able to figure out what they generated for Ireland and for Dublin,” Mr Hanrahan said. The last founding member of … The death has taken place of folk musician and founding member of The Dubliners, Barney McKenna. He loved it. He collapsed at his home this morning and was later pronounced dead at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. McKenna is survived by his partner Tina, his sister Marie, his brother Séan Og, who is also a musician, and his nephews and nieces. Throughout his 50 years with the Dubliners, McKenna made a vocal contribution to their concerts and albums on love and sea songs, often with minimal instrumental accompaniment.